Thai-Lao Cooperation on Environmental Challenges

Lao Delegation with the Pollution Control Department at SCG Paper Factory

HSF

In four days the delegation of six representatives visited different production sites and improved their knowledge for the topic “Environmental User Fees for Wastewater”.

On the first day, experts of DIW gave an introduction of the legal status and monitoring of wastewater fees in Thailand. In addition, a scientist of the Central Laboratory Center presented methods to analyze water quality which is important for a company in the process of releasing wastewater. Practical examples made this session more interesting and comprehensible for the Lao delegates which engaged them to discuss their issues.

Visiting the wastewater system in the paper factory

HSF

The visit of the Cosmos Brewery in Ayutthaya north of Bangkok gave the study group a deeper insight of the process of wastewater in practice on the second day. The director presented the different products of the brewery which produces the Thai “Chang” beer. He pointed out the partnerships to other countries such as Germany, Denmark and Scotland. In the following he explained the complex process of brewing and emphasized the environmental friendly production of the company. After the presentation the participants could ask questions about the brewery process and wastewater system. A great interest was notable which shows the need of knowledge and exchange in this topic. The group members of MONRE realized the differences to the standards in Laos. While visiting the wastewater tanks and factory site the group members could additionally learn about the process in a practical way.

Conference atmosphere with the Lao delegates

HSF

On the third day the study group and members of the Pollution Control Department of Thailand visited the paper production factory SCG in Ratchaburi province west of Bangkok. In a presentation the director explained the environmental and technical aspects of the paper production process to the participants. While having a look on the wastewater system of the company the study group learned about the different steps before the cleaned water gets back into the public water circulation. The participants of MONRE saw the high level of development in the Thai factories which gives them impulses for the legal process of environmental fees for wastewater they are momentarily working on. An important point was to learn how much the company has to pay to release the wastewater out of the company after usage. Like this the Lao department can adapt their legal draft on the standards of other countries.

Visiting the wastewater tanks of Cosmos Brewery in Ayutthaya

HSF

In the morning of the fourth day MONRE visited the Pollution Control Department in Bangkok. The presentations had a focus on the related laws and regulation of wastewater pollution in Thailand. Additionally there was an opportunity of a deeper exchange between the Environmental experts of both countries. The discussions broaden the awareness of that topic for the Lao government officials and let them think about the different interests of the target groups involved.

As a conclusion the members of MONRE and the Director of the HSF of Thailand and Laos, Mr. Karl-Peter Schönfisch, had a meeting to discuss and evaluate the study visit. The program fulfilled the expectations of the participants to a high degree. In the next months a study tour in Vietnam in cooperation with the HSF office there is planned on the same topic to give an example of the regulations and legal system of another Asian country to find out the most compatible solutions for the related issues in Lao P.D.R.