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Mystery decision puts Burma dams on hold
Bangkok POst, BREAKING NEWS
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=125863
Rangoon (dpa) - Two controversial hydro-electric power projects
planned for northeastern Burma have been put on hold in the wake of a
change in government in Thailand, the main partner and market for the
hydro-electricity, media reports said Monday.
"The Myanmar (Burmese) side still has not received any official
information concerning the continuation of hydropower projects being
developed between the two nations," an energy expert linked with the
Ministry of Electricty Power told The Myanmar Times, an English-
language weekly.
Burma and Thailand have signed memorandums of understanding for the
construction of two hydropower projects, the Hutgyi and Tasang dams -
in Shan State and Kayin states of Burma, both of which are located on
the Salween River.
The Hutgyi project in Kayin State, worth $1 billion, is to be a joint
venture between Burma Department of Hydropower Implementation (DHPI),
the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) and China's
Sinohydro Corporation.
It will be able to produce 1,200 megawatts (MW) of electricity if it
is finished.
The Tasang hydropower project in Shan State is worth $6 billion and is
expected to generate up to 7,110 MW. If approved, it will be jointly
developed by Thailand's MDX Group and DHPI, with work scheduled to
commence next month, with the project expected to be finished in
2022.
Although the previous military-appointed, interim government in
Thailand never fully backed the projects, the stance of the newly
elected government towards the dams remains unclear.
Both planned dams have been widely criticised by environmentalists for
failing to conduct proper impact studies and by human rights groups
for their anticipated impact on ethnic minority groups, some of which
are waging guerrilla wars against the government, in the area. |
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