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BLCP blockade ends: Thai government agrees to Greenpeace demand for national energy policy review

December 09, 2005
Greenpeace activists block the road entrance to the BLCP coal plant at Map Ta Phut, Thailand. Dec 9th 2005. the activists are demanding it's immediate closure, calling on the Thai government to phase out coal power and to commit to renewable energy. The Greenpeace flagship the Rainbow Warrior is in Thailand waters on the final leg of its Asia Energy Revolution Tour.

Greenpeace activists block the road entrance to the BLCP coal plant at Map Ta Phut, Thailand. Dec 9th 2005. the activists are demanding it's immediate closure, calling on the Thai government to phase out coal power and to commit to renewable energy. The Greenpeace flagship the Rainbow Warrior is in Thailand waters on the final leg of its Asia Energy Revolution Tour.

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Rayong, THAILAND — In a major breakthrough at the end of a Greenpeace blockade of the BCLP coal facility at Map Ta Phut, the Thai National Economic and Social Advisory Council of the Prime Minister's office, has committed to review of the Government's energy policy.

"Greenpeace considers this a major victory for the Thai people," said Greenpeace Southeast Asia spokesperson Tara Buakamsri from the sit-in which had disrupted the plant's operations today. "Thailand has a vast potential for clean, renewable energies such as modern biomass, wind and solar. It's time to shift government policy towards them."

 

"Coal plants like BLCP are the main cause of climate change," said Greenpeace International's  Jean Francois Fauconnier aboard the Rainbow Warrior. "We came here asking the Thai government to review its  coal-driven energy policy so that it could realistically commit to an 8% target for renewable energies by 2011 and now we have one. At a time when nations party to the Kyoto Protocol have been at the table discussing commitments to reducing greenhouse emissions in Montreal, it is incumbent on the government that they begin taking the issue of climate change seriously."

 

"Coal has produced devastating environmental and health problems for both workers and neighbouring communities.  It is a step forward that  the government has  committed to consult with  affected communities  who joined us here in peaceful protest today," concluded Buakamsri.

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