THPC's investment in community infrastructure is making a huge contribution to socio-economic development in the project area.

Each of the resettlement villages features a purpose-built primary and secondary school, health center, access roads and supply of clean water and electricity to each household. In addition to private housing, community buildings such as village halls and temples have been constructed and roads to the national highway upgraded. Additional schools and clinics have been built where required by local authorities.

To aid agriculture, demonstration centres and nurseries have installed at strategic points around the project area and irrigation systems set up have been newly built or renovated and expanded around both resettlement and relocation villages.

THPC has spent over US$60 million on its SED programs so far, with much of this sum used for provision of public infrastructure that gives people and communities better opportunities for the future. However, the company sees the supply of new buildings and equipment only as the beginning in a gradual process of development that requires long-term input to help people adapt to new livelihoods and establish sustainable systems.

THPC has built and installed a wide range of facilities in project-area villages, including schools, health centers, meeting halls, temples, markets, houses, water and electricity supply, irrigation and roads. All infrastructure is handed over to the relevant local authorities and as part of the handover process, THPC committed to undertake maintenance of the assets for fixed period of time. Thereafter, the community and relevant government authority become responsible for maintenance issues. Following handover of infrastructure, THPC and the local authorities have entered into support agreements as follows:

• Irrigation: 5-year support program
• Roads: 5-year support program
• Water supply: 3-year support program

Whilst the future maintenance of infrastructure supplied by THPC is the responsibility of local authorities and villages and also established the community-based maintenance fund with jointly fund contribution from the community.  THPC has been working to develop local capacity for such maintenance in order to improve sustainability. The approach encourages local ownership and independence by showing stakeholders how to keep their assets in good condition and working order in order to align with a ten-year period of Social Management Plan for Operations (SMPO) 2018-2027.