Water pumps reach Thailand

BANGKOK, November 8 (TNA) - Water pumps from China and Japan have reached Thailand and will help quicken the salvage of flooded industrial estates, according to a senior energy official. Director of the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) Suthep Liamsiricharoen, said on Tuesday 140 water pumps procured from China, and around 120 other sets donated from Japan, should all arrive here by November 20. He said the PTT Group and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand have contributed nearly 30 million baht to the Ministry of Energy on the procurement. Pumps from China are capable of flushing out 450-500 cubic metres of water an hour, while those from Japan, which come in two sizes, are powered to pump 240 and 120 cubic metres of water per hour respectively. According to the EPPO director, the pumps will be assembled at the Bangpakong Power Plant before installed at affected industrial estates, the first being Rojana Industrial Park in Ayutthaya province, where flood waters are receding. He said drainage work should begin on November 17 when the water level is predicted to drop below the height of flood walls, and thereafter completed in 10 days. (TNA)