EIA and Scientific Data, Tools for Development or Increasing Conflicts in Mining Industry: Some Case Studies of
Metal Mines in Thailand
Chakkaphan Sutthirat
Environmental Research Institute Chulalongkorn University
Paper for the Neat Working Group on GOVERNANCE OF EXTRACTIVE
INDUSTRIES IN EAST ASIA Sponsored by NEAT Indonesia
Introduction
• Mining industry have been developed in Thailand for century
• Thailand was one of the biggest tin
exporter, generated very high income
• Contaminations and impact caused by abandoned mines were recognized
later on
• EIA was firstly announced to this
industry in 1992 (last modified 2009)
Introduction
• Development of EIA and public
participation continuously developed against more protests
• EHIA was enforced for some projects in 2007
• CSR-DPIM began in 2011
• Much older mineral act (1967) still implemented
The National Environmental Quality and Promotion Act 2009
• Defined 34 types and sizes of projects or activities requiring regulation before
implementation or extension
• Examples of projects or activities required to prepare an EIA report: construction of airports, dams, mines*, expressways,
highways, hotels, industrial parks and thermal power plants
*initially implemented in 1992
FOUR TIERS FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Physical Environment
Biological Environment Human Use Values
Quality of Life Values
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT Geography
Geology and mineral Soil and soil erosion Hydrology
Air pollution
Noise and vibration
BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT Terrestrial ecosystem
(i.e., forest and wildlife) Aquatic ecosystem
Biodiversity
HUMAN USE VALUES Land use
Water supply Transportation
Electricity and energy Drainage system
Recreation and Tourism
QUALITY OF LIFE VALUES
Socio-economics History
Public health
EIA REPORT
Project description Existing environment
Environmental impact evaluation Prevention and mitigation measure
Environmental quality monitoring measure
Some Interesting Cases in Thailand
Long Operation before EIA Enforcement
• Lead Processing and Pb Contamination
• Zinc Mine and Cd Contamination After EIA Enforcement
• Gold Mines and Protesting
Lead Mine
• Long history of lead utility (prehistory)
• Lead (a toxic element) distributed
throughout the surrounding potential areas (initial natural contamination)
• Clearly unsuitable for living
• Accidental failure of tailing dam causing more contamination??
• Remediation without knowledge and
understanding of natural geological process aggravating the situation
Lead Mine
Lead Mine
Lead Mine
Lead Mine
Lead Mine
• Mines and processing plants began to be closing down when the accident
occurred
• Some evidences indicate human impact (high Pb in blood)
• Remediation still on process
• What do the local really need for compensation?
Lead Mine
Zinc Mine
• Initial operation before EIA
enforcement; subsequently, turning to have EIA approval and monitoring plan
• Cadmium which was never specified in monitoring and mitigation before first discovery in paddy field downstream
• Afterwards all studies indicated that cadmium is associated in this zinc
deposit
Zinc Mine
Zinc Mine
Zinc Mine
• Mine and government agencies took their responsibility soon after the problem was reported
• Technical mitigation and remediation have been investigated and
implemented
• Protesting is still taken place time to time
Zinc Mine
Zinc Mine
Gold Mine 1
• Biggest gold mine in Thailand which
expected to extend exploration widely
• Processes of EIA and EHIA were completely carried on
• No clear evidence to indicate contamination and impact
• Negative attitude
• Strong argument still taking place
Gold Mine 1
Gold Mine 1
Gold Mine 1
Gold Mine 2
• Second gold mine in Thailand (much smaller than the previous mine)
• Mitigation measure and monitoring
plan were not well acted, particularly CSR
• Argument has begun soon after operation
• Data and information from various
sources leading to more confusion and strong argument
Gold Mine 2
Gold Mine 2
Gold Mine 2
Gold Mine 2
Gold Mine 2
?
What should we do towards AEC in
2015?
Gold mining in Cambodia
Gem Mining in Cambodia
Gem Mining in Vietnam
Our Dream for Mining
What should we do towards AEC in 2015?
• Law and regulation in these countries (e.g., investment, environment, mining)
• Standard of EIA report should be international level and acceptable
• Think of AEC as our own community
• Best practices (lesson learn from previous mistakes)
• Preparing and expecting Green Mining and Sustainable Mining
Looking Forwards Sustainabity of Mining
economic social
environmental
