This study is qualitative research aims to study the socio-economic changes of local communities around the Thai-Malaysia Gas Separation Plant, Songkhla province. Researcher using geographic information system (GIS) to find the villages in radius of 5 kilometers around the Thai-Malaysia Gas Separation Plant and then made a study of community social and economic data between 2540-2554 (B.E.) and using focus group discussions and in-depth interviews method with key informant to the information corresponding to the purpose.
Study results showed that
In economic dimensions, the villagers have to change careers from the agriculture and the coast fisheries are labor due to changes of environment in the community area. As a result, income is certainty because income doesn’t have to depend the abundance of natural resources or market prices. However, this study found the villagers have expenditure increased because the natural food sources have been destroyed and living expenses and career rise due to obvious and the villagers not for saving money.
Land ownership in the community change from villager to capitalist group into buying land for speculation for sales to gas Separation plant. A study found that the purchase price of land sales in the community increased, because the villagers used purchase price land for sale of gas extraction rates, which is the price that is higher than the estimated price.
In term of Social, The construction of a gas separation plant makes the villagers in project plant area to migration due to environmental problems. However, children in the community have been higher levels of education because the parents realize the importance of education.
Suggestion Local governments in the region should come into operation to promote careers to the villagers. Especially the villagers at careers agriculture and fisheries coastal. in order to able live as a community change and the provincial Administration to pollution monitoring from separation Natural gas regularly to reduce anxiety about environmental problems and create the correct understanding.