Preparations have begun for a wind turbine project in Arakan State’s Gwa Township, which is a joint venture between China and Myanmar’s military regime.

Junta-appointed electricity minister U Thaung Han, Arakan State natural resources minister U Than Tun, and project officials visited Gwa Township on March 12 and observed potential sites for the wind turbine project in the area.

An activist from Gwa said: “They went to conduct a survey in Daung Chaung, a settlement of ethnic Chin people, in the Rakhine Yoma mountains. We don’t know the details.”

The site the ministers visited is located some five miles east of Gwa town, according to locals.

When asked by DMG, Arakan State resources minister U Than Tun told DMG to ask Union minister U Thaung Han.

Local residents have complained that junta officials have not yet explained to them about the potential impacts of the wind turbine project.

“Every project will have its own advantages and disadvantages. The advantage of the wind power project is that locals will have full access to electricity. But the disadvantage is that villages might need to relocate, and locals will lose their farms. Fish hatcheries near there will also have to relocate, and there can also be environmental impacts,” said Gwa resident Ko Thar Gyi.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed between junta’s Electricity Ministry and Chinese companies to implement three wind power projects: one in Ann (150 MW), another in Gwa (100 MW) and the third in Thandwe (110 MW), according to junta media.

All three projects are slated to produce electricity by 2025. The first phase of the project is Gwa is scheduled to start producing electricity in December, according to the electricity ministry.

Some locals, who have experienced disadvantages of previous China-backed projects in Arakan State, worry that the wind turbine projects will only benefit China, or will have negative consequences that outweigh the positive.