The Myanmar government has formed a commission to examine the Ayeyarwady Myitsone up-stream river basin hydropower projects in Kachin State to review whether the projects should proceed or not, according to an order issued August 12 by the President's Office.
Lower House Deputy Speaker T Khun Myat will chair the commission, Kyaw Tint Swe, the Union Minister for the State Counsellor's Office, will act as the vice chairman of the commission, and Dr. Win Thein, the Union Civil Service Board chairman, will act as secretary. The order was signed by the President Htin Kyaw.
The commission must review whether the projects are systematically being carried out in accordance with international and local laws related to environmental conservation, according to the order. The benefits that the projects could bring to the citizens and the country will also be reviewed by the commission.
The commission will review the project agreements in order to find solutions by which both the country and foreign investors will benefit. The commission must also take into account of the opinions of citizens and civil society organizations.
The commission must submit its first report to President Htin Kyaw by November 11 this year.
The Myitone dam project, a joint venture by China Power Investment Corporation, the Myanmar Energy Ministry and Asia World Company was suspended by the Thein Sein regime in September 2011 over human rights and environmental concerns. Most of the power to be generated will be transmitted to China under the original agreement.
