Myanmar Urged to Speed Up $12b Dam Project

Thailand has urged Myanmar to speed up the Tasang hydroelectric dam project as the neighbouring country eyes to buy 10,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity from Myanmar.
The dam project, located on upper Thanlwin river, is expected to have a capacity of 7,000 MW and will take 12 years to construct.
Thailand’s energy minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal urged his Myanmar counterpart to speed up the project, according to a Thai media report.
“We’re waiting for the Burmese government to make a clear decision on this project. So far, no definite decision has been made about whether to proceed with the Mai Tong or the Tasang dam,” Pongsak was quoted as saying in Bangkok Post.
If the Burmese government gives the go-ahead, Pongsak will instruct the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to speed up talks with potential Chinese and Myanmar partners to prepare the power purchase agreement for the parliament’s consideration, the report said.
Thailand expects to hold a 30 percent stake in the Tasang dam in the joint venture with Sinohydro Corp and the China Three Gorges Corp.
“Thailand is planning to buy 10,000 MW of electricity from Burma comprising 7,000 from the Mai Tong project and 3,000 from the power plant in Dawei,” Pongsak said.
Thailand’s power consumption is growing considerably. Hydropower and coal-fired power plants generate electricity at low cost and are part of the ASEAN Smart Grid Initiative for transporting power in the region to wherever there is demand, Mr Pongsak said.
Egat’s subsidiaries will be joint-venture partners in the two projects. Electricity Generating Plc will take part in the Dawei project, while Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Plc will invest in the Mai Tong dam.