Burma wants to downsize Dawei, says Thai daily

Wednesday, 19 December 2012 11:47 Mizzima News 

Thailand’s The Nation reported on Wednesday that Burma’s government has “caused Thailand concern” by proposing a significant reduction in the overall area of the Dawei Special Economic Zone from 204.5 sq km to 150 sq km.

Burmese President Thein Sein (right) discusses details with Thai Premier Yingluck Shinawatra as they travel to the Dawei Special Economic Zone. (PHOTO:Yingluck Shinawatra / Facebook)

“Thailand has responded to the proposal by saying it is already in the process of a feasibility study on the Dawei Deep Sea Port and Dawei Industrial Estate Project based on the original proposed size of the project,” The Nation quoted Thai Transport Minister Chatchart Sithipan as saying.

The news comes just a day after Burma’s President Thein Sein and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told reporters in Dawei that both governments would back the multi-billion-dollar project and would actively seek investors.

The Nation went on to quote the Thai Transport Minister as saying: “This is the first meeting in which Myanmar's president clearly said he would invite a third country, likely Japan, to join in the investment. It is a benefit, as Japan has long-term funding sources for investment in infrastructure, including the port and roads.”

Thailand is committed to 35 percent of the US $9 billion-dollar industrial zone set to be located in Burma’s southern Tenasserim Division.

Due to begin in April, the Dawei project involves a deep-sea port, power plants and factories. The Thai investment also includes financing for a highway to run from Dawei on Burma’s Andaman coast across the Thai border to Kanchanaburi and on to Bangkok.

Links : http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/8593-burma-wants-to-downsize-dawei-says-thai-daily.html

EIA on Dawei-Kanchanaburi road to be released

A bulldozer clearing the land of an oil farm in Dawei district (Photo - Phyo Zin)

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) will come out by the year-end regarding a four-lane road, which is under construction to link Myanmar’s Dawei deep-sea port and Kanchanaburi in Thailand, coordinator Bo Bo Aung of Dawei Development Association (DDA) said.

Some environmentalists believe that deforestation can increase as the road will pass through the Taninthayi mountain ranges.

The project is scheduled to be completed by 2015 and construction of the road axis has been finished.

Plans are also underway to expand the four-lane road into an eight-lane one.

“The environmental impact assessment on the project is being carried out by the Thai side. I heard it will be published at the end of this year. But we haven’t heard of the Myanmar side making any assessment. It will be an eight-lane road project. The axis for the four-lane road has been built. Now, deforestation in the Taninthayi mountain ranges is increasing,” Bo Bo Aung said.

In 2008, Thailand and Myanmar signed a memorandum of understanding to implement a US$80-billion project on building an industrial zone and a deep-sea port in Dawei in southern Myanmar.

The Thai government aims to use Dawei deep-sea port as an exit to the Indian Ocean. It will also serve as a link between Myanmar and Europe and Africa.

EIA on road linking Dawei port to be released

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) will come out by the year-end regarding a four-lane road, which is under construction to link Myanmar's Dawei deep-sea port and Kanchanaburi in Thailand, coordinator Bo Bo Aung of Dawei Development Association (DDA) said.

 Some environmentalists believe that deforestation can increase as the road will pass through the Taninthayi mountain ranges.

The project is scheduled to be completed by 2015 and construction of the road axis has been finished.

Plans are also underway to expand the four-lane road into an eight-lane one.

"The environmental impact assessment on the project is being carried out by the Thai side. I heard it will be published at the end of this year. But we haven't heard of the Myanmar side making any assessment. It will be an eight-lane road project. The axis for the four-lane road has been built. Now, deforestation in the Taninthayi mountain ranges is increasing," Bo Bo Aung said.

In 2008, Thailand and Myanmar signed a memorandum of understanding to implement a US$80-billion project on building an industrial zone and a deep-sea port in Dawei in southern Myanmar.

The Thai government aims to use Dawei deep-sea port as an exit to the Indian Ocean. It will also serve as a link between Myanmar and Europe and Africa.

 

Link : http://www.nationmultimedia.com/aec/EIA-on-road-linking-Dawei-port-to-be-released-30191111.html 

Yingluck has Dawei chat at UN

Agrees with Myanmar president on urgency

 

• Published: 28/09/2012 at 07:48 AM
• Newspaper section: Business

NEW YORK CITY : Leaders of Thailand and Myanmar have agreed to speed up the Dawei deep-sea port project in eastern Myanmar, planning to announce their development plan in November through the three-level mechanism.

The confirmation came after talks between Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Myanmar President Thein Sein on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Both sides agreed to move forward with the Dawei project, as Myanmar would like to see the three-level mechanism continue its work through meetings, said a source who asked not to be named.

