Khanom power plant under EGCO Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) to participate in the Thailand Mangrove Alliance. Under this MOU, the power plant will join activities to preserve and sustainably utilize marine and coastal resources in three dimensions – environment, society and economy. The signing ceremony was recently held as part of the International Day for Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem 2024 celebration organized by DMCR, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and partner organizations. The event was chaired by Captain Rachata Pisitbannakorn, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Photo shows (from left to right): Prof. Dr. Sanit Aksornkoae, President of International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems, Captain Rachata Pisitbannakorn, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Mr. Nares Chookird, Managing Director of Khanom Electricity Generating Co., Ltd. and Dr. Pinsak Suraswadi, Director-General of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. 

Mr. Nares Chookird, Managing Director of Khanom Electricity Generating Co., Ltd., said that as part of EGCO Group, Khanom power plant is strongly committed to being a model power plant in environmental conservation and co-exist harmoniously with the community. It has been operating business in parallel with protecting and preserving the mangrove ecosystem. The company considers that mangrove forests play a key role in maintaining natural balance, promoting biodiversity, and improving quality of life of local communities. They are also the key marine animal nursery, the major sources of food and career, the barrier that prevents natural disasters like coastal erosion and polluted water flowing into the sea, and also serve as a highly efficient carbon sink.

“Being part of Thailand Mangrove Alliance, Khanom power plant is willing to support and cooperate with DMCR, private sector and local communities in stepping up the efficiency of the conservation and rehabilitation of mangrove ecosystem. This, we believe, will help alleviate the impact from the Climate Change. Throughout these years, Khanom power plant has continuously implemented mangrove ecosystem conservation and rehabilitation activities in Nakhon Si Thammarat and nearby provinces. Recently, we started working with the Marine and Coastal Resources Office 4 and Prince of Songkla University in the degraded mangrove forest rehabilitation project in Don Sak District, Surat Thani. Under this cooperation, the project will create jobs for local residents who help take care of mangrove forests. At the end of the five-year cooperation, the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (Public Organization) will audit and calculate carbon credit from the project,” said Mr. Nares.

DMCR already signed the 1st Thailand Mangrove Alliance MOU with 33 organizations. And on the International Day for Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem 2024, it signed the 2nd MOU with an additional 25 organizations, including Khanom power plant under EGCO Group. This cooperation covers 24 coastal provinces in Thailand.