Thailand faces drought risk

Water levels in Thailand's major reservoirs are alarmingly low, with only 19% usable for domestic use, agriculture and ecosystem protection.

This is the content of a report recently released by the National Water and Climate Data Center of Thailand.

The situation in western Thailand is most worrying as only 13% of the water in reservoirs is currently usable, according to the report.

The Chao Phraya River basin needs 12 billion cubic meters of water during the dry season and early rainy season, but the total water supply from Thailand's four main reservoirs is only about 4.5 billion cubic meters, according to the report. Thai authorities expect to be able to compensate for about 7.5 billion cubic meters of water during the remaining 140 days of this year's rainy season.

Thailand officially entered the rainy season on May 23, but many northern and northeastern provinces are still facing drought.

Meanwhile, according to the Joint Standing Committee of Commerce, Industry and Banking of Thailand (JSCCIB), droughts, floods and other extreme weather events caused by climate change could cost the Thai economy 36 billion baht (more than 1 billion USD) in 2023.

Water scarcity due to drought is the committee's top concern, as it could have huge impacts on the agricultural and manufacturing sectors as well as exports, said Mr. Kriengkrai Thiennukul, President of the Federation of Thai Industries, a member of JSCCIB.

“Producers are very concerned about the risk of drought, as it could reduce production capacity and affect exports, which are already in a stagnant state,” he said.

According to data from the Thai Ministry of Commerce, in the first four months of 2023, Thailand's exports fell 5.2% year-on-year to just $92 billion. Meanwhile, imports also fell 2.2% to $96.5 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $4.51 billion.

Signs of a slowdown in exports have been apparent since late 2022, when key economic indicators showed a decline in exports amid concerns about a recession in 2023.

Earlier, on May 31, JSCCIB sent a proposal to Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to deal with the drought. The committee hopes to work with the Thai government to find ways to prevent serious impacts caused by water shortages.

Businesses also want authorities to prepare medium- and long-term solutions to ensure that investment projects, especially those in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), can continue to operate.

The EEC area, spanning three provinces of Chon Buri, Rayong and Chachoengsao, is home to many factories in 12 important industries and is expected to become a high-tech industrial hub of the country and a driving force for the Thai economy.

According to Mr Kriengkrai, businesses have prepared risk management plans to deal with the problems of floods and droughts. In the manufacturing industry, companies are applying 3R measures (reduce, reuse and recycle water) to ensure there is enough water for use in the production process. Companies are also persuading farmers to use more innovative technologies to help them conserve precious water supplies.

However, in the long term, the Thai government needs to play an important role in dealing with issues related to drought and floods, according to Mr. Kriengkrai.

MH (reported by VTV, Nhan Dan)

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