Mawlamyine Cement Limited (MCL) has already transported 150,000 tons of coal to its factory site in the Pyartaung Mountain area, Kyaikmayaw Township, Mon State.
With permission from Myanmar Investment Commission and Myanmar Seaport Authority, MCL has been transporting coal up Attaran River in order to power its operations, since February, 2015.
“Starting in early 2017, MCL hopes to run the factory profitably. At the moment, it is still at the trial stage,” said Mr. Wijit Terasarun, Managing Director of MCL.
On November 18, 25 government officials, including Mon State’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation and the Minister of Electricity and Industries, visited and observed the MCL factory prior to its operation.
In April, 2016, nearly 4,000 locals from 7 villages near the MCL site provided their signatures and sent a petition to the President and Mon State’s Chief Ministry, calling for the closure of the coal power plant that would run MCL’s factory. However, until now, there has been no response and no special reaction from the President or Chief Minister, according to Nai Mit, Ka-ton-si Village.
“Our side has heard nothing special yet. However, for their side, they [MCL] have already started running their plant. Although they said it’s only at the trial stage, their factory has been running 24 hours non-stop,” said Nai Mit.
With permission from Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) on May 7, 2013, MCL began its project in February, 2014.
MCL is owned by two individual partners; the Pacific Ling Cement Industries, a Myanmar proprietor with a 30 percent share, and the Thai-citizen owned Siam Cement Group (SCG) holding a 70% share.
