EDF's letter to the Justice for Myanmar concerning the hydropower project
19 March 2021
We refer to your letter sent on March 15th 2021, requesting urgent clarifications before March 19th 2021 regarding the Shweli 3 hydropower project located in Myanmar.
EDF confirms that since the beginning of the recent democratisation process in Myanmar, EDF has been involved in projects designed to meet the electricity needs of the Myanmar population, less than 40% of which has access to electricity.
In this respect, EDF is part of a Consortium for the development of the Shweli 3 hydropower project, which is at an early development planning stage. EDF has also been involved in developing Myanmar’s first microgrid funded without government subsidies.
EDF confirms that the respect of fundamental human rights (as defined by the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the fundamental conventions of the ILO, and discussed in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and relevant Good International Industry Practice guidance) is a condition precedent to each and every project in which the Company takes part. Please refer to our Website for more information on this topic.
Therefore, since the coup on February 1st 2021, the Shweli 3 Consortium has decided to suspend the development of the Project, including the activities of its subcontractors. EDF is following the evolution of the situation in Myanmar in close collaboration with the French and European Union authorities.