Myanmar's first Shweli hydroelectric project half built

Apr 20, 2007, 5:55 GMT

Yangon - Construction work on a 600-megawatt hydroelectric project on the Shweli River in upper Myanmar is 51 per cent completed, state-run media reports said Friday.

Senior General Than Shwe, who heads Myanmar's ruling junta, on Thursday led a delegation to visit the project site in Namkham district of the Shan State, 712 kilometres north of Yangon, reported the New Light of Myanmar.

Minister for Electric Power Colonel Zaw Min told the visiting military officers that construction of the approach road and Shweli Bridge have been completed while work on a concrete embankment, the diversion tunnel, the pilot channel and power intake building and the approach tunnel was still underway at the river's first hydroelectric plant.

The first Shweli plant will generate 600 megawatts of electricity, and two others planned on the river will generate 460mw and 360mw, respectively.

A 288 kilometre-long power line will link Shweli to Mandalay, Myanmar's commercial hub, said the daily newspaper.

Than Shwe stressed the need to implement the projects as soon as possible.

Myanmar, which has been under military rule since 1962, suffers from nationwide electricity shortages and blackouts.

The junta is relying largely on hydro-power inland to fuel its national electricity grid, despite concerns about population displacements caused by the construction of dams and environmental damage.

Besides the three hydroelectric plants planned on the Shweli, Myanmar plans to construct five plants on the Salween River with assistance from neighbouring Thailand.

Activists and environmentalists have urged the Thai government to review their involvement in the Salween projects until proper studies have been carried out on the impact on the people and environment in the vicinity of the dams.

In May 2005 the Thai Energy Ministry and Myanmar Ministry of Electric Power signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to build five hydroelectric dams on the 2,800 kilometre Salween River that runs from Tibet through eastern Myanmar and at one point defines the Thai-Myanmar border.

In December 2005 another MOU was signed between the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and Myanmar Department of Hydropower to build the 1 billion dollar Hutgyi dam, on which construction is due to commence in December 2007.

The planned dams will displace tens-of-thousandsof Myanmar villagers living in the Karen, Karrenni and Shan territories, they will also have an unknown impact on Thai villagers living near the Salween River in Mae Hong Son province.