Saraburi: The Primary Industries and Mines Department is preparing 36 disused mines for water storage to help address the drought crisis.
If the mines can be used as planned, their combined capacity will be 166 million cubic metres, said director-general Chat Hongtiamchant.
He said his department found 36 mines whose mining licences had expired or whose operations had stopped and which could potentially be used as reservoirs.
The department has instructed these mines on how to develop water reserves from mine pits and believe they will be completed this year. Nine mines already store 32 million cubic metres of water.
"In the Northeast, which is expected to be the most affected by drought, we've found 11 or 12 potential mines in Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, Nong Bua Lam Phu and Loei," Mr Chat said.
"But they don't have much capacity, just 500,000 or 1 million cu m apiece."
He said water reserves in these mines could be used in the agriculture sector and public utilities since most of them were stone quarries and did not contain toxins.
The department will work with miners and local administrations to install a pipeline network linked with nearby communities or agricultural areas.
"I believe the measure will be finished in time for the drought and, if it's not, we can directly pump up water from the existing reservoirs," , Mr Chat said.
Separately, the department has reported that 10-20 mines failed to meet environmental standards.
Last month Industry Minister Atchaka Sibunruang ordered the inspection of 70 mines.
Mr Chat said the department will give these mines one month to improve.
Mrs Atchaka said during her visit yesterday to Siam Cement Tha Luang and Silasanon mines in Saraburi that they were good examples of high-tech operations with minimal impact on the environment.