Tom Daschle, Former United States Senate Majority Leader on his visit to Thailand with Sindicatum
by: Tom Daschle, Former US Senate Majority Leader and Non-Executive Director, Sindicatum Sustainable Resources
I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the extraordinary leadership team of Sindicatum Sustainable Resources, especially Assaad Razzouk, the CEO of this remarkable company for their efforts to accommodate my recent visit to our Sindicatum project sites near Bangkok. It was a most informative and largely pleasurable experience. I was accompanied by Ms. Ilia Rodriguez, a very able member of my senior staff at the law firm, DLA Piper, LLP. The Sindicatum team’s efforts to provide for the logistical support for this memorable trip were above and beyond my expectations.
My visit coincided with a Sindicatum Board meeting that we held in Singapore on October 17th. It was a real pleasure for me to visit Sindicatum’s offices there, to meet with my fellow Board members, and to schedule meetings with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the Foreign Minister, Mr. K. Shanmugam, in addition to meeting with Madame Ho Ching, the CEO of the Temasek Corporation. It was a most informative and productive day.
Now having had the opportunity to give some thought to my visit to the Bangkok facilities, I am impressed with three things in particular.
First, I was especially impressed with the concept of generating 16 MW of renewable electricity from methane biogas from municipal waste. Methane gas is far more harmful to the environment than most greenhouse gasses. This site demonstrates both the superb economic and functional viability of such commercial efforts.
My primary motivation in my association with Sindicatum as a Non-Executive board member is the fulfillment I feel in being a small part of this visionary company’s belief in the need to contribute to meaningful global sustainability. The Bangkok facility is successfully doing so not only by reducing methane gas emissions but by providing the area with an alternative to coal-based fuel.
Second, I was also impressed with the organizational efficiency of this particular site. David Raubenheimer and his remarkable staff are extremely well organized. This site confirms that under top-flight professional leadership and management, in coordination with the able managers of the Bangkok municipal waste facility, maximum safety, an impressive working environment and a significant esprit de corps can be achieved.
Upon our arrival by helicopter, we were warmly greeted by virtually every member of the site staff, notably equipped with helmets and safety vests. Michelle O’Hare, the experienced manager of the site, provided a thorough review of the facility’s infrastructure and organizational plan. We then took a complete tour of both the municipal waste site as well as the power station.
It is clear that largely because of the quality of leadership and workmanship as well as the design of the facility, the commercial viability of this facility could serve as a working model for other waste facilities worldwide.
Finally, I also noted the aesthetic quality of the entire site. While I have very little experience with municipal waste sites, my impression has been that they are not necessarily places that one would call aesthetically pleasing.
However, the Bangkok facility was remarkably clean, orderly and green. Trees and shrubbery are found throughout the vast facility area. And I was especially honored to be invited to plant a tree that will retain my name, which is the custom of the plant management as visitors arrive for tours. Municipal waste sites do not have to be eyesores.
At the beginning of this blog, I mentioned that my experience was largely pleasurable. Even though I have fond memories of my visit to the facility itself, I am still deeply troubled by and concerned for the tens of thousands of people in this beautiful country who are victims of the massive flood that I witnessed during my brief time there.
It is very concerning to consider the vast losses the people of Thailand continue to experience. Our heartfelt sympathy and offer of assistance goes out to all of those who have been so devastated by this horrific experience.
A Note From the Thai Team
On behalf of Sindicatum in Thailand, we would like to express our thanks and gratitude for your time taken to visit our project site. We are very glad to have the chance to welcome our distinguished guests, Senator Tom Daschle, Ms. Ilia Rodriguez, Senator of Nakhonpatom’s province; Senator Somchart and representatives of Group 15.
As always, we are proud to present our project because it is a successful project, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and importantly it is contributing to the country’s effort in promoting renewable energy.
We believe that we have achieved the beginning steps with more challenges to come. We promise to take good care of the plant and await for your return – perhaps a visit to future Sindicatum sustainable resource projects throughout Thailand.
Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to accept your warm concern with regards to our flood disaster. We strongly believe that the Thai people will be able to pass through this difficult situation and soon the beautiful smile will be back to all Thais again.
