doing business in myanmar – what you need to know as a singaporean
Tigyit coal-fired power plant is not harmful for local residents and is built in accordance with the UN’s standards, said Khin Maung Win, Managing Director of Electric Power Supply Enterprise under the Ministry of Electricity and Energy at the monthly press conference held in Nay Pyi Taw, yesterday.
“The plant cannot be harmful to the people as well as the environment. No one from the factory has been suffering any disease. The factory staffs has been there since the beginning of construction activities. The factory officer has lived there over 50 years,” said Khin Maung Win.
The construction of Tigyit coal-fired power plant is situated in Pinlaung Township, Southern Shan State and it was started in 2001 and completed in 2015. It is built by the China Heavy Machinery Corporation. The advanced equipments were installed at the plant by China-based Wuxi Huaguang Electric Power Engneering Co;Ltd.
The former plant closed in 2014 due to residents’ complaints over environmental damage, public health problems and commercial losses.
Later, China’s Wuxi Huagaung Electric Power Engineering secured an agreement with the government to maintain and continue operating the plant.
“All equipments installed at the plant are modern and up to date. So, there is no dust and gas from the plant and environment is very clean. The Sagaing Region Government Committee, Kayin State Government as well as international organizations have observed the plant,” said Khin Maung Win.
He continued that while some agreed that the plant should be built., some organizations said that the Tigyit coal-fired power plant was not in accord with the standardization of the World Bank and Environmental Impact Assessment because they had other ulterior, self-interests. The region was part of the Pa-O Self Administered Zone. The residents were monitoring the plant. They would like to build another coal-fired power plant. Not only Shan State Government Committee but also Pa-O Self Administered Zone want to establish the coal-fired power plant in their regions.
Myanmar has three coal-fired power plants: Tigyit and Naung Cho in Shan State and Kawthaung in Tanintharyi Region. The previous government planned to build 11 more with private companies.
SOURCE: ELEVEN MYANMAR
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