Host in the dark as Asean discusses energy

by Mungpi
Thursday, 30 July 2009 19:13

New Delhi (Mizzima) - Residents of Yan Myo Hlone ward in Chan Aye Thar Zan Township of Burma’s second largest city of Mandalay were in for a pleasant surprise, when they began to receive 10 hours of electricity supply since early this week against the usual six-hours a day.

“Surprisingly, we started receiving electricity supply for 10 hours per day since Monday,” said a local resident, expression of happiness writ large on his face. He of course had no clue to why power supply has increased in his ward.

While other wards and localities in Mandalay continue to get power supply of just six hours a day in a regular rotational system, Yan Myo Hlone ward is lucky to be located a few blocks from the famous Sedona Hotel, where several ministers from the Asean are staying for an energy security meeting that is currently underway in town.

Since Monday, energy ministers and deputies from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), of which Burma is a member, and their partners including China, South Korea, Japan, India and Australia have arrived in the ancient Burmese capital of Mandalay for discussions on Asean Energy Security.

Ironically, the venue of the meeting, where the energy ministers are to adopt a seven-point Asean Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2010-2015, Mandalay, is having to purchase extra supply of power from China to light up the city.

Daw Aye Aye Min, head of Mandalay Division Electric Power Department, in mid-July said, the electricity department has sought to purchase 300 megawatts of electricity from Ruili, the Chinese border town, to meet the energy shortfall in Mandalay city.

While the deal has been reportedly sealed, the actual supply is yet to be received by the city with several of the priority areas of industrial zones still having to manage with the regular electricity supply of six-hours daily.

Located just two blocks from the popular Sedona Hotel, where the delegates for the Asean energy meeting are lodged, Yan Myo Hlone and neighbouring wards are enjoying the benefits of power supply that the meeting has brought about.

“I saw several policemen and soldiers around the Sedona Hotel and near the foot of the Mandalay Hill. Coincidently or luckily, we are receiving 10-hours of electricity supply these days. I think it is because of the meeting,” the resident said.

During the opening ceremony of the 27th Asean Ministers on energy Meeting (AMEM) held at the Convocation Hall of Mandalay University on Wednesday, Burma’s Prime Minister Lt-Gen Thein Sein said that Burma is committed to work together with other Asean members in finding a sustainable solution for energy security.

During the two-day meeting, to conclude on Thursday, the ministers adopted action plans that will include programmes of an Asean power grid, Trans-Asean gas pipeline, coal and clean coal technology, renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation, regional energy policy and planning and civilian nuclear energy.

Thailand, the current chair of the 10-member Southeast Asian bloc, has reportedly raised issues related to the construction of two hydroelectricity projects – Hat Gyi and Tasang – which are planned to be constructed on the Salween River.

According to reports, Thailand is apprehensive that China might take over the Hat Gyi project, in which the Thai government has estimated to invest about USD 1 billion. Thailand, which has halted its work on the Hat Gyi to conduct environmental assessment, reportedly wants to resume construction work.

Activists said, the Asean’s plan of action would mean increased investments in Burma to build more hydroelectricity projects, gas pipeline constructions and extracting of coal and minerals.

Wong Aung, a campaigner with the Shwe Gas Movement said these investments would not meet the electricity needs of the people of Burma but would only benefit the ruling military generals, who spend less than 3 per cent of the country’s GDP on health and social services.

“We are therefore, asking the Asean and other countries to halt investments in Burma until there is a proper system that will guarantee that the benefit accrues to the people,” Wong Aung told Mizzima.

Neighbouring countries, mainly China and Thailand have reached an agreement with Burma’s ruling junta to construct a series of dams on the Salween and the Irrawaddy River.

Wong Aung said, the majority of the power generated from these dams would be sold to Thailand and China, while the remaining would be used to supply the military bases in Burma.

With the ruling generals on a dam construction spree and laying gas pipelines to connect neighbouring countries such as China for the sale of hydrocarbon, there is also a growing concern over environmental impacts.

With the past experience of the Yadana and Yetagun gas fields in southern Burma, and the gas pipeline constructions connecting Thailand, environmentalists have urged government and companies to carry out fair environmental assessment before implementing such projects.

“With the kind of impact envisaged on the environment and with no benefits accruing to the people, we are urging the Asean not to invest in energy projects in Burma at the moment,” Wong Aung said.

But it is unlikely that the junta ensconced in Naypyitaw, and their Asean friends, who are greedily looking at Burma as a resource base, will hear Wong Aung’s words of caution.

But for now, as the Asean ministers meet, the residents of Yan Myo Hlone ward, at least for a week, can go to bed without worrying about burning charcoal to cook breakfast the next morning.