Injunction means proposed coal mine cannot go ahead until the Chiang Mai Administrative Court considers alleged corporate breaches of Thai environmental law, affirming a precedent for projects across Thailand
Chiang Mai, Thailand, February 13, 2026 — Thailand’s Supreme Administrative Court today reaffirmed a temporary injunction halting a proposed coal mining project in Omkoi District, Northern Thailand. This is an important victory for Omkoi communities, reaffirming a 2022 injunction by Chiang Mai’s Administrative Court and protecting their fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment.
“This important ruling will protect Omkoi communities from the construction of a destructive coal project. If the mining project is allowed to proceed, it will cause irreparable harm to the community’s natural resources, putting their livelihoods at risk,” said Thornthan Kanmangmee, EarthRights International Legal Advisor.
The lawsuit filed in 2022 alleges that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process failed to undertake meaningful consultation, include community voices or account for the full environmental and social risks that the project would pose to local livelihoods and ecosystems. It demands that the Thai government protect human rights and revoke the flawed EIA. A new EIA must be conducted in a transparent manner and include consultation with communities directly impacted by the mining project as well as the Indigenous Karen communities in Omkoi. The Chiang Mai court will now examine the underlying merits of this claim.
The 2022 injunction from the Chiang Mai Administrative Court was one of the first examples of a project in Thailand being suspended without a court-led investigation after communities raised concerns about an EIA process. Today’s judgment is not only a victory for communities in Omkoi, it highlights that companies across Thailand risk projects being suspended or cancelled if they fail to consult with communities or address the harms generated by their investments.
“I am very glad to hear the court’s order. I almost clapped my hands in the courtroom when I heard the decision. This injunction confirms that the company cannot use the current EIA to further the approval process. I feel that the order from the court protects us,” said Duang Jai, Omkoi community leader.
The lawsuit forms part of a six year-long campaign by communities to stop the proposed lignite coal mine project. Together with ENLAW Foundation, and Center for Protection and Revival of Local Communities, EarthRights’ lawyers, campaigners and trainers are providing legal training and human rights documentation for the Omkoi communities in their campaign.
For more information, please contact:
Thornthan Kanmangmee, thornthan@earthrights.org
Kornkanok Wathanabhoom, kornkanok@earthrights.org
