| dc.description.abstract | This research was undertaken in an attempt to find new environmental management approaches, strategies
and procedures suitable for the upstream Oil & Gas Industry in Thailand and which would be most applicable
(practical and reasonable) and suitable to the situation of the country. Current management frameworks in
various developed countries were reviewed, compared and analysed to select criteria most applicable to
Thailand. The research has found that Thailand's industry is smaller scale and younger than the others, and
its provisions for environmental management are only very basic in comparison. There are few laws or
regulations, standards, and guidelines that deal specifically in detail with the environmental management of
Thailand's upstream oil & gas industry. The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) under the Ministry of
Industry is the only key authority directly acting as a 'one-stop-shop' responsible for the upstream oil & gas
industry in Thailand. The functions concerned with environmental protection involve the enforcement of
Petroleum Acts and Regulations, and safety and environmental standards but, because of the lack of
environmental regulations, rules and standards for petroleum development, DMR can not be regarded as an
active agency dealing with environmental matters.
The UK has fuller and more definitive provisions, including standards and systems for levying penalties, and
as such they are more akin to the command-and-control regulatory systems that have evolved in the more
developed countries. There are many existing Acts and regulations affecting offshore oil & gas activities in
UK. There are some strengths of the UK system which could be applied to Thailand. Pollution quality control
by limiting the concentration of the discharge (standards) from oil & gas activities in the UK, USA, and the
Netherlands are universal in their application and probably reasonable. Thus, these standards should be
practicable for application to Thailand. On analysis of some of the new approaches (Environmental
Covenants, STAR Producer Program), in the case of Thailand, it is considered that the country is not yet
ready for these approaches because they require a mature environmental policy. Some part of the Asian
Development Bank's recommendations however could suit Thailand in this situation.
This research has lead to certain conclusions and recommendations for environmental management in
Thailand. The main recommended priority is that DMR should set up a formal action team in the short-term to
have specific responsibilities for driving environmental compliance and enforcement related to oil & gas
activities. This team should prepare an action plan to enhance the regulatory framework and DMR capacity
building. This planning is necessary for long term development and has to be implemented seriously. | |
