Hydropower project on the Namteng

Hydropower project on the Namteng -- again

Environment 

Rangoon military's website, www.myanmar.com, reported on 16 November that construction of the hydropower project in southern Shan State, abandoned by Chinese engineers last year, was now underway again. 

According to the report, Vice Senior Gen Maung Aye, Vice Chairman of the ruling military council, was at Kengtawng Waterfall, about 100 miles east of Taunggyi and 31 miles east of Mongnai, on 15 November. The New Light of Myanmar says there will be three turbines generating 30 megawatts at the first phase and another turbine generating 15 megawatts at the second phase. 

"At present, they are still repairing the road going to the site," said a former civilian administrator of Kengtawng who is in Thailand for health reasons. "We heard the dam would be built by the Japanese." 
S.H.A.N. reported on 28 September that a ten-men team of Japanese engineers was at Shan State's biggest waterfall on 19 September, escorted by Col Khin Maung Myint, the area commander. The Kengtawng Waterfall, known by its local populace as Zong-arng, is 975 ft high with a generating capacity of 60 megawatts, according to Shan State Journal. 

The visit followed the abandonment of the project by Chinese engineers in December 2001 after 62 people died under mysterious circumstances. 

Bangkok Post also reported on 16 November the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) would be investing $ 5.5 billion for a dam project on the Salween about 80 miles further east. Under the existing plan, the dam is due to start supplying electricity by 2013.