Electrical industry of burma/myanmar
NEGATIVE IMPACT OF CHINA’S HYDROPOWER INVESTMENTS IN MYANMAR
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- Bu səhifədəki naviqasiya:
- Compiler’s note
- Additional references See below: ‘Hydropower projects generate concern in South Asia ’ (
- DATANG BEGINS OPERATIONS AT TAPEIN RIVER HYDROPOWER PLANT
- Topographic map references
- Additional references Data summary: Tapein-1 Tapein-2 See above: ‘China’s infrastructure investment seen as cause of Kachin conflict’ (
- ADVANCED INSULATOR FACTORY OPENED IN CHAUK TOWNSHIP
- Additional references
- RICE HUSKS USED TO POWER URBAN WARDS
NEGATIVE IMPACT OF CHINA’S HYDROPOWER INVESTMENTS IN MYANMAR International Crisis Group (ICG), China’s Myanmar Strategy: Elections, Ethnic Politics and Economics, pp 8, 12, 14, 15, 16 (Beijing, 21/09/10). http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/north-east-asia/B112%20Chinas%20Myanmar%20Strategy%20%20Elections%20Ethnic%20Groups%20and%20Economics.ashx [Compiler’s note: The selection below from ICG’s report is limited to those parts which refer to China’s hydropower investment in Myanmar. The report itself is richly footnoted and should be consulted for further reference purposes.] Myanmar’s hydropower resources are a target for investment because they offer an abundant source of inexpensive energy close to the border that can be used to satisfy growing Chinese demand. Beijing also hopes that Myanmar’s hydropower resources can help improve the ratio of clean energy in its power companies’ output. All five state-owned Chinese power companies are investing in Myanmar’s hydropower sector. Official data does not depict the full extent of China’s economic engagement in Myanmar. Chinese build-operate-transfer (BOT) projects are classified as government loans/aid and therefore omitted from official investment figures. Major BOT projects such as the $440 million Shweli-1 hydropower station constitute a significant influx of Chinese capital. The level of Chinese investment is also underreported because many private companies and individual investors invest under local partners’names to gain preferential treatment reserved for nationals. And while Chinese investment in the areas controlled by the ethnic groups is also rising, it is often not included as foreign investment in official reporting because government control in these areas is weak or non-existent. Several factors contribute to China’s deteriorating image in Myanmar. First, the distribution of benefits from large projects is regarded as unequal and unfair. The colossal Myitsone Dam in Kachin State is expected to send most of the power generated to China after its scheduled completion in 2017. This is widely resented by local residents, who continue to suffer serious electricity shortages. “We don’t want dams. SPDC and China Power Investment (CPI) signed an agreement without giving notice to Kachin people to construct seven dams in Kachin State. All the power will support China. It is not for locals, it’s not for our country”. According to a Kachin leader, “The Chinese government and Chinese companies are a big vacuum; they suck all the resources out of Kachin State, making it a desert, which is fully resented by the Kachin people”. The Kachin resent that they are often unable to compete against Chinese companies which dominate gem mining in small-to-medium scale operations. There is also considerable anger towards Chinese companies that import labour rather than hire locally. Local communities also suffer from damage to their traditional ways of life and to the environment by Chinese projects. The Myitsone dam project will displace up to 15,000 farmers and fishermen, who will lose their original livelihoods. The dam will alter the environment, ecology and biodiversity of the region, including the river itself, yet no independent, international impact assessment has been conducted. Local residents have not received relocation compensation from CPI, which argues that the money has been paid to Naypyidaw. Many found that replacement housing was “uninhabitable”. Local people further complain about disregard for sacred sites and cultural artefacts. A Burmese analyst noted that while ethnic Chinese have lived in Kachin State for decades, if not centuries, the antipathy towards them was relatively new. Immigrant Chinese are often scapegoats for the unaccountable behaviour of Chinese companies and Naypyidaw. As negative impressions of Chinese companies grow within Myanmar, China increasingly recognises the threat local opposition poses to its business and security interests. Chinese mining and hydropower projects are frequently