Tuesday, 24 January 2012 13:30 Mizzima News
(Mizzima) – Environmentalists are calling for a full moratorium on all existing and planned coal-fired power plants in Burma, following the announcement early this month that a proposed 4,000-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Dawei was terminated.
Burma’s Minister of Electricity No.2 Khin Maung Soe announced that the plant in the Dawei Special Economic Zone would be cancelled due to the potential environmental impacts.
Burma currently has plans to construct seven coal-fired power plants across the country, and two are currently operational, according to a statement issued by the Pa-Oh Youth Organization and Shan Sapawa Environmental Organization on Monday.
The largest is the 120-megawatt Tigyit plant in southern Shan State, which emits clouds of poisonous gases and produces more than 100 tons of toxic fly ash per day, the statement said.
A report released last year detailed how air and water pollution in Tigyit is threatening the agriculture and health of nearly 12,000 people.
According to the Electricity Minister, the government may still build a 400-megawatt plant in Dawei, over three times the size of the Tigyit plant.
Another coal-fired plant by the main developer of the Dawei project, Italian-Thai Public Company Limited, is underway in eastern Shan State without public scrutiny, the group said. The Mong Kok plant will produce 369 megawatts and export power to Thailand.
“If the government is really concerned about the impacts of coal, it should stop all coal plants in Burma,” said Khun Myo Hto of the Pa-Oh Youth Organization. However small, a coal plant can be deadly for local communities, he said.
Burma lacks a comprehensive energy plan that addresses environmental and social impacts and local energy needs and despite chronic energy shortages, exports vast energy resources to neighboring countries. This includes the export of natural gas, which is much less polluting than coal.
“Why is the government selling off our country's natural gas and leaving us to choke on the toxic emissions of dirty coal?” asked Khun Myo Hto.
For more information about coal projects in Burma, see www.paohyouth.org and www.shansapawa.org
Burma’s Minister of Electricity No.2 Khin Maung Soe announced that the plant in the Dawei Special Economic Zone would be cancelled due to the potential environmental impacts.
Burma currently has plans to construct seven coal-fired power plants across the country, and two are currently operational, according to a statement issued by the Pa-Oh Youth Organization and Shan Sapawa Environmental Organization on Monday.
The largest is the 120-megawatt Tigyit plant in southern Shan State, which emits clouds of poisonous gases and produces more than 100 tons of toxic fly ash per day, the statement said.
A report released last year detailed how air and water pollution in Tigyit is threatening the agriculture and health of nearly 12,000 people.
According to the Electricity Minister, the government may still build a 400-megawatt plant in Dawei, over three times the size of the Tigyit plant.
Another coal-fired plant by the main developer of the Dawei project, Italian-Thai Public Company Limited, is underway in eastern Shan State without public scrutiny, the group said. The Mong Kok plant will produce 369 megawatts and export power to Thailand.
“If the government is really concerned about the impacts of coal, it should stop all coal plants in Burma,” said Khun Myo Hto of the Pa-Oh Youth Organization. However small, a coal plant can be deadly for local communities, he said.
Burma lacks a comprehensive energy plan that addresses environmental and social impacts and local energy needs and despite chronic energy shortages, exports vast energy resources to neighboring countries. This includes the export of natural gas, which is much less polluting than coal.
“Why is the government selling off our country's natural gas and leaving us to choke on the toxic emissions of dirty coal?” asked Khun Myo Hto.
For more information about coal projects in Burma, see www.paohyouth.org and www.shansapawa.org
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