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Experts question steel plant's reopening

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A pile of dismantled steel bars from the construction site of the State Audit Office building in April 2025 was found to include products of Xin Ke Yuan Steel Co. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

The government's decision to allow Xin Ke Yuan Steel to resume operations has raised fresh questions about public safety and whether regulations adequately address concerns surrounding steel produced through induction furnace (IF) technology.

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Summary

The debate extends beyond a single steelmaker to the broader issue of how regulators should respond when structural engineers and industry experts continue to raise concerns about materials used in critical infrastructure and buildings.

Xin Ke Yuan Steel is a Chinese company operating in Thailand. The company was accused by the previous government of producing substandard steel products. An earthquake on March 28, 2025, led to the collapse of the 30-storey State Audit Office (SAO) building, killing nearly 100 people.

Read full article at Bangkok Post →