Mon State advocacy groups will continue to monitor the activity of the state government and Toyo Thai Corporation Public Company Limited (TTCL) after representatives met recently to discuss the gas energy investment options, according to groups in opposition to the coal-fired plant.
The groups will keep an eye on the government and TTCL due to concerns that the meeting would lead to a resumption in construction work at TTCL’s proposed coal-fired power plant project in Anndin Village.
On 10 June the representatives of TTCL, led by its chairperson, met with the state chief minister and government officials at the chief minister’s guest hall. At the meeting, they discussed the potential for a liquid propane gas bottling plant, which would provide gas for cooking instead of firewood.
Min Poe Zaw, of Anndin Youth Group said: “We, locals from the Anndin area, are worried that the meeting between the Mon State Government and Toyo-Thai could guarantee the company’s operation of the coal-fired project. We do not know the finer points of the meeting yet. We would like the government to consider the people’s concerns regarding the coal-fired project.”
TTCL signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Union Government and the Electric and Energy Ministry on 9 April 2015, to build its coal-fired power plant.
It was planned to construct the plant on 500 acres of land, in Anndin Village, Ye Township, Mon State using an investment of $2,700 USD
U Aung Naing Win, the secretary of the Ye Social Society (YSS) group said: “They [Toyo-Thai] already signed the MoA, so they won’t renege on the deal. At their meeting on 9 April they also decided that they would proceed to implement the project. Therefore, the recent meeting with the government seems like the company is coaxing the government to re-start the Anndin coal-fired plant project.
“We, the YSS group, will keep monitoring the potential coal-fired plant in Anndin Village, and we will continue to protest against any issues rising from the project.”
A Facebook post by U Min Min Oo, the Mon State Chief Minister said that the meeting covered the TTCL’s gas bottling project, land for the factory, the factory’s projected production dividends, environmental concerns and TTCL’s guarantees.
The post went on to state that the government is interested in the proposal presented by TTCL because over 70% people in the state primarily used wood[en sticks] for cooking and this project could create job opportunities in the state and could also reduce the use of firewood. The government will carefully consider the proposal and inform the company in accordance with the law next time they meet.
The TTCL signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government in early 2013, to start its coal-fired plant project in Burma. In late April 2014 the company went to Anndin Village, Ye Township, and informed the locals that it would build its coal fired project in the area.
In opposition to the coal-fired project, about 500 locals staged a protest, led by the YSS, in Ye Town, on 14 December 2014. Additionally, they sent letters stating their opposition to the project to the company on 1 January 2015.
On 5 May 2015 over 6,000 locals staged a protest after the Union Government and TTCL signed an MoA on 9 April 2015.
Edited in English for BNI by Mark Inkey
