A group of Thai-Muslims opposed to the Thepa coal-fired power plant project in Songkhla staged a sit-in protest in front of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in Bangkok in August. (File photo)A group of 43 academics has submitted a letter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to support the construction of a controversial coal-fired power plant in Thepha district of Songkhla. The open letter to support the project was submitted through Sompas Nilapund, deputy permanent secretary to the PM's Office. Pinyo Meechumna, a former lecturer with Chulalongkorn University's Department of Mining and Petroleum Engineering who is representing the group said the academics had studied the project and agreed the power plant would not have a negative impact on the environment. The group claims the amendment would facilitate both the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the Environmental Health Impact Assessment (EHIA).

Source: Bangkok Post December 06, 2017 22:30 UTC