Myanmar’s junta seeks hydropower investors
Myanmar’s junta, which came to power in a coup d’etat in February 2021 and has since had to deal with the problem of a rapidly deteriorating economy, is now trying to entice investors into hydropower to the country which is under sanctions imposed by most Western countries.
On July 5, the junta simultaneously opened bidding on six hydropower projects throughout the country in an attempt to expand the sector, which has been long criticised by the public and civil society for causing environmental degradation, land grabs and armed conflict, according to Myanmar Now.
According to Myanmar’s electricity and energy ministry, two of the planned new hydropower sites would be located in northern Kachin state and two in eastern Shan state, another one in eastern Kayah state – believed to be the largest of the six projects – and one in central Mandalay region.
Mostly smaller dams
The deadline for pitches by investors is November 18, according to the junta announcement, which did not detail the exact locations of the projects or how many megawatts of electricity the proposed dams are expected to produce.
It is understood that the majority of the planned dams are just small ones, only generating up to 25 megawatts, while the one in Kayah state would be designed to produce around 240 megawatts.
“Not the right time to invest”
However, it is to be expected that the international interest in the projects will be subdued.
Civil rights organisations in Myanmar are advising against foreign participation. Among them, Shan Human Rights Foundation called on international backers not to bid or withdraw from any such projects, saying it was “not the right time to invest in the country.”
The foundation also reported that dam workers in some regions joined anti-coup protests and disobedience movements.
Communities oppose dam projects
Further, local communities around dam sites in Myanmar have long objected to the environmental degradation, land grabs, militarisation, human rights abuses and widespread displacement resulting from the implementation of dam projects, for which they never have been meaningfully consulted.
Still, some Chinese companies are reportedly interested in investing in the Myanmar hydropower industry. One Chinese company had previously worked on dam projects with the Htoo Group of Companies, owned by Myanmar business tycoon Tay Za who is said to have close ties to the junta.
Myanmar has the potential for more than 100 gigawatts of hydropower, the electricity ministry said. At present, there are 27 hydropower stations with a total installed capacity of 3,221 megawatts.
The largest potential is to be found in the Kayin, Shan and Kayah states, where the Salween River is the major hydropower resource.
[caption id="attachment_38605" align="alignleft" width="300"] The Yeywa Hydropower Station in Mandalay region[/caption] Myanmar’s junta, which came to power in a coup d’etat in February 2021 and has since had to deal with the problem of a rapidly deteriorating economy, is now trying to entice investors into hydropower to the country which is under sanctions imposed by most Western countries. On July 5, the junta simultaneously opened bidding on six hydropower projects throughout the country in an attempt to expand the sector, which has been long criticised by the public and civil society for causing environmental degradation, land grabs and armed conflict,...
Myanmar’s junta, which came to power in a coup d’etat in February 2021 and has since had to deal with the problem of a rapidly deteriorating economy, is now trying to entice investors into hydropower to the country which is under sanctions imposed by most Western countries.
On July 5, the junta simultaneously opened bidding on six hydropower projects throughout the country in an attempt to expand the sector, which has been long criticised by the public and civil society for causing environmental degradation, land grabs and armed conflict, according to Myanmar Now.
According to Myanmar’s electricity and energy ministry, two of the planned new hydropower sites would be located in northern Kachin state and two in eastern Shan state, another one in eastern Kayah state – believed to be the largest of the six projects – and one in central Mandalay region.
Mostly smaller dams
The deadline for pitches by investors is November 18, according to the junta announcement, which did not detail the exact locations of the projects or how many megawatts of electricity the proposed dams are expected to produce.
It is understood that the majority of the planned dams are just small ones, only generating up to 25 megawatts, while the one in Kayah state would be designed to produce around 240 megawatts.
“Not the right time to invest”
However, it is to be expected that the international interest in the projects will be subdued.
Civil rights organisations in Myanmar are advising against foreign participation. Among them, Shan Human Rights Foundation called on international backers not to bid or withdraw from any such projects, saying it was “not the right time to invest in the country.”
The foundation also reported that dam workers in some regions joined anti-coup protests and disobedience movements.
Communities oppose dam projects
Further, local communities around dam sites in Myanmar have long objected to the environmental degradation, land grabs, militarisation, human rights abuses and widespread displacement resulting from the implementation of dam projects, for which they never have been meaningfully consulted.
Still, some Chinese companies are reportedly interested in investing in the Myanmar hydropower industry. One Chinese company had previously worked on dam projects with the Htoo Group of Companies, owned by Myanmar business tycoon Tay Za who is said to have close ties to the junta.
Myanmar has the potential for more than 100 gigawatts of hydropower, the electricity ministry said. At present, there are 27 hydropower stations with a total installed capacity of 3,221 megawatts.
The largest potential is to be found in the Kayin, Shan and Kayah states, where the Salween River is the major hydropower resource.
