“Two major Chinese hydro-power projects an important concern for junta and opposition” 8 April 2024

Significant areas of Myanmar’s northern battlefields are effectively large investment projects that potentially benefit not just the Myanmar junta and the People’s Republic of China but also opposition forces....Two hydro-power projects stand out when assessing Chinese interests in northern Myanmar...

The TarPein hydro plant...is a joint venture investment of China and Myanmar. It has been developed to provide 240 megawatts and the project started in 2007. However, the project was impeded by the resumption of the war between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the junta.

According to the MOU of the hydro-power project, the residual portion of power, altogether 8 per cent out of developed electric power is supposed to be available to the Myanmar people – but there has been no electricity distribution to the people because no power distribution has been installed.

As a result of this failure to honour the agreement, China has acquired this 8 per cent portion of power at the low price of 1 unit for 18 kyats. In addition, the Myanmar government pay back the debt and compensation for the destruction of some parts of plants in fighting around 2011...

Another plant is Ruli hydro-power plant in Nam Kham township in Shan State...It directly supports the nickel mine project in Maung Kong in Htee Kyaint township of Sagaing Region. The management of the hydro-power project is under the control of a Chinese company....

For most Myanmar people, their dissatisfaction and anger lie in the current power shortage in the country while many dams have been built in the past decades. This means the Myanmar people still have not benefited from the dams...