East Water to work with Thai Oil under clean-fuel water resources project

“Under this MOU, East Water will also be responsible for operating and maintaining water pumps and machinery under the project. We estimate that it could start operating by early 2022,” he said.

“This project will be a key effort in developing water resources for users in the Eastern region and will support Thai Oil’s future clean-fuel campaigns,” Wirat added.

Meanwhile, Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) secretary-general Somkiat Prajamwong said the ONWR board has agreed to a budget of Bt1.37 billion to build a 15-million-cubic-metre reservoir in Ban Nong Krathing, Chachoengsao, to support increasing water usage in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

“We expect the reservoir to be completed in 2025. It will help provide water to 10,000 rai of farmland in the rainy season and 3,000 rai during the dry season,” he said.

“It will also help maintain the ecosystem balance and push salt water away from Bang Pakong river during storm surges.”

Somkiat said the ONWR is studying the possibility to produce freshwater from sea water to solve the water shortage problem in EEC areas during the dry season.

“The project will be piloted in Chon Buri and Rayong and is expected to start next year,” he added.