Community Development
As part of EGAT’s mission in securing the power reliability, it has continually implemented various infrastructure development projects, such as power plant extensions and transmission system maintenance and expansions (high voltage transmission line and high-voltage stations). However, these activities may inevitably cause impacts on or inconvenience to the communities surrounding the projects. For example, certain rights to use or occupy the land around a grid system may be limited or local communities may be affected by dust and wastewater from construction activities. The potential impacts of every EGAT project are assessed in advance in an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report, which also identifies mitigation measures to reduce the impacts on communities during project construction and operation phases. For small-scale projects not requiring an EIA report, mitigation measures are strictly implemented by project owners. Moreover, EGAT has measures in place for paying compensation and damages during construction and providing financial aid to those affected by the power grid construction as a remedy for evictions and such construction. In addition, land owners are entitled to file an appeal with the Energy Regulatory Commission within 30 days after receiving a written notice of compensation from EGAT, as per the Energy Regulatory Commission RE: Criteria, Principles and Conditions for Appeals and Consideration of Appeals B.E. 2552 (2009).
Displacement and relocation are impacts that EGAT take seriously and try to prevent, especially in protected areas (e.g. Class 1A watersheds and non-hunting areas), community areas, and sensitive areas (e.g. temples, schools, and religious places). In addition to managing direct impacts on communities from project activities, EGAT has regularly communicated with the public in compliance with its corporate communication plan and upheld our responsibilities towards communities and society. EGAT is committed to developing and implementing projects to benefit communities, which is one of the key stakeholders, in line with its sustainable development policy, the Fifth National Strategy on Green Growth Development, and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Social engagement procedures with the neighboring communities have been established in all of EGAT operating areas, accounting for 100 percent, in the context of community engagement, impact assessment, and community development projects.
Community Relations in the Area of Power Development Projects
In placing importance on the community relations, EGAT has focused on relationship building and creating good understanding of EGAT’s operations by participatory process coupled with the sustainable development of quality of life under the concept of “EGAT for All: EGAT, Community’s Friend.”
Throughout 2023, EGAT carried out community relations in the areas of the thermal power project development, namely South Bangkok Power Plant, North Bangkok Power Plant, Phun Phin Power Plant, and Nam Phong Power Plant. For the renewable power plants, community relations was performed at Ubol Ratana Dam, Bhumibol Dam, Srinagarind Dam, Vajiralongkorn Dam, and Chulabhorn Dam. The activities are as follows:
Activity to Promote Knowledge and Understanding
EGAT has focused on communication through community activities in different forms, namely meetings, mobile meetings in the community, power plant open-house, and empirical study visits in order to raise awareness and understanding of project developments in each area. At the same time, EGAT can build good relationships with community members as well as listen to comments, suggestions, and opinions of different sectors in the area.
Activity to Promote Relations and Networking
EGAT participates in community activities in order to build good relationships and maintain networks both in the public and civil sectors. EGAT organizes and supports activities in education, public health, culture, and tradition. Moreover, EGAT develops the community’s quality of life with involvement of all groups of stakeholders, such as providing “EGAT Nam Jai” drinking water and food boxes for those conducting activities in the areas of EGAT’s power development projects.
Activity to Develop Quality of Life and Promote Occupation
EGAT promotes, with participation of the community, good quality of life, creative economy, as well as occupation which generates income for the community according to their needs. This includes conservation, restoration, and sustainable development of natural resources and environment of the community. Important activities are as follows:
• Outstanding Model Project of Governance Compliance in 2022 at the “Excellent” Level: EGAT supports Ban Pan Nam Jai Learning Center Upgrading Project at Moo 11, Muang Wan Sub-district, Nam Phong District, Khon Kaen Province (Phase 2, continued from 2022) by conducting a pilot study visit, social impact assessment (SIA), and social return on investment (SROI).
• Conservation of Alexandrine Parakeets: EGAT supports the conservation of biological diversity of Nonthaburi Province by planting more than 100 trees to create food security and habitats for Alexandrine parakeets, a protected wildlife outside conservation areas in Nonthaburi Province. EGAT also supports the installation of artificial nests to increase the number of nests for egg-laying and habitats of the birds.
• Loy Krathong Festival (EM): EGAT, in cooperation with the community in Bang Kruai District and related organizations, organized Loy Krathong festival by floating 8,000 flower containers made of effective microorganism (EM) at 10 floating points of Khlong Om Non in order to conserve and restore the water quality of the canal.
• Food Waste Management Campaign: EGAT, in cooperation with the Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organization in the Food Waste Management Campaign, made a presentation on the management of food waste as fertilizer in order to reduce the amount of food waste and toxic pollution in the environment. Participants were provided with underground food waste bins for use.
• Improvement of School Playgrounds: EGAT supports the improvement of children playgrounds and the landscape of two schools, namely Ang Thong Pattana School in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province and Thung Lui Lai School (under the Patronage of EGAT) in Chaiyaphum Province. The objective was to create safety and readiness for recreational use and to promote development of the students.