FOUR PROJECTS GET LONG-AWAITED LICENCES

       Four investment projects with a combined investment of Bt17.55 billion, including one each of the PTT Group and the Siam Cement Group (SCG), yesterday won long-awaited operating licences from the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT).
       The approvals were granted following a green light from the IEAT board and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
       The PPP convened yesterday, with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva as its chairman.
       Apart from the four approved projects, 19 more with a combined investment of Bt305.45 billion are awaiting IEAT approval and another 13 projects worth Bt59 billion are waiting for approval from the Industrial Works Department.
       IEAT governor Monta Pranootnorapal said the agency would speed up the granting of licences to projects that have passed an environmental-impact assessment (EIA).
       The four companies granted approval yesterday are Sumitomo's 28.2 per cent-owned Siam Tinplate, Siam Polyethylene (a joint venture between Dow Chemical and SCG), Bangkok Polyethylene (part of the PTT Group) and Aditya Birla Chemicals.
       The approvals are the first since new rules and regulations were imposed earlier this year to cope with environmental concerns. Agencies had, however, been reluctant to issue operating licences, due to the lack of proper guidance over compliance with Article 67 of the Constitution.
       Even though projects in the pipeline will be granted licences, it was agreed by the IEAT board and the PPP that new industrial projects would be put on hold until the list of 15 industries with a serious environmental impact was announced.
       Projects in industries on the list will be required to conduct a health-impact assessment (HIA), aside from the generally required EIA.
       Industry Vice Minister Sorayud Petchtrakul said the list had been drawn up but was awaiting approval by Minister Charnchai Chairungrueng next Monday before being submitted to the Cabinet.
       Industries on the list must wait for regulations on EIA and HIA to be completed by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, as well as the establishment of an independent organisation, as stipulated by Article 67.
       "The prime minister ordered state agencies to complete the legal amendments as soon as possible, so that investment can resume. However, this will take time. The National Environment Act needs to be amended, to pave way for the establishment of the independent body," Sorayud said.