A New hydro

A New hydro-electricity plant to be built near the Salween

A new hydro-electric power station is to be constructed 30 miles northwest of the Tasarng Bridge over the Salween, said sources fleeing from the area. 

"It would be near the Fahpa Waterfall on the Teng River that is some 40 ft high," said one source from Kengtawng, Mongnai Township. 

A Burmese survey team, led by U Thaung Htun, was there on 12 August. It was estimated that 250 kw of power would be generated during the rainy season and 75 kw in the dry season. 

It was not however known when the plant was to be constructed that would house two 100 kw generators. 

Logging, as a result, has been going on in the area, some 850 square miles, since March. The contractors are reported to be Law Hsinghan of Asia World and Mahaja of Homong. 

Meanwhile, operations at Tang Palao, the projected dam site north of Tasarng, appeared to have ceased altogether for two months, said refugees who rafted down the Salween. 

"We saw only a sergeant by the name of Aung Myint with a handful of soldiers from IB 225 at Tang Palao collecting fees from the wayfarers," said one. "No security forces were seen on the west bank either." 

GMS Power, based in Bangkok, had been active in the area, conducting feasibility studies, from 1997 until late last year. According to Japan-based Mekong Watch, the installed capacity of the proposed dam, would be 6,400 mega-watts, while the scale of the project would be $ 3 billion "for technical aspects only." 

Follow-up 

The plan was jettisoned when it was concluded after words that there was too little water during the dry season. 
[Re: # 12 - Hydro-electricity plant construction postponed]