China and Myanmar Meet to Discuss Myitsone Hydropower Project

YANGON (Jan. 18, 2012) – Chinese environmental NGO, the Global Environmental Institute (GEI) led a closed-door meeting on the Myitsone hydropower project with Chinese and Burmese government officials, experts, and civil society leaders.

GEI’s Mme Jin (middle row, third from left) joins the closed-door discussions – GEI 2012

Mr. U Myint, the economic adviser to the President of Myanmar, together with other Myanmar parties expressed Myanmar’s views on the hydropower project. They suggested the project follow the “Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol” developed by the International Hydropower Association to ensure that Myanmar’s economic development and the behavior of overseas investors follow the sustainability principle.

Officials from the Chinese government responded positively to the Burmese attendees’ views, saying that they were happy to hear different views from Myanmar regarding the project and would spread the messages to more Chinese officials. Both sides agreed that they should deepen exchanges and together promote the construction of environmental policies for overseas investors in Myanmar.

Background on the Myitsone Hydropower Project

On September 30, 2011, the President of Myanmar, Thein Sein, announced the suspension of the Myitsone project which was jointly funded by China Power Investment Group, Myanmar First Ministry of Electric Power and Myanmar Asia World Company, claiming that the project “will destroy the natural scenery of Myitsone, the livelihood of local communities and the rubber plantations and crops invested by civilians.” This decision ignited extensive attentions and discussions.