Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi is pushing ahead with plans to regulate biomass-fuelled power plants after a study found that some are causing pollution.
Authorities and local people should work together to find ways to solve problems, Mr Plodprasop said during a workshop held yesterday to draft plans to protect villagers from pollution from these plants.
Mr Plodprasop heads the National Health Commission, the state's health adviser, which has acknowledged concerns over pollution voiced by the Health Assembly, a state-sponsored forum for officials, scholars and the public.
He said a plan to solve the problem, drafted by participants from the state and private sectors, will be forwarded to the cabinet for consideration.
Biomass refers to biological matter, such as woodchips and tree bark, that is burned to fuel power plants.
Although biomass is considered a renewable energy source and an alternative to fossil-based fuels, some power plants are thought to fail to curb emissions and are viewed as posing a danger to the environment and nearby communities.
While it is true biomass power plants can help the country deal with energy shortages and reduce costs for manufacturers, the plants' "poor burning process will lead to pollution", Mr Plodprasop told the workshop.
The Energy Ministry should gather information on power production and consumption to draft provincial biomass master plans, the workshop agreed.
Eleven provinces _ Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, Chiang Rai, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Phatthalung, Trang, Krabi and Satun _ will be the first to implement the plans.
The participants also agreed to have the Energy Ministry and the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning launch measures to upgrade the environmental management of biomass power plants and to zone areas for the building of new plants to minimise their effects on nearby farms and communities.