update on the irrawaddy myitsone dams project-kdng-engl

8/3/2019 Update on the Irrawaddy Myitsone Dams Project-KDNG-engl

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An update on the Irrawaddy Myitsone Dams Project

Kachin Development Networking Group

October 14, 2011


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An update on the Irrawaddy Myitsone Dams Project

Following Thein Seins announcement on September 30 that construction of the Irrawaddy Myitsone dam

would be suspended, villagers living near the project are living in a state of uncertainty and fear as there is

no evidence on the ground that the dam project has indeed been suspended. KDNG has been monitoring the

Irrawaddy Myitsone Dams Project since 2005 and provides this brief update based on research conducted just

before and after the suspension announcement.

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China Power Investment Corporation (CPI). In a October 3rd interview with Chinese media, Lu Qizhou,

the President of CPI was very clear that CPI wants to go ahead with the construction: I strongly hope that

with unremitting efforts of relevant parties, this project can smoothly move forward on schedule, and mutual

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Yang relocation camp in October 2011)

Houses at Mali Yang relocation camp, 4 miles downstream of Myitsone

Despite suspension announcement, workers are still active and waiting next

instructions

The majority of Chinese workers had left the Myitsone dam site before the suspension announcement onSeptember 30th. This was most likely due to the rainy season conditions, as Sinohydro explained in its

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Chinese workers conduct land surveys between Lahpye and Tawngban villages on October 11, 2011. This

photo is taken looking upstream and the Irrawaddy Myitsone bridge and a containment wall are seen in the

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Myitsone Project Diagram Plan

Current status of Myitsone dam project

Construction of the main dam has not yet begun but several diversion tunnels and containment walls have

been completed. A supply road, bridge, and railway are nearly completed.

The Irrawaddy Myitsone bridge south of Myitsone dam site. The 600 meter long, 300 ton

capacity suspension bridge is planned to be completed in 2011. This bridge will link the


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Trucks and machines are parked and ready at Chinese workers compound

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Tight security at the dam site

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Myitsone

Mining and logging concessions were given after dam plans were announced in order to clear out the dam

and reservoir areas. Large scale gold mining began in 2010 and continues today. Mercury and cyanide used

in the processing of the gold is dumped without regulation into local rivers and directly into the Irrawaddy,

threatening downstream populations with exposure to toxins which leads to health problems and birth defects.

Hka Ka Bo Mining Co. Ltd. and the governments No (2) Mining Ministry have a joint venture to mine for

gold at the Myitsone

Gold mining on

the river banks

at the Myitsone

dam site


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Gold mining on the river banks at the Myitsone dam site


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Fearanduncertaintyremainforvillagers atMyitsonedam site

October14,2011

FORIMMEDIATERELEASE

Press re leasefromKachinDeve lopmentNetworkingGroup

Despite the announcement by Burmas m il itary government that the My itsone dam w il l be

suspended, loca l Kachin vil lagers have yet to see ev idence the pro ject will be stopped and

remainfearfulanduncertainaboutthe irfuture.

An update re leased today by the Kachin Development Networking Group (KDNG) shows

ev idence that equipment and supp lies for the pro ject remain in place, security restrict ions

continueforloca lresidents,anddestructive goldminingintheplannedMy itsone damreservoir

areais ongoing.

Therehadbeenalull inconstructionatthedam site be fore the suspensionannouncementdue

totherainy season.However,workonthedamprojectinfrastructurehas cont inued,evenafter

theannouncement.As ofOctober11,Chineseworkers were stil lcarry ingout land surveywork

southofthedam site,andwerecont inu ingconstructionofa supplyroad linking theMy itsone

dam site totheChinesebordertownofTengchong.

Staff from China Power InvestmentCorporation (CPI), themain project holder, recently to ld

loca l staff of theirpro jectpartner,AsiaWorld,not tomoveanyequipmentas thepro jectwil l

continueaftertherainy season,despite the suspensionannouncement.

We donottrustwhatthePresident saidabout suspendingtheMy itsone dam, saidavil lager

fromthedam site.We can see theworkers anddamconstructionmachines stil latthe site.

KDNGis ca llingforanoff icia lcancellationannouncementfromCPI,withdrawalofallequipment

andpersonnel,andforthe safereturnofa llthere loca tedvil lagers backtotheirorigina lhomes.

All seven dams of the Irrawaddy pro ject will have devastat ing effects on themillions living

alongtheriver.Wewil lcont inue toresistthedams unt iltheyarealloff icia llycancelled,not just

suspended, saidAhNanofKDNG.

Contact: AhNan(+66)848854154

Email:[email protected]

ToreadfullAnUpdateontheIrrawaddyMyitsonedamsproject,pleasevisitwww.kdng.org


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(KDNG) Tengchong (CPI)


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" " " "KDNG CPI " "" "KDNG: (+66) 848854154Email: [email protected]

www.kdng.org

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