targets of protest and condemnation by local and international organisations. In April 2010, a series of bombs exploded at the Myitsone dam construction site. The military government suspected the KIO, but Kachin leaders deny the organisation was behind the bombing. On the ground near the blast site, several sources have said that local resentment of the project was so widespread that anyone could have been responsible. Civil society groups warn the bombing signals that border ethnic groups’ grievances may cause further violent backlash against Chinese investment. But Beijing’s pursuit of its interests in Myanmar is encountering significant hurdles. The location of largescale Chinese energy investments – including in Kachin, Shan and Rakhine States – links their security to the stability of ethnic group areas. Yet many projects are increasing resentment of China in Myanmar, due to unequal distribution of benefits, environmental damage and harmful impacts on local communities and traditional ways of life. If China does not act to limit the negative impact of its companies in Myanmar, it risks increasing tensions in ethnic group areas and possible violent backlash, all of which would undermine its economic and security interests. China’s efforts at enhancing its relationship with Naypyidaw could also affect relations with the ethnic groups to the extent that it may no longer be able to act as a broker of talks and instead becomes a target of protest itself. Additional references See below: ‘Hydropower projects generate concern in South Asia’ (Asian Energy: 15/03/09) ‘China petitioned on Burma dam projects’ (dpa: 02/12/07) ‘China - ASEAN Power Co-operation & Development Forum: Notes’ (CEC: 29/10/07) ‘Chinese hydropower investment in Mekong region: Perspectives’ (LRS: 29/09/07) ================================================================================== DATANG BEGINS OPERATIONS AT TAPEIN RIVER HYDROPOWER PLANT Interfax, 03/09/10. http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/news_display.1256086555.html China Datang Corp., one of China's five largest power generators, has put a 240-megawatt (MW) hydro-power plant into operation on the Tapein river in northeastern Myanmar, the company announced Sept. 2. According to China Datang, four generators each with an installed capacity of 60 MW are now operational. The company plans to boost the installed capacity of the RMB 1.7 billion ($250 million) hydropower plant to 400 MW in the future, allowing the plant to generate a total of 1.07 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year, Datang said. Under a BOT (build-operate-transfer) contract between Datang and the Myanmar government, Datang will operate the plant for 40 years before transferring it to Myanmar. Over 90 percent of the electricity produced at this plant will be transmitted back to China, Datang said. Construction of the plant was started in December 2007. Topographic map references: China 1:250,000: Series L500, U.S. Army Map: NG 47-13: Lung Ling Tapein-1 hydropower project is near Kalonkha [Hkalunghko: 24°25' N, 97°31' E], grid square : 38\3, 8\3.
The site of Tapein-2 hydropower project is reported to be a few miles downstream from Tapein-1, probably near the village of Kalehkyet [24°21' N, 97°27' E] grid square 38\2, 8\2. http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/burma/txu-oclc-6924198-ng47-13.jpg Additional references Data summary: Tapein-1 Tapein-2 See above: ‘China’s infrastructure investment seen as cause of Kachin conflict’ (IRROL: 16/06/11) ‘Tapein-1 hydropower plant in Kachin state officially opened ‘ (NLM: 24/01/11) See below: ‘China Datang and Shwetaung team up for six hydropower projects’ (NLM: 20/01/11) ‘Agreement on four hydro projects signed with Datang (Yunnan)’ (PRC Comm: 15/01/10) 'Ministers meet with PRC suppliers in Nanning and Wuhan’ (NLM: 06/11/06) ‘Taping river hydropower projects under discussion in China’ (Hubei Daily: 04/11/06) Xinhua, 18/06/11. Excerpt. http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/7413878.html The Tarpein hydropower project is a heavily-invested joint venture project between Myanmar's Ministry of Electric Power-1 and Datang (Yunnan) United Hydropower Developing Company of China. Of the two-phase 400-megawatt project, the first phase of the 240-megawatt (mw) Tarpein-1 hydropower plant comprising four 60-mw generators has been completed yielding power at 1,065 million kilowatt-hours yearly. The remaining 160-megawatt plant project is underway. NLM, 25/09/10. Edited. