Myanmar to restart China-backed Myitsone dam after 14 years

Myanmar's military government plans to restart the $3.6 billion Myitsone hydropower project in Kachin State, 14 years after public protests halted construction. Reuters reported on 1 July that officials, including Kachin State chief minister Khet Htein Nan, discussed the plan privately. The administration of president Min Aung Hlaing wants the project completed within eight years.

The dam, at the confluence of the Mali and Nmai rivers, would generate up to 6 GW, more than half of Myanmar's current national demand of around 10 GW. The original 2009 agreement sent 90 per cent of electricity to China, an unpopular term. The International Renewable Energy Agency suggests rebuilding could cost up to $11.5 billion, over three times the original estimate. A magnitude 7.7 earthquake in