Italian-Thai Development Plc, Thailand's biggest contractor, has been granted a concession from the Myanmar government to develop the special economic zone and deep-sea port in Dawei.

The three-level mechanism includes a joint high-level committee chaired by Myanmar's deputy president and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Kittiratt Na-Ranong.

The coordinating committee is headed by the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board, while six subcommittees on infrastructure, industrial estates, energy, community development, finance and rule of law are headed by related ministers in each country.

Thailand and Myanmar will announce the project development plan during November's Asean Summit in Cambodia. The Thai government will host the first meeting soon, said the source.

Other issues to be worked out during the meeting include Thailand's interest in cooperating with Myanmar to develop a special economic zone at Thilawa Port in Yangon, the source added.

Japan has formed a consortium with Myanmar to develop the area, and the Thai private sector would like to invest in the port.

The source mentioned Bangkok and Yangon will set up a working group to join hands to develop the special economic zones. Details will be discussed by the Thai industry minister, who will travel to Myanmar soon.

In addition, Thailand will grant financial aid to Myanmar to build 76 kilometres of road from Tak's Mae Sot district on the Thai side to Mywaddy-Kawkareik in Myanmar under the aegis of Thailand's Rural Roads Department.

The Thai government will consider supporting road construction from Kawkareik to Maylamyine, linking roads from Thailand to India through Myanmar.

Addressing the Asia Society in New York, Ms Yingluck said Myanmar is proceeding towards democracy and has Thailand's support.

The prime minister said Myanmar needs support for projects that help improve the country's economic growth and quality of life.

She said the Thai government will also work closely with Myanmar to tackle refugee problems.

On the South China Sea issue, the premier said Thailand, as a coordinator between Asean and China, would like to see the maritime route safe for transport, with related agencies tackling the problem through peaceful means.

Yingluck, Thein Sein to discuss Dawei in New York City

Wednesday, 26 September 2012 12:41 Mizzima News

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Burma’s President Thein Sein will discuss the Dawei deep-sea port project in New York on the sidelines of the UN 67^th General Assembly meeting on Thursday.  


The project has been having trouble finding financing to go forward, although both countries pledged in August to back the proposed US$ 60-billion port and special economic zone.

Last week, Reuters news agency reported that Thai banks would keep the project afloat with short-term loans until an expected Japanese loan of up to US$ 3.2 billion can be secured.

Thailand's largest construction firm, Italian-Thai Development Pcl, signed a deal in 2010 to build a deep-sea port and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in southern Burma’s coastal Dawei region.

But the project foundered, as the Thai builder failed to secure $8.5 billion to finance construction of its first phase – roads, utilities and a port.

“Italian-Thai has had difficulty in mobilizing the funding. So now the Thai government has effectively taken over the project,” Thaung Lwin, chairman of the Dawei SEZ told Reuters. “The next step is to invite Japan,” which he said is committed to seeing the project succeed.

Two trips by Yingluck to Burma have been postponed since she and Thein Sein met in Thailand in August to discuss the project.

Last week, Yingluck met with Thai Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul, Transport Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan and Deputy Transport Minister Chatchart Sithipan to prepare for her possible meeting with Thein Sein in New York, a Government House source said, according to the Bangkok Post. Officials have reportedly been seeking various governments and international lending groups to take a stake in the project.

The Thai construction firm Italian-Thai Development, which singed a MoU with Burma in 2008, initiated the Dawei project. The 10-year project includes deep-sea ports, heavy industries, office buildings and commercial areas.

The company was awarded a contract, the first phase of which was worth about $8.6 billion.

Italian-Thai's contract for developing the industrial estate in the Dawei Special Economic Zone was eventually scaled down from 250 to 200-square kilometers.

Stop Patronizing Dawei Project, Stop Public Debt Hikes

uesday 18 September 2012 

10.30-11.30 am 

At the meeting room on 2^nd floor | Student Christian Centre

The Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited (ITD) has been in difficulty re: the Dawei Deep Sea Port and Industrial Estate Project (Dawei Project) since it was contracted to develop this project in 2008. Apparently, it has since failed to make a significant progress as planned. For instance, it is incapable of building infrastructures other than the temporary Thai-Myanmar road link. Or it is unable to secure long-term funding for the entire project development.

 












Thai government now plans to support the ITD in the development of the Dawei Project. Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has scheduled to visit Myanmar from 19-21 September 2012 to follow up progress of the joint development of the Project following the Thai-Myanmar MoU signed during Myanmar President Thein Sein’s visit to Thailand in last July.

