Department of Mineral Resources (Thailand)

Department of Mineral Resources (Thailand)
Agency name	Department of Mineral Resources (Thailand)
Native name	กรมทรัพยากรธรณี
Formed	20 September 1916
Jurisdiction	Thailand
Headquarters	Bangkok
Parent agency	Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Thailand)

Department of Mineral Resources (Thailand)

The Department of Mineral Resources (Thailand) is the central Thai agency responsible for mineral resource assessment, geological mapping, and mineral policy implementation under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Thailand). It coordinates technical services, licensing advice, and research supporting national initiatives such as the Eastern Economic Corridor and infrastructure projects like the Bhumibol Dam and the Mae Wong National Park environmental planning. The agency interacts with regional partners including ASEAN, international organizations like the United Nations Development Programme and multilateral initiatives tied to Asian Development Bank financing.

History

Established in the early 20th century during the reign of Vajiravudh (Rama VI), the agency succeeded colonial-era surveys influenced by European institutions such as the British Geological Survey and the Geological Survey of India. Its formative decades paralleled Siamese modernization efforts under Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and involvement with global exhibitions like the Paris Exposition. Post-World War II reconstruction saw collaboration with the United States Geological Survey and technical assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization in mineral reconnaissance. Major milestones include nationwide geological mapping programs supporting projects associated with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and national mineral policy reforms during cabinets of Plaek Phibunsongkhram and later administrations such as Thaksin Shinawatra and Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Organisation and Leadership

The Department is organised into technical divisions, regional offices, and specialist laboratories, with a Director-General appointed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Thailand). Senior leadership liaises with institutions such as Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart University, Mahidol University, and the King Mongkut's Institute of Technology. Regional coordination occurs with provincial authorities including Chiang Mai Province, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, and Songkhla Province. The department participates in policy forums alongside ministers from administrations including Srettha Thavisin and advisory bodies linked to the National Economic and Social Development Council.

Responsibilities and Functions

Core responsibilities include geological surveying for strategic projects like the Bang Sue Grand Station and mineral inventories supporting extractive operations at sites such as Phu Kham Mine and the Tungsten operations in Lampang Province. It issues technical assessments used by licensing bodies, advises environmental impact evaluations for projects near Khao Yai National Park and the Phang Nga Bay region, and supplies data to planning agencies involved in initiatives like the Thailand 4.0 strategy. The department provides hazard assessments relevant to earthquakes affecting regions near the Mae Hong Son fault systems and informs disaster response coordinated with agencies such as the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (Thailand).

Geology and Mineral Exploration Programs

Programs include systematic bedrock and surficial mapping across terrains from the Tenasserim Hills to the Khorat Plateau, mineral deposit models for commodities including copper, tin, gold, gypsum, and potash, and targeted exploration in basins like the Loei Basin and the Saraburi Limestone Belt. Collaborative projects have involved the International Union of Geological Sciences, the World Bank for technical studies, and industry partners like Banpu Public Company Limited and PTT Public Company Limited for resource assessments. The department maintains datasets on occurrences in provinces such as Krabi Province, Ranong Province, and Ubon Ratchathani Province.

Regulatory Framework and Licensing

The Department provides technical input to legal instruments including the Mineral Act of Thailand and works with licensing authorities under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Thailand) to advise on exploration permits, mining concessions, and rehabilitation requirements for sites like the Mae Sot mining areas. It supports compliance monitoring tied to environmental standards enforced through coordination with the Office of the National Water Resources. The department also engages with court processes and administrative reviews when disputes involve concessions linked to companies such as Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction Public Company Limited.

Research, Laboratory and Mapping Services

Laboratories accredited by international schemes perform petrology, geochemistry, mineralogy, and mineral resource estimation used in studies of deposits like the Khao Phra Wihan phosphate occurrences and the Ban Khang gold-silver prospects. The mapping program produces geological maps at scales used by planners from local governments including the Phuket Provincial Administration and transport projects connected to State Railway of Thailand corridors. Research collaborations have been undertaken with the Royal Forest Department and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development to integrate geoscience with land-use planning.

International Cooperation and Capacity Building

The Department participates in regional networks such as the ASEAN Centre for Energy and bilateral cooperation agreements with agencies including the Geological Survey of Japan and the Korean Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources. Capacity-building programs have been funded by donors such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency and implemented in partnership with universities like Thammasat University to train geologists in remote sensing, GIS, and sustainable mining practice. It contributes to transboundary studies involving neighbors Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos on shared mineral belts and sedimentary basins.

Category:Government agencies of Thailand Category:Geology of Thailand Category:Mining in Thailand