Greenpeace Southeast Asia energy campaigners Red Constantino, and Tara Buakamsri hold up a banner calling for a stop to the construction of a coal fired power plant in Rayong province on Thailand's eastern seaboard.
"Climate change is the greatest threat to the planet and
todeveloping countries like Thailand, yet companies like BLCP
continuebuilding dirty coal plants. This is a scandal that must
beexposed and must be stopped. The lives of millions are at
risk,"said Tara Buakamsri of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.
TheBLCP power station is currently under construction in
MaptaphutIndustrial Estate in Rayong, Thailandwith operations
expected to startas early as 2006.
The power plant is owned by theHong Kong-based China Light and
Power Co (CLP) and Banpu Plc, and isfunded mainly by the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) and Japan Bank forInternational Cooperation
(JBIC).
The coal plantalso has backing from Australian coal firm Rio
Tinto, which has secureda long-term exclusive contract to supply
coal for the power plant.
Oncecompleted the 1,434 megawatt coal plant will emit massive
amounts ofgreenhouse gases over its lifespan, contributing
significantly toclimate change.
By our calculations, the BLCP coal plant will emit 229 million
tons of carbon dioxide in 20 years.
"Lestthey be permanently branded as climate criminals, the ADB
and ChinaLight and Power must withdraw immediately from this dirty
energyproject. It's time that they contribute to real solutions to
thesustainable development of Thailand. It's time they
embracerenewable energy," said Tara.
According to theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC), the foremost globalauthority on the issue, the projected
distribution of economic impactsof climate change would increase
the disparity in well-being betweendeveloped countries and
developing countries.
Theeffects of climate change are expected to be greatest in
developingcountries in terms of loss of life and negative effects
on the economy.
Human-inducedclimate change is projected to increase the
severity and frequency ofextreme weather events such as storms and
drought.
Recently, Thailandwas caught in the grip of a catastrophic
droughtwhich has affected 63 of the country's 76 provinces,
affecting anestimated 9.2 million Thais and destroying 809,000
hectares offarmland.
According to the government, the catastrophe has cost as much as
US$193.2 million in damages.
"What's at stake is the very future of our people and
environment. No more coal," said Tara.