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs09/NLM2010-09-25.pdf A ceremony was held at the hall of the Ministry of Electric Power-1 in Nay Pyi Taw on 23/09/10 to give work permits, company registration certificates, legal opinions and concession rights to the Upstream Ayeyawady Confluence Basin Hydropower Co Ltd for the Myithson hydropower project and to Dapein-1 Hydropower Co Ltd for the Tarpein-1 hydropower project. Vice-President Zhang Xiaolu of of China Power Investment Corp received the documents on behalf of the Upstream Ayeyawady Confluence Basin Hydropower Co Ltd and President Kou Bing-en of China Datang Overseas Investment Co Ltd received the documents on behalf of the Dapein-1 Hydropower Co Ltd. Also present on the occasion were government ministers and officials and Managing Director Tun Myint Naing of Asia World Co Ltd, and Chairman U Myint Lwin of Tarmoenye Chantha Co Ltd. NLM, 23/09/10. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs09/NLM2010-09-23.pdf EPM-1 Zaw Min received Chief Economist of China Datang Corp , Chairman Wu Jing and President Kou Bing-en party of China Datang Overseas Investment Co Ltd and Chairman of the Datang (Yunnan) United Hydropower Developing Co Ltd (DUHD), all of the PRC on 22/09/10. They discussed cooperation in hydropower projects. International Crisis Group, China’s Myanmar Strategy: Elections, Ethnic Politics and Economics, p. 12 (Beijing, 21/09/10). http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/north-east-asia/B112%20Chinas%20Myanmar%20Strategy%20%20Elections%20Ethnic%20Groups%20and%20Economics.ashx Footnote 129: Datang Group’s B.O.T agreement with the EPM-1 on the Taiping-1 hydropower project was omitted from Myanmar Ministry of National Planning and Development's investment figures for 2009, citing 《大唐与缅甸第一电力部签署太平江一期水电项目合资协议》 [“Datang signs joint venture agreement on Taiping River I hydropower project with Myanmar’s First Electricity Ministry”], Datang Group, 30 December 2009. NLM, 26/09/09. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs07/NLM2009-09-26.pdf EPM-1 Zaw Min received President Wujing of China Datang Overseas Investment Co Ltd and party from the PRC at the ministry in Nay Pyi Taw on 25/09/09. KNG, 26/09/09. (edited and condensed) http://www.kachinnews.com/index.php/news/1120-chinese-citizens-from-eastern-burma-asked-to-return.html Chinese border authorities have been collecting names and making a list of hundreds of PRC citizens working in the two hydropower project sites on the Dapein river in the Bhamo district since last week. The sites are situated near the China border. Observers in the border area in northern and northeastern Burma believe the registration may be related to a possible outbreak of violence between ethnic armies along the border and the Burmese army. NLM, 08/05/09. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs07/NLM2009-05-08.pdf PM Thein Sein and his entourage visit Tarpein-1 hydropower site near Kanlonkha village in Moemauk township. He is briefed by EPM-1 Zaw Min on the Tapein-1 and Chiphwaynge projects and presents a basket of fruits to the technicians of the Datang (Yunnan) United Hydropower Developing Co Ltd (DUHD) of the PRC. The main dam is being paved with concrete and construction work is proceeding on the intake structures. The concrete dam is 672 feet long and 151 feet high and has a catchment area of 2400 square miles, The 240-MW power plant is expected to produce 1065 million kWh hours annually. [A frontal aerial view of the dam site is included in the print edition of NLM.] KNG, 25/03/09. http://www.kachinnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=763:kio-junta-lock-horns-over-taping-hydropower-projects&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50 A KIA outpost in the border area where the Datang company from China is building two hydropower dams on the Taping river was destroyed by the Burmese army on 27 February, but it has since been restored. However Burmese army soldiers continue to man their own outpost along the Myitkyina-Bhamo road and no one is allowed entry to the project sites except the company's workers, said local eyewitnesses. NLM, 27/01/09. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs6/NLM2009-01-27.pdf Deputy EPM-1 Myo Myint inspects the Tapaing-1 hydel power plant project, 30 miles NE of Bhamo. He visits the dam site and checks on construction of the dam. The project is being implemented by Construction Group 5 of the ministry. Work is proceeding on the diversion tunnel and two intake channels. Earth work is continuing. The power plant will be equipped with four 60-megawatt generators. NLM, 01/11/08. