Power plant investments at the crossroads

Power plant investments at the crossroads

Protests on Bangkok pavements convinced the government to delay a decision on building a coal-fuelled power plant in Thepha district of Songkhla. (File photo)
Protests on Bangkok pavements convinced the government to delay a decision on building a coal-fuelled power plant in Thepha district of Songkhla. (File photo)

The Thepha coal-fired power plant conflict in Songkhla province of the South shows the public decision-making process in Thailand is in a serious coma.

Previous large-scale infrastructure initiatives, such as the Krabi power plant, the Mae Wong irrigation dam, or the more historic Kaeng Sue Ten irrigation dam were all put on hold owing largely to the failure of the public decision-making process.

Such failures are particularly evident in cases concerning large-scale investments that affect local communities and the environment.

Please log in here to fully view this exclusive content. If you aren't a member yet, simply sign up here. It's totally free & takes only a minute.

Adis Israngkura na Ayudya

Adviser of the Thailand Development Research Institute

Adis Israngkura na Ayudya, PhD, is an adviser of the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI). Policy analyses from the TDRI appear in the Bangkok Post on alternate Wednesday.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (3)

Bangkok Pride organisers apologise for damage to student artworks

Organisers and City Hall on Monday apologised for the damage to students' graduation-related artworks on Sunday when participants in the Bangkok Pride event entered the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre and failed to protect the exhibited pieces despite resquests.

18:17

Air travel to soar near record in 2023: industry group

ISTANBUL: Airlines will return to profit and fly a near-record 4.35 billion passengers this year, but the sector's post-pandemic recovery remains fragile, an industry group said on Monday.

17:45

US, China join naval drills in Indonesia despite rifts

The United States and China have sent warships to the multinational naval drills that began in Indonesia on Monday, despite the rifts between the two powers.

16:34