Varawut orders clearing of 12,000 tons of aluminum dross

Thansettakij•Economy•4d ago

Reader Briefing

Minister of Industry Varawut orders the urgent removal of over 12,000 tons of hazardous aluminum dross from an illegal factory in Nakhon Pathom.

•Minister Varawut inspected an abandoned factory in Nakhon Pathom containing approximately 12,387 tons of aluminum dross.
•The factory was prosecuted for operating without a permit and possessing Type 3 hazardous substances without authorization.
•Aluminum dross leaking due to rain poses risks of toxic gas, flammable gas, and fire or explosions.
•The Ministry of Industry is pushing for amendments to the Factory Act 1992 to implement the Polluter Pays Principle.

•An illegal factory in Nakhon Pathom has been shut down and its assets seized by the Nakhon Pathom Provincial Industry Office and police.
•Leaking aluminum dross has caused foul odors affecting surrounding communities and created risks of fire and explosion.
•Approximately 8,258 big bags containing about 12,387 tons of aluminum dross were found stored inside and outside the building.
•Rainwater leaking through a damaged roof has contacted the aluminum dross, which can release toxic and flammable gases when moist.
•Minister Varawut ordered the Provincial Industry Office to coordinate with police to find a legal way to move and dispose of the 12,237 tons of seized dross.
•Minister Varawut stated that the Ministry of Industry wants to prevent problems before they occur while following legal regulations.
•The Ministry of Industry will expedite the Factory Act and Industrial Waste Act drafts to the Cabinet and Parliament.
•The Ministry of Industry intends to require high-risk factories to provide guarantees for environmental damage remediation based on the Polluter Pays Principle.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Varawut(วราวุธ)

The Minister of Industry who inspected the illegal factory and ordered the removal of hazardous waste.

Nakhon Pathom Provincial Industry Office(สำนักงานอุตสาหกรรมนครปฐม)

The agency that seized assets at the illegal factory along with the police.

Ministry of Industry(กระทรวงอุตสาหกรรม)ℹ️

The ministry responsible for overseeing the removal of aluminum dross and proposing new industrial laws.

Nakhon Pathom(นครปฐม)ℹ️

The province where the illegal factory and aluminum dross were located.

Factory Act 1992(พระราชบัญญัติโรงงาน พ.ศ. 2535)

The law under which the factory was prosecuted and which the Ministry of Industry seeks to amend.

Hazardous Substances Act 1992(พระราชบัญญัติวัตถุอันตราย พ.ศ. 2535)

The law governing the unauthorized possession of Type 3 hazardous substances like aluminum dross.

Industrial Waste Act(พ.ร.บ.กากอุตสาหกรรม)

A draft law that the Ministry of Industry is pushing for Cabinet and Parliamentary consideration.

Polluter Pays Principle (PPP)(หลักผู้ก่อมลพิษเป็นผู้จ่าย (Polluter Pays Principle: PPP))

The principle the Ministry of Industry intends to use to make operators responsible for environmental remediation costs.