Dr. Banyar Aung Moe, All Mon Regions Democracy Party (AMDP) Amyotha Hluttaw (House of Nationalities) representative, objected to a plan for a construction of a 50 MW natural-gas electric power plant in Arakan state’s Kyaukphyu town, rather than Mon state capital Moulmein as originally planned. Last Thursday, Electricity Minister U Khin Maung Soe introduced the presidential change during a Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Parliament) meeting.
Banyar Aung Moe explained that the project “to build a power station in Mon state is not only to distribute in Mon State alone but to share with Karen state”. He said that if “if the power station could supply surplus power, it would be distributed throughout the country through electric power transmission lines”.
The government’s decision to change the location of the energy project is like a parent taking the rice from the mouth of one son and giving it to another, Banyar Aung Moe described during the meeting.
Some areas of Mon state like Ye Township and Lamine Sub-township have their ownelectric energy projects to service them, Banyar Aung Moe said. But the cost of 700 kyat per unit is ten times higher than government recommendations.
Min Myo Thin Lwin, a Amyotha Hluttaw representative for Kawkareik Township in Karen state, was unhappy with the way the government dragged their feet making the necessary preparations for the plant even before getting shelved.
“Let’s say we have already got power station, to reach those who use the electric power, we need to have (electric) wire and poles. Now, we see nothing prepared for that yet. To connect wire and set up poles, they need to talk with rubber plantation owners ( where the it passes through),” he said.
The government borrowed US$57.1 Million from EXIM Bank of China in People’s Republic of China for the energy project originally slated for Mon state.
