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Thailand and Burma to sign hydroelectric dam pact
Bangkok Post. 7 December 2005.
(TNA)
Thailand and Burma plan to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on joint investment in building a series of hydroelectric dams on the Salween River in Burma on Friday, Egat President Kraisi Kanasuta said.
Mr. Kraisi said the construction of five dams had been planned along the Salween River and is expected, when completed, to generate a total of more than over 10,000 megawatts of power.
The project is designed not only to secure electricity for Thailand, but also to generate much-needed income for Burma, he said, while Thailand will benefit from low cost electricity.
The project could also help support an integrated power grid plan of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), according to Mr. Kraisi.
On Friday Egat, formerly a state enterprise previously known as the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, would sign the MOU with Myanmar's state electricity organisation to jointly invest in construction of the series dams along the Salween River, he confirmed.
The energy ministers of the two countries will witness the signing ceremony, he said.
The Hat Gyi Hydroelectric Dam is expected to be the first of the series of dams to be built, he said, taking five to six years to complete, for a capacity of 1,200 megawatts.
The dam is near the Thai-Burma border, opposite Mae Sot district of Tak Province.
China has expressed interest in joining the project, he said, adding that the Chinese participation is expected to reduce the cost of construction.
"China has nearly completed the T-Gorges Dam along the Yangtse River; so equipment can be moved to for use at the Salween dams project," Mr. Kraisi said.
Further discussions must be conducted before deciding on China's participation, the Egat president said.
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