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Published on July 27, 2007

Office chief Boonchu Iam-ek told The Nation that he had received the report on the test run of the mill, which had been ordered closed on June 14 for repairs to its roof and dust-control system.

Finding dust emissions within the legal limit, he gave permission for the steel mill in Phattana Nikhom district to reopen.

Namheng Steel hired a certified company to check dust particle levels at two locations - one 300 metres away from the mill and the other about two kilometres away - Boonchu said.

The report indicated that checks from July 20-21 detected 0.064 milligrams per cubic metre of dust particles at the first spot and 0.035 milligrams at the other site. Both were within the standard of 0.33 milligrams, he added.

The shutdown followed complaints from residents of ferrous dust released from the mill. One villager fell ill with emphysema and high blood levels of iron.

Village leader Pranom Ruangsri said the locals hoped the mill would maintain the dust control to the standard achieved during the trial period, despite some fears that the mill's machines were throttled back in order to pass the test.

"If there's any more harmful dust discharged from there, we'll protest," she said.

Boonkhum Thompira, president of the Deelang Tambon Administration Organisation, said his agency would ensure the mill did not let off harmful dust to trouble the residents.

However, decision-making authority rests with the Lop Buri Industrial Works Office, he added.

Somroutai Sapsomboon, The Nation