Panel refuses to publicise gas cont

[ausgeo@xxxxxxx]

Subject: Panel refuses to publicise gas contract

June 13, 1997

BANGKOK POST

BURMA

Panel refuses to publicise gas contract

Deal 'too technical for laymen to understand'

Chakrit Ridmontri 
Kanchanaburi


The panel assigned to monitor the Yadana gas pipeline refused yesterday to 
make public the contract between the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) and 
its supplier.

The refusal came after the prime minister agreed on Wednesday that opponents 
should see details of PTT's deal with the exploration consortium in Burma and 
its own pipeline contractors.

Chavalit Yongchaiyudh told the opponents to receive copies from the panel at 
its monthly meeting in Kanchanaburi yesterday.

Kwanchai Wasawong, the panel chairman, produced a copy of the contract but 
refused to let the opponents photocopy it. "You can see the copy here but 
can't take it for photocopying," he said.

"Sorry, I don't mean to look down on you but it is in English with plenty of 
technical terms, so you may not understand it clearly," said Mr Kwanchai, also 
the provincial governor.

"Although the premier has told us to reveal the contract, any people wishing 
to see it must be supervised by legal experts and under the consideration of 
the committee," he said.

Terms would be misunderstood if the opponents were allowed to translate it 
themselves, said Mr Kwanchai, who claimed disclosure would damage relations 
with Burma and put the PTT at a disadvantage.

The meeting became tense when Suchin Hongsawadee, a headman and project 
supporter, said Gen Chavalit had not said the panel should make the contract 
public.

"We are the majority of Kanchanaburi and we also want to see the copy," he 
said. "Please allow the meeting to proceed smoothly," he said as groups led by 
the Kanchanaburi Conservation Club walked out.

Phinant Chotirosseranee, leader of the local conservation group, said: "I will 
tell the prime minister the panel did not follow his instructions unless the 
governor gives us a copy."

The conservation groups want to see the contract to verify claims by the PTT 
and Korn Dabbaransi, the industry minister, that Burma is entitled to collect 
a fine of the equivalent of the daily gas delivery if the project is not 
finished by July next year.

They also want authority to ensure the contractors stick to the terms and do 
not use techniques banned according to the environmental impact assessment.

Suwanant Chatiudompunth, senior vice-president of PTT Gas, said the panel was 
setting up groups to monitor construction, revise the impact assessment and 
explain the contract to the public.

The groups would answer questions raised by conservation groups and NGOs, he 
said, but construction would proceed as planned. The PTT had agreed to reduce 
the width of the pipeline route from 20m to 15m, he said, but may have to 
blast if digging does not work. The impact assessment suggested blasting in 
sensitive areas be avoided.

According to the PTT, 12 percent of the 260km pipeline is finished and will 
complete the project before June 1998 to take deliveries of gas from Burma's 
Yadana and Yetagun fields.

However, part of the route cuts through 6km of fertile forest in Thong Pha 
Phum district and several kilometres in Sai Yok National Park and the Forestry 
Department has yet to give its consent.


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Bangkok Post