A total of 117 small fishery business operators will be among the first group to receive compensation from PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) over the oil spill off the coast of Rayong province on July 27.
The Rayong Administration Office, which screened businesses that were damaged or disrupted from the oil slick, reported on Thursday that 400 small fishery operators had lodged complaints for compensation but only 117 operators had had their identities and documentation completed.
Energy Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisarn said each operator expected to receive about 30,000 baht, calculated on the average revenue from fishery products sales at 1,000 baht per day and revenue disrupted for 30 days.
The payment date is expected to be on Saturday.
The Rayong Administration Office has not finished screening oil slick-affected hotel and restaurant business operators.
The third group are traders and service workers, such as pickup drivers. The fourth group are those whose health has been affected.
“Everyone that directly or undirectly received an impact from the oil slick will be fairly paid compensation that I have ordered PTT and PTTGC to pay,” Mr Pongsak said.
PTTGC, Thailand’s largest petrochemical producer, reported to the government that the clean-up process is now at 99%, with only some rocks still contaminated with oil.
Earlier, the Rayong Administration Office told the PTTGC to complete its clean-up operation by next Monday to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday.
PTT chief executive Pailin Chuchottaworn said PTT volunteers and Royal Thai Marine staff will continue cleaning until local authorities and the Pollution Control Department are satisfied.
The oil-slick removing operation started on July 30.
On damage to marine life and the environment, PTT, in cooperation with marine experts from Kasetsart University, will closely monitor and examine the area for a year to make sure that the slick is completely gone.
The Post Publishing PCL 1996-2013