The Working Group for Monitoring Compliance with Environmental Impact Mitigation Measures for BLCP Power Company Limited's Coal-Fired Power Plant and Coal Port Project held its 6/2018 meeting for November 2018 on November 20, 2018, from 09:00 to 12:00 at the Kiang Saket Building Meeting Room. Mr. Atjapon Thongsom, acting on behalf of the Working Group Chairman, presided over the opening of the meeting and announced the preparation of identification cards for Working Group members to facilitate entry and exit from the project area. The meeting acknowledged this.
The meeting approved the minutes of the 5/2018 meeting dated September 6, 2018, and suggested using easily understandable language in the report. Inquiries were also made regarding permit applications and community notifications for annual maintenance activities. The project has already applied for permits and issued public notifications. The meeting also emphasized operational safety and 100% random drug and alcohol testing for contractors, as well as strict environmental impact monitoring.
The BLCP Project announced its plan for channel dredging and maintenance at the coal port in 2019 to ensure safe navigation channels. Feedback will be gathered from all sectors, and communities and fishing groups will be strictly informed of the activities and environmental impact prevention measures in accordance with the EIA report and the annexes to the permit from the Marine Department.
Environmental impact monitoring results for September-October 2018 showed that the average sulfur content in coal was 0.43%, which is within EIA standards. The quality of raw water usage and treated wastewater met all standards. The amount of bottom ash transported from the power plant was 2,901.62 tons in September and 2,571.19 tons in October. Fly ash amounted to 30,466.11 tons in September and 39,115.95 tons in October.
Air quality monitoring results for stack emissions and ambient air were mostly within standards, except on October 11, 2018, when Unit 2 had high particulate matter due to the use of high-ash coal, and on September 29, 2018, abnormally high total particulate matter was found at Wat Mab Chalood due to water stains on the filter paper. Water quality discharged from the cooling water discharge canal met all standards for all parameters.
Environmental impact prevention and mitigation measures could not be monitored in November 2018 due to the scheduled shutdown for maintenance of Unit 2. The project prioritized the safety of the Working Group members. Maintenance activities will result in an increase in waste, and there will be a temporary increase in particulate matter during the start-up phase. The project will inform communities and government agencies about this. Furthermore, meetings for the Operational Plan Oversight Committee and the Tripartite Committee have been scheduled for December 2018, and a site visit for the Working Group is planned for 2019.