Myanmar suspends Manipur hydro project in Chin State
Myanmar has suspended a 380-megawatt hydropower project at the Manipur River in Chin State due to high risks, U Tun Naing, Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy, told the Hluttaw last week.
“After a review at the State Economic Coordination Committee Meeting, this project was found to be more risk than reward and thus a decision was made to suspend the project. The budget allocated for the project was not expensed,” U Tun Naing said in response to the Hluttaw over the unused budget of K190 million for that project.
That project commenced in fiscal 2004-05 during the rule of the Tatmadaw government. It was suspended once before in 2011 by U Thein Sein’s government.
The project involves blocking the Manipur River and drilling a tunnel beside the Kalay-Gantgaw Road.
Another 622MW hydropower project in Laymyo, Chin State, is also underway.
Due to COVID-19 in the first six months of this fiscal year, delays in implementation have occurred at the Middle Paung Laung, Upper Yeywa, Thahtay, Upper Kyaing Taung and Shweli 3 projects.
Htoo Thant
