Heated Debate Over Draft Mineral Master Plan 3

Matichon•General•19h ago

Reader Briefing

Stakeholders debated the draft 3rd Mineral Management Master Plan at a public hearing in Bangkok, highlighting conflicts between mining interests and community rights.

•The National Mineral Policy and Management Committee organized a hearing for the draft 3rd Mineral Management Master Plan.
•The estimated economic value of Thailand's mineral resources is 42,928 trillion baht.
•Mining operators proposed relocating residents from mineral areas to self-sufficiency settlements, sparking opposition from locals.
•A community network submitted a letter to the Department of Mineral Resources requesting the revocation of certain mining zones.

Overview

•The National Mineral Policy and Management Committee held a public hearing at Asia Hotel, Bangkok, with approximately 180 participants from government, academic, and civil society sectors.
•Thailand possesses over 40 types of minerals across potential areas covering approximately 60 million rai, or 19% of the country, with an economic value of 42,928 trillion baht.
•Panthawat Samphanpanich stated that the 3rd Mineral Management Master Plan is still in draft form and not yet for public distribution.
•Panthawat Samphanpanich identified five key lessons from the 2nd plan, including fragmented data, complex permit processes, limited value-added industry, the need for international ESG standards, and the importance of public participation.
•Worawit Noppakaew argued that increasing the efficiency of the existing system without reforming power structures may only increase the ability of the state and capital to access resources while residents remain affected.
•Mining operators proposed relocating people from mineral-rich areas to self-sufficiency settlements, leading to protests from affected villagers regarding the value of their way of life versus 30-year concessions.
•The Nakhon Sawan Resource Protection Network and areas of Khao Kala, Hua Wai, and Khao Pun-Khao Yai submitted a letter to the Department of Mineral Resources to remove specific mining zones from the plan.
•A final public hearing is scheduled for September 15 at the Mandarin Hotel in Bangkok.

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Key Quotes

Worawit Noppakaew

"It cannot be viewed solely as a mineral source for mining."

จะมองเพียงว่าเป็นแหล่งแร่เพื่อการทำเหมืองไม่ได้

Key Entities

Organization

National Mineral Policy and Management Committee(คณะกรรมการนโยบายและบริหารจัดการแร่แห่งชาติ)

The body responsible for organizing the public hearing on the draft mineral master plan.

Department of Mineral Resources(กรมทรัพยากรธรณี)

A government agency under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment that received a petition from community networks.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment(กระทรวงทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม)ℹ️

The ministry overseeing the Department of Mineral Resources.

Department of Primary Industries and Mines(กรมอุตสาหกรรมพื้นฐานและการเหมืองแร่)

A government agency under the Ministry of Industry involved in the public hearing.

Ministry of Industry(กระทรวงอุตสาหกรรม)ℹ️

The ministry overseeing the Department of Primary Industries and Mines.

Environmental Research Institute for Sustainability, Chulalongkorn University(สถาบันวิจัยสิ่งแวดล้อมเพื่อความยั่งยืน จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย)

The institution led by Panthawat Samphanpanich.

Nakhon Sawan Rajabhat University(มหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏนครสวรรค์)

The academic institution where Worawit Noppakaew serves as head of the Political Science Department.

Nakhon Sawan Resource Protection Network and Areas of Khao Kala, Hua Wai, and Khao Pun-Khao Yai(เครือข่ายชุมชนปกป้องทรัพยากรนครสวรรค์และพื้นที่เขากะลา หัวหวาย และเขาปูน-เขาใหญ่)

A community network that petitioned the government to revoke certain mining zones.

Person

Panthawat Samphanpanich(พันธวัศ สัมพันธ์พานิช)

Director of the Environmental Research Institute for Sustainability, Chulalongkorn University.

Anuchit Sirithongkham(อนุชิต ศิริทองคำ)

A professional geologist at the Department of Mineral Resources.

Worawit Noppakaew(วรวิทย์ นพแก้ว)

Head of the Political Science Department at Nakhon Sawan Rajabhat University.

Law

Mineral Act 2017(พ.ร.บ.แร่ พ.ศ. 2560)

The law requiring the mineral management master plan to be updated every 5 years.

Policy

3rd Mineral Management Master Plan(แผนแม่บทการบริหารจัดการแร่ฉบับที่ 3)

The draft policy under discussion to manage Thailand's mineral resources.

Place

Asia Hotel Bangkok(โรงแรมเอเชีย กรุงเทพมหานคร)

The venue where the initial public hearing took place.

Mandarin Hotel Bangkok(โรงแรมแมนดาริน กทม.)

The scheduled venue for the final public hearing on September 15.