The Dawei Project is in certain ways comparable to Thailand’s Map Ta Phut industrial estate which has over the last many years been in deep trouble in term of environmental pollution. Given that the scale of Dawei Project is 8-times larger than Map Ta Phut industrial estate, the extent of its environmental consequence is unimaginable. Moreover, in Myanmar context, there are complicated social issues associated with the Dawei Project such as non-transparency, lack of local participation and human rights violation. Even in context of Thailand, the government’s decision to support the Project poses a serious question about legitimacy for spending public money to shoulder risks associated with this massive investment.

Concerned Thai civil society groups that have monitored the Dawei Project see Thai PM’s visit to Myanmar next week for talk on Dawei Project as inappropriate and unethical. Environmental problem associated with the Project will be massive while the host country lacks legal and institutional mechanisms to cope with it. Besides, exploiting public resources in what can be seen as patronizing private investor is fallacious and will put more burdens on the public in the long run.

In light of the above, concerned Thai groups will hold a press conference on 18 September 2012 from 10.30-11.30 am, at the meeting room on 2^nd floor of Student Christian Centre. The panel speaker will be;

• Mr. Veerawat Dheeraprasart: Chair of Foundation for Ecological Recovery (FER)
• Ms. Penchom Tang:  Director of Ecological Alert and Recovery, Thailand (EARTH)
• Mr. Sulak Sivaraksa: Social Thinker and Public Intellectual

Thai-English translation will be provided.

For more information please contact:

Montree Chantawong (TERRA/FER) 08 1950 0560

Luntharimar Longcharoen (TERRA/FER) 08 9489 9489

Foundation for Ecological Recovery (FER) /

Towards Ecological Recovery and Regional Alliance (TERRA)

Website: www.terraper.org

Email: fer@terraper.org

  



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Links : http://www.inebnetwork.org/news-and-media/8-news/387-stop-patronizing-dawei-project-stop-public-debt-hikes

UMEHL TO ESTABLISH OIL REFINERY NEAR DAWEI DEEP SEA PORT PROJECT

Union of Myanmar Economic Holding Limited is planning to establish an oil refinery near Dawei Deep Sea Port, Eleven Media Group reported.
The factory will be built on 1636 acres of land which was once under the oil palm plantation. The acquisition of land from the Industry Ministry cost the UMEHL K 2600 million.
The factory will copy the model of an oil refinery in operation in China. “The technology of a factory in China will be applied here,” an official of the project told to EMG.
The oil palm farm in Launglon is one of two largest oil palm farms in Dawei District.

Trackback from your site.

Link : http://www.myanmarupdate.com/umehl-to-establish-oil-refinery-near-dawei-deep-sea-port-project/

Yingluck to follow up on Dawei deep sea port during upcoming Myanmar visit

August 22, 2012 3:51 pm

File photo : Myanmar's President Thein Sein visited Lam Chabang deep sea port in July.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will travel to Myanmar next month to follow up on the joint deep sea port project, Foreign Minister Surapong Tohvichakchaikul said on Wednesday.

During her two-day official visit, Yingluck will meet Myanmar's President Thein Sein at the new capital of Nay Pyi Daw.

The visit, which will start on September 13, will see Yingluck follow up progress of bilateral cooperation following Thai-Myanmar MoUs signed during Thein Sein's visit to Bangkok in July.

Surapong said the joint development of the Dawei deep-sea port project in Myanmar as well as the plan to connect the Dawei project to Thailand's Laem Chabang deep sea port project, will be a major topic for discussion during the visit.

The three MoUs have reaffirmed the two countries’ cooperation on the project that will not just be key to development of southern Myanmar but also its link with Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard.

The MoU, particularly on Dawei, has sent a strong signal to foreign investment that the two governments are committed to development of the strategic economic corridor that would give a boost to this impoverished region in Myanmar.


Link : http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Yingluck-to-follow-up-on-Dawei-deep-sea-port-durin-30188841.html

Thai Ratchaburi eyes investments in Myanmar, Cambodia

Aug 14 (Reuters) - Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Pcl, Thailand's top private power producer, said on Tuesday it was looking to invest in two or three power plants in Myanmar, excluding the Dawei project.
The company expects the power plant project at Dawei, a planned $50 billion special economic zone in southern Myanmar, to show some progress in the next 1-2 years, while it was also studying plan to invest in small and large-sized plants in Cambodia, President Noppol Milinthanggoon told reporters.
The company aimed to spend about 7 billion baht this year, he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the utility reported a 74 percent rise in second-quarter net profit to 3.29 billion baht
(Reporting by Pisit Changplayngam; Writing by Khettiya Jittapong; Editing by Martin Petty)