Industrial Works Department Director General Jullapong Thaveesri announced his resignation at a meeting of the House Industrial Affairs Committee in parliament on Wednesday.

Jullapong was invited by the House committee to explain the illegal movement of cadmium slag, from a landfill in Tak province to Samut Sakhon, Bangkok and Chon Buri, and the recent fire at a warehouse belonging to Win Process, an industrial waste recycling plant in Rayong province.

After giving his explanation of the two incidents, Jullapong told the committee that he was no longer in a position to deal with the two incidents because he had already tendered his resignation to the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Industry.

The announcement of his abrupt departure reportedly stunned the committee’s chairman Akaradej Wongpitakroj and other members who offered him their morale support.

Jullapong was reprimanded by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin during his visit to Rayong last week, to follow up on the fire at the Win Process plant.

Industry Minister Pimpatra Wichaikul also indicated her dissatisfaction over the Industrial Works Department’s handling of chemical leaks from the Aek Uthai Company’s facility in Uthai district of Ayutthaya, also an industrial waste treatment facility.

It is rumoured that Pimpatra was seeking cabinet consent to transfer Jullapong to deputy permanent secretary or an inspector-general position.

Jullapong was due to retire at the end of September this year.