Chinese Ore Plant Construction Halted Over Water Safety Fears
Construction of a Chinese-backed ore processing plant in Kanchanaburi has been halted after thousands of residents protested contamination risks to a major irrigation canal supplying drinking water to Suphan Buri province. The facility bega
Thousands of residents from Nong Khao subdistrict in Tha Muang, Kanchanaburi have united to oppose construction of a Chinese-backed ore processing plant, fearing potential leaks of contaminated water and chemicals used in mining operations. The facility is situated near Chachoengsao irrigation canal, which supplies drinking water to provincial water authorities and serves agricultural communities across multiple areas of Suphan Buri province. Residents worry that any chemical spill could cause widespread environmental damage affecting large populations downstream.
According to Nong Hia Dok Khao subdistrict municipality chief Udorn Phengaram, the company applied for factory establishment permits and completed public consultations as required by law. The municipality approved site preparation modifications but withheld construction authorization. However, construction began without this mandatory approval, prompting the municipality to issue an immediate suspension order. The chief confirmed that no construction permit has been signed for the ore processing plant and stressed that any future approval will require careful consideration of site suitability, particularly its proximity to the critical irrigation canal.
