Bangkok--8 Aug--PTT
Mr. Nuttachat Charuchinda, PTT Plc Chief Operating Officer, Downstream Petroleum Business Group, as the director of PTT Group’s Emergency and Crisis Incident Command, today provided an update on the Ao Phrao (Phrao Bay) beach cleaning. The endeavor has paid off with high efficiency, with all oil slicks and stains removed from the beach and rocks, and all oil-slick sacks as well as trash moved from Ao Phrao. At the moment, they are stored at the oil refinery, pending examination, sorting, and transport to treatment sites under the standard set by the Department of Industrial Works. As a result, PTT Group’s Emergency and Crisis Incident Command has been shut down.
As for the next step, PTT Group is going to encourage PTT Global Chemical Plc (PTTGC) to begin rehabilitating and compensating all affected by this incident (the public, operators, and the environment) in earnest. This will begin with visits to the areas and dialogues established with all villagers around Ko Samet, including those residing in Ban Phe and Mae Ramphueng Beach, to listen to their plights and reach a conclusion leading to an integrated remedial plan. In addition, after the completion of the cleaning process, surveillance will be kept on the condition of the Ao Phrao beach. And under the shoreline cleaning process, a natural therapeutic process recommended by experts, the sandy beach will be plowed in search of any remnant oil slicks.
On August 10, the Rayong Provincial Governor will preside over a Big Cleaning Day, supported and joined by PTT Group, including a repentance ceremony aimed at local spirits under the Thai beliefs for morale boosting for the remediation and compensation efforts for Ko Samet to once again become a sustainable ecotourism site.
Mr. Charuchinda said PTT Group expresses its full apology and is profoundly sorry for this incident. It is thankful for all sectors— Royal Thai Navy, the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Rayong governmental agencies, Royal Thai Police, Rayong Provincial Administration, local administrative organizations, private volunteer corps, and all volunteers—for having mobilized assistance to date, as well as for their continuing future assistance.