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
EGAT places importance on community relations by emphasizing good relations with the community, building a good understanding of EGAT in the project development area, and developing sustainable quality of life of the community under the concept “EGAT for All: EGAT, Community’s Friend.” Important projects carried out in 2022 include:
North Bangkok Power Plant Project, Block 3
• Organize three meetings with the Village Health Volunteers (VHV) in the area of Bang Kruai Municipality and two meetings at Bang Kruai District with 405 participants
• Organize six explanatory meetings concerning North Bangkok Combined Cycle Power Plant Project, Block 3 with 579 participants
• Organize two training classes on Bhutan mushroom cultivation for the community in Bang Kruai District with 150 participants
• Organize a demonstration of the use of Effective Microorganism (EM) and its benefits in everyday life to reduce the use of chemicals and be environmentally friendly at Bang Kruai Kindergarten, Nonthaburi Province
• Organize the activity “EM Balls Give Back Clean Water to Community” with volunteers and community network, by making 13,700 EM balls for wastewater treatment in Bang Kruai District, Nonthaburi Province
South Bangkok Combined Cycle Power Plant Project, Block 5 and Blocks 6-7
EGAT organized an explanatory meeting concerning the progress of South Bangkok Combined Cycle Power Plant Project, Block 1 to listen to comments from stakeholders with 49 participants. EGAT supported the activities with community engagement to strengthen relations with stakeholders in the area of the power plant.
Nam Phong Combined Cycle Power Plant Project, Block 3
• Organize nine visits to stakeholders in the area with 486 participants
• Organize an empirical study tour for members of Nam Phong Learning Center network to visit the learning center of Chulabhorn Dam Hydropower Plant
• Implement the project of sustainable community forest model around Nam Phong Power Plant, Ban Huay Sua Ten, Khon Kaen Province
Hydro-Floating Solar Hybrid Project at Ubol Rattana Dam
EGAT organized five relationship building activities in the area of three km around the Hydro-Floating Solar Hybrid Project at Ubol Rattana Dam with 183 participants.
Thap Sakae District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province
EGAT participated in the activities organized by communities, attended the meetings of heads of local organizations, and regularly organized relationship-building activities to maintain relations and networks. Moreover, EGAT supported knowledge for the development of local quality of life.
Project of Upgrading Ban Pan Namjai Learning Center, Moo 11, Muang Wan Sub-district, Nam Phong District, Khon Kaen Province
The project is to develop the quality of life of the community in the area of Nam Phong Combined Cycle Power Plant, Block 3 to keep good relations, upgrade Ban Pan Namjai Learning Center, and generate sustainable income for the community. In 2022, the training, social impact assessment (SIA), and evaluation of social return on investment (SROI) of the project were carried out. From the SIA, it was found that the community has knowledge development, while the learning center has physical structure development and yields benefit in economic, social, and environmental dimensions. From the SROI evaluation, the result was 1.22. The result will serve as a guideline for sustainable development in the future.
Support to the Organizations and People in the Areas of Power Plant Projects
In 2022, EGAT gave financial support, survival bags, and necessities to the community. EGAT has placed importance on the way of life, living conditions, and the needs of the community, including assistance for relieving disasters which occur in the areas of the power plant sites.
However, the community relations in the areas of power plant projects not only focus on building good understanding, learning about the projects, and developing the quality of life but also place importance on the well-being, demands, and expectations of the community in order for the community and society to live in harmony and get through the crisis together.