Thep Arunothai Company Limited (Nong Khai Distillery) is ready to solve the odor problem sustainably but is stuck with urban planning issues, which currently do not allow the distillery to carry out renovations. The relevant agencies are in the process of proposing laws to regulate, improve, and increase efficiency to address the problem for the public. Efforts have been accelerated to tackle the issue in the short, medium, and long term so that the distillery can solve the problem sustainably. Local residents are satisfied with the actions taken by both the Nong Khai Distillery and the relevant agencies. Residents noted that the distillery cannot relocate, and in the past, it has consistently solved problems to prevent impacts on the community. The renovations by the Nong Khai Distillery to prevent impacts on the community are considered a positive step. Therefore, they urge the relevant agencies to expedite work on regulations, laws, and various rules to enable sustainable problem-solving.
Thep Arunothai Company Limited (Nong Khai Distillery) is ready to solve the odor problem sustainably but is stuck with urban planning issues, which currently do not allow the distillery to carry out renovations. The relevant agencies are in the process of proposing laws to regulate, improve, and increase efficiency to address the problem for the public. Efforts have been accelerated to tackle the issue in the short, medium, and long term so that the distillery can solve the problem sustainably. Local residents are satisfied with the actions taken by both the Nong Khai Distillery and the relevant agencies. Residents noted that the distillery cannot relocate, and in the past, it has consistently solved problems to prevent impacts on the community. The renovations by the Nong Khai Distillery to prevent impacts on the community are considered a positive step. Therefore, they urge the relevant agencies to expedite work on regulations, laws, and various rules to enable sustainable problem-solving.
Between April and May, local media in Nong Khai province, along with national media and environmental working groups from both government agencies and the private sector, visited Hat Kham Subdistrict and nearby areas in Mueang Nong Khai District, which were affected by odors from Theparunothai Co., Ltd. (Nong Khai Distillery).
Ms. Wanisa Manklang, a resident of Hat Kham Subdistrict who lives near the Nong Khai distillery, told reporters that the distillery has been established for a long time. As far as she can remember, there have always been odor problems. But when the community was affected, what the distillery has consistently done is to quickly address the issue. She learned that the recent odor problem was caused by strong gusts of wind lifting the tarpaulin covering the wastewater treatment pond, which allowed methane gas that had been contained to escape into the outside air, resulting in a strong, widespread odor. Local residents share this information and regard it as an unavoidable incident
“The Nong Khai distillery has been established for a long time. Closing it or relocating the factory would be unfair to their business. In the past, whenever problems arose, the distillery would address them immediately. The villagers have found that most causes are due to unforeseen events, such as natural disasters, which result in foul odors spreading. The Nong Khai distillery has taken steps to remedy this and is known to be actively working on a sustainable solution to the odor problem. However, they are constrained by zoning regulations. Therefore, we would like the relevant agencies to step in to ensure a sustainable solution for the villagers as well,” said Mrs. Vanisa
On May 15, 2026, the Nong Khai Provincial Damrongtham Center, along with relevant agencies, conducted a field inspection of a liquor factory located in Hat Kham Subdistrict, Mueang Nong Khai District, Nong Khai Province. This followed complaints from local residents in Hat Kham Subdistrict through social media about being affected by foul odors, wastewater discharge, and other environmental issues from the liquor factory located in their area. The residents reported that they had been affected for many years but the problems had not been addressed substantively.
Mr. Phaitoon Mahachuenjai, Deputy Governor of Nong Khai Province, assigned Mr. Chayaphon Sonhajak, Director of the Provincial Damrongtham Center Group, Nong Khai Provincial Office, to collaborate with relevant agencies including the Nong Khai Provincial Industry Office, Nong Khai Provincial Public Health Office, Nong Khai Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office, Mueang Nong Khai District Office, and Hat Kham Subdistrict Municipality to conduct an on-site verification of the facts
A meeting was held to question and discuss solutions to the problems with company representatives, including Mr. Phisut Wasulipikorn, Managing Director of the Surabangyikhan Group of Companies; Mr. Saengwat Arunnihit, Senior Factory Manager of the Distillery; and Mr. Thanu Phromrungsi, Project and Innovation Management Office Manager, at the distillery of Thep Arunothai Co., Ltd., Hat Kham Subdistrict, Mueang Nong Khai District, Nong Khai Province. After the meeting, they went on-site to inspect the wastewater treatment pond where the pond's tarp had been damaged and checked the drainage outlet connected to the creek
Inspection results and conclusions regarding the odor: On May 11, 2025, from 11:00 to 12:00, strong gusts of wind caused damage to the cover tarp of the leachate treatment pond (Pond No. 318/5) in two spots, each approximately 3 meters long. This led to methane gas, which had been contained, escaping into the outside air, resulting in a strong odor spreading throughout the area and surrounding vicinity. In terms of corrective measures, in the short term, the damaged tarp will be repaired within 1–2 weeks. Additionally, a gas flare had already been installed on May 14, 2025, to reduce gas and minimize odor. Communication channels will also be opened to provide more information to the public. For medium-term solutions, a new tarp will be installed to increase its strength. For long-term solutions, research will be conducted on controlling reactions in the treatment pond and on color removal processes to prevent impacts on the community
In this regard, the Nong Khai Provincial Industry Office, under the authority of Section 37, paragraph one of the Factory Act B.E. 2535, ordered Thepparunothai Co., Ltd. to carry out corrective actions and report the results by June 13, 2025. This includes emphasizing the need to inspect and control odors from wastewater pond No. 318/6, which is an open pond
Regarding the inspection of water drainage, it was found that the water discharged from the factory consists only of rainwater washing the roads and water from employee residences, and is not related to the production process. The Nong Khai Provincial Industry Office recommended closing the said drainage pipe and digging an internal pond within the factory to accommodate excess rainwater in the future
From the field visits by journalists in Nong Khai Province, as well as journalists from central agencies and private organizations (NGO), it was found that the smell issue from the Nong Khai liquor factory has not been neglected. The factory has been trying to address the problem at its source continuously, such as managing the amount of sediment in wastewater ponds which causes the odor. This involves dredging and converting it into organic fertilizer, improving the gas treatment system to ensure quality, and utilizing the generated gas to produce electricity for use within the factory instead of releasing it and causing a disturbance, among other measures.
However, currently the above methods are hindered by urban planning legal issues, which do not yet allow the factory to make these improvements. Relevant agencies are in the process of proposing legislation to regulate, improve, and increase efficiency in order to resolve the problem for the public. Efforts to address the issue are being expedited both in the short, medium, and long term to enable the factory to solve the problem sustainably. Once approval is granted, it will take some time to implement, with plans to allow government agencies and the public to participate in monitoring and checking the progress
Regarding this issue, the media (Nong Khai provincial media network) together with the media from the central region will closely follow the issue in order to report it to the public so that they are informed of every step of the process.
