Work on a massive hydropower dam appears to be picking up in eastern Myanmar as the electricity-starved nation seeks ways to light more homes amid protests from locals and environmentalists. Locals say employees of a Chinese state-owned power firm in Shan state have been working under heavy guard at the Mong Ton Hydropower project along […]
Locals Upset Over IFC Meeting Regarding Salween Hydropower Project
MANDALAY — Action for Shan State Rivers (ASSR) said on Monday that locals were saddened by the meeting of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) concerning the controversial hydropower projects on the Salween River in Shan State. “Despite disagreements, the IFC held a stakeholder discussion in Taunggyi on Monday, without representatives of impacted locals or local […]
Chinese paper calls opposition to Myanmar dams ‘extreme’
Opposition to Chinese-invested hydropower schemes in Myanmar is being orchestrated by “extreme” groups in the country and has been extremely damaging to joint investment projects, an influential Chinese newspaper wrote on Monday. The suspension in 2011 of the $3.6-billion Myitsone megadam project by former president Thein Sein remains a sore point between the two countries. […]
Aust company under fire over Myanmar dam
AUSTRALIA’S Snowy Mountains Engineering Corp is facing mounting criticism over its role in a 7000 megawatt hydropower project in Myanmar. THE SMEC is undertaking environmental and social impact studies into the construction of the $US8 billion ($A11 billion) Mong Ton Dam, overseen by China’s Three Gorges Corp, in Myanmar’s eastern Shan State. SMEC’s efforts to […]
Thanlwin dam still in the planning stages
Planned hydropower projects on the Thanlwin river are still in the early stages, according to Ministry of Electric Power officials, disputing claims in Thai media that a memorandum of understanding for one project will be signed later this year. Thai newspaper The Nation reported on July 15 that Thailand, Myanmar and China are to sign […]