Residents fight Mitr Phol Biofuel over stinky molasses ponds

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In Thailand, local residents in Kalasin signed a petition asking biofuel company, Mitr Phol BioFuel Co Ltd, an affiliated firm of Mitr Phol Group, to stop expanding molasses storage that they credit with causing pollution in the area. Residents that signed the petition to try and stop the construction of three new molasses ponds because the existing 10 ponds are leaking, have pungent smells, and are causing pollution in the community.

Sugar refining and ethanol processing are why they have the molasses ponds but residents say they were never informed by Mitr Phol BioFuel before they built the earlier ponds and only held a public hearing after the first pond was already more than half way built.

Residents told the Bangkok Post that respiratory illnesses have been on the rise ever since the stinky ponds were built.