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs5/NLM2008-11-01.pdf President Wu Jing of Datang (Yunnan) United Hydropower Developing Co Ltd visits Nay Pyi Taw for discussions related to Tarpein-1 hydropower project. IRROL, 01/10/08. http://www.irrawaddymedia.com/article.php?art_id=14360 Tensions soared in Moemauk township where Chinese construction workers are building a dam across the Tarpein river. Chinese authorities [company officials?] refused to pay a tax to the Kachin Independence Organization which claims control over the area. The KIO responded by deploying soldiers around the two [?] dams in mid September, causing Chinese workers on the project to flee and construction was suspended. Sources close to the KIO said that the workers returned and the project resumed about a week ago after the Chinese paid 1.5 million yuan (US $220,916) to the KIO. The negotiation was reportedly mediated by newly appointed Northern Commander Soe Win. The Tarpein-1 hydroelectric dam is designed to generate a capacity of 240 MW and is located about 3.5? (6 km) miles from Momauk town, while Tarpein-2, which should generate 168 MW, is located about 6 miles (10 km) downstream of Tarpein-1. According to a Kachin environmentalist, Naw La, who is coordinator of the Chiang Mai-based Kachin Environmental Organization, about 30pc of the construction work at Tapein-1 project has been completed. (Compiler’s note: The distance from Momauk town appears to be about 18 (29 km) miles, judging from the map) NLM, 27/09/08. http://203.81.72.132/newpaper/279newsn.pdf Director-General [Aung Ko Shwe] of the Hydropower Implementation Dept of EPM-1 and President Wu Jing of the Datang Yunnan United Hydropower Developing Co Ltd of the PRC signed an MoU on the implementation of Tapain-[Taping]-2 hydropower project in a ceremony at the Ministry in Nay Pyi Taw on 25/09/08. It is learnt that Tapain -2 hydropower project is of 160-MW capacity. KNG, 30/07/08. http://www.kachinnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=327:1000-acres-of-paddy-fields-flooded-in-heavy-rain-in-bhamo&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50 Construction of two hydroelectric power projects is underway side by side in China and Burma on the Taping River, also called Ta Hkaw Hka in Kachin. Dow Jones, 04/03/08. http://news.morningstar.com/newsnet/ViewNews.aspx?article=/DJ/200803040541DOWJONESDJONLINE000209_univ.xml Chinese power producer Datang Group will take a controlling stake in a hydropower project in Burma. Datang's total investment in the [Taping river] project will be up to CNY 1.6 billion [US$ 225 million], GM Zhai Ruoyu said in Beijing. The installed capacity of the hydropower plant will be 180 MW, Zhai said. ================================================================================== ADVANCED INSULATOR FACTORY OPENED IN CHAUK TOWNSHIP NLM, 04/09/10. Edited and condensed. The opening of the Advanced Insulator Factory of Myanma Ceramic Industries took place near Chauk on 03/09/10. Among those taking part in the ceremony was Director Yin Htwe of Unicom Trade & Travel Co Ltd. Afterwards, Managing Director Soe Yi of MCI reported on production, maintenance of the machines, availability of raw materials and supply of quality insulators needed. Gifts were presented to the foreign experts who had taken part in building the plant. The quality insulators produced at the factory, which is located about four milles southwest of the city of Chauk, will help to reduce imports from abroad. It will also make effective use local workers to manufacture quality products. It is expected to make about 800 tons of insulators a year up to the standards of 383/ BS-137 of the International Electro-technical Commission. The disc type, post type and pin type high voltage-resistant insulators wil be installed on 500-kV, 230-kV, 66-kV, 33-kV and 11kV power grids throughout the country. [A photo of the insulators produced at the factory can be found in the print edition of NLM.] Additional references See above: 'Factories urged to speed up production of lampposts and wiring' (NLM: 30/05/07) NLM, 15/06/10. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs09/NLM2010-06-15.pdf On a visit to Chauk PM Thein Sein inspects the insulator factory and is briefed on test production of resistors by MD U Soe Yi of Myanma Ceramics Industries. EPM-2 Khin Maung Myint reports on orders to be placed for the resistors which will be used in the construction of pylons. [Photos of the interior of the factory and of the resistors produced there are included in the print edition of NLM.] NLM, 05/05/07. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/07nlm/n070505.htm Industry Minister No 1 checks on advanced porcelain insulator factory project of MCI in Chauk. NLM, 24/03/07. