Project News

A mid-term review was carried out in late December 2012 as the project is half complete, in accordance with JICA's rules. A review mission team led by Mr. Hideo Noda, Director of Environmental Management Division 1, Global Environment Department, JICA HQ, had a series of meetings, interviews and site visits to observe the progress of the project. Officers from the Japanese Ministry of Environment as well as the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, namely, Mr. Hiroyuki Hanawa, Ms. Naoko Moritani and Mr. Toshihiko Arai, also participated in the review mission to provide technical advice.

The mission visited Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate and Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate in Rayong. The former is the center of the automotive industry and known as "the Detroit of Asia", while the latter is one of the largest petrochemical complexes in Southeast Asia.

From a two-week observation, the mission found that the project has made progress with the successful involvement of various stakeholders. Yet the largest challenge of implementing the pilot has just started. A review report was presented and discussed in the 5th JICA-PRTR Project counterpart meeting (so-called CP meeting) held on December 25, 2012.

JICA Mid-term review mission paid a courtesy visit and exchanged opinions with the Director General of PCD Mr. Wichien Jungrungruang, at the Pollution Control Department.

Mr. Chumpon Cheewaprapanunt, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Industrial Works, was interviewed on the PRTR project, at his office.

A small photo-taking session was held with the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand’s Governor Mr. Veerapong Chaiperm during the courtesy visit.

The 5th CP meeting was co-chaired by Ms. Sunee Piyapanpong, Deputy Director-General of the Pollution Control Department and Mr. Seri Atipatha, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Industrial Works, while Assistant Governor from the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, Ms. Krittiaporn Dabbhadatta, also participated in the meeting. Topics other than the mid-term review report were discussed, including the following:

• Non-factory point source definition
• Progress of pilot implementation and role demarcation of each agency
• Proposal to set up task force for risk communication promotion
• Proposal to set up task force for non-point sources

A task force for risk communication promotion and another for non-point sources will be set up by the PRTR sub-committee under the Pollution Control Committee.

The result of JICA mid-term review was reported and acknowledged by CP members in the 5th CP meeting held on December 25, 2012, at the Pollution Control Department.