No. 08 - 12/2005
07 December 2005

Environment

MoU on Salween dam at hand

A memorandum of understanding between Burma and Thailand on the construction of Hutgyi dam on the Salween will be signed on 9 November, according to the chief ot Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), reports Phu Jad Karn online yesterday.

The signing ceremony will be presided over by ministers of energy from both countries, said Kraisri Kannasut.

The dam site is well inside Burma but near the Thai-Burma border. The dam, on completion, estimated within 5-6 years, will produce 1,200 megawatts. "China is interested in investing on the project," says Mr Kraisri.

The second dam on the series is expected to be the Tenasserim (aka Tanaowasri and Taninthayi), 600 megawatts, opposite Prachuab Khirikhan Province. Others are Tasang in Shan State (5,000 MW) and Upper Salween  Lower Salween dams on the Thai-Burma border (5,000 MW).

Both environmental activists and Burma's opposition have repeatedly protested against the dam projects.