Myanmar: Residents stage protest against coal-fired power plant built in MCL Cement Plant

Myanmar: Residents stage protest against coal-fired power plant built in MCL
Cement Plant

Malamyine residents have staged a protest against the coal-fired power plant
at MCL Cement Plant in Kyaikmayaw, Mon State, which may also have been
constructed without permission.

Aung Kyaw Thu, Chairman of Finance, Planning and Economic Affairs Assessment
and Scrutiny Committee of Mon State Parliament, said: "Our committee raised
a question to the Ministry of Electric Power and Energy about two
20-megawatt-installed coal-fired power plant in the MCL Cement Plant on July
7.

"The ministry replied on August 15 that the permission for the construction
of the coal-fired power plant did not come from the Union level. On the
other hand, the cement plant did not ask for permission from the
authorities.

"The construction of the coal-fired power plant looks unofficial. But now
MCL's products are seen in the markets. The MCL started construction in 2014
and it was commissioned into service in 2017. MCL is launching sales
promotions on its products. Its advertisements are also seen in the markets.
It is obviously found in the letter of the ministry that the construction of
the coal-fired power plant goes against the permission.

"This matter is related to the management of the government. It goes against
the law. We will send letters to both Union and State Governments. This
project is to be carried out at the Union level. The Union level-projects
must seek approvals from the Union government."

Dr Aung Naing Oo, Vice-Chairman of Mon State Parliament, said: "We welcome
investments in our state. But we will have to judge these investments if
they agree with the law or not. MCL's investment is OK, but its construction
of coal-fired power plant to run the cement plant is not transparent. We
pointed it out during the previous presidential term. Until now the MCL has
not sought permission from the authorities. The residents protested not
because of the construction of MCL Cement Plant but because of the
coal-fired power plant."

Pacific Link Cement Industries Ltd and Saim Cement Group (SCG) injected
investment of US$400 million into MCL. It was constructed in Kyaikmayaw in
2014. On April 2017, it started generating 5,000 tonnes of cement a day on a
commercial scale.

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Link to Original Article: http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/local/11142

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com