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/07nlm/n070324.htm From a report to the Special Projects Implementation Committee. The Ministry of Industry No 1 will implement the Advanced Insulator Factory Project (Chauk) that will manufacture 800 tons of advanced insulators a year. The factory will be built beside Chauk-Sale road, four miles from Chauk. The insulators are used in power lines. The Ministry of Industry No 2 will establish a factory in Pahtosan Village of Magway township to produce aluminum conductor steel reinforced cables to be used for the grid. NLM, 30/11/05. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/05nlm/n051130.htm Unicom Trade and Travel Co Ltd of Thailand won a contract to export machinery and provide technical assistance to the porcelain insulator factory project of Myanmar Ceramics Industries (MCI) to be built in Chauk. ================================================================================== RICE HUSKS USED TO POWER URBAN WARDS Thae Thae Htwe, Myanmar Times, 23/08/10. http://mmtimes.com/2010/timeout/537/med.html Rice husk-powered power plants will be used to provide 24-hour electricity to some wards in the Rakhine State capital Sittwe, The Yangon Times reported on 19/08/10. The report said the project was about 60 percent finished but did not give an expected completion date. The generators will be used to provide electricity to police stations, Peace and Development Council offices, the telegraph office, Sittwe General Hospital and residential areas in some wards. The report did not say how many megawatts the new plants will be able to generate. The Sittwe Department of Electricity is not able to provide electricity to all areas of the city and many wards rely on small generators, the report said. Rice husk plants are used not only villages but also in urban areas of Mrauk U, Minbya, Taungup and Kyauktaw townships, the report said. Additional references See above: ‘Arakan members electricity supply questions in parliament’ (NLM: 15/03/11) See below: 'Interest growing in rice-husk generation’ (MT: 10/07/06) ‘Sittway power company plagued by diesel deficit’ (Narinjara News, 25/03/03)
An elder from Sittwe said local residents would protest if generators fueled by paddy-husks are allowed to continue supplying power supply to the city. "The existing paddy-husk generators have not only polluted the air, but also destroyed the ecosystem in our town. So, we intend to protest if the authorities allow those generators to be the main source of electricity in Sittwe," he said. Several privately owned generators have been set up in the city, as the government-run diesel generators are too worn out to produce enough power even on a rationed supply basis for the city. The privately operated paddy-husk generators are located near creeks and their waste is dumped into the creeks, where it is then carried to the rivers and the sea. The waters and beaches around the town have already been spoiled and marine life endangered. The stench and smoke emitted from the generators also pollutes the air in the town.
A mixed husk-fired gas and diesel power station was opened near milepost 146/4 along the Yangon - Sittwe highway by the chairman of the Myanmar Inventors Co-op and a representative of the Kyauktaw Township Electric Power Supply Board. Two 250-KVA turbines are installed at the station. NLM, 23/10/08. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/08nlm/n081023.htm A 300-ton cold storage plant and a 50-ton ice factory owned by the Minzarni Company in Sittwe are operated on power supplied by a generator fuelled by rice-husk gas and diesel. NLM, 30/12/07. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/07nlm/n071230.htm Western Commander Maung Shein and EPM-2 Khin Maung Myint attended the launch of a 500 KVA paddy husk-fired generator and a diesel-fired generator at the Electrical Engineer's Office of Taungup township in Thandwe district on 22 December. The minister said the 500 KVA paddy husk-fired generator was the largest of its kind in the nation, and that the diesel-fired generator had been put into commission to help supply sufficient electricity. Chairman of the township committee for supply of electricity Kyauk Taung gave an account of the steps followed in obtaining the generators. Managing Director of the EPSE Htin Aung and Chairman of the Myanmar Innovators Cooperative Ltd Soe Tin Aung conducted a tour of the power plant and explained the operation of the paddy husk-fired boilers and the engines to generate electricity. ================================================================================== Yüklə 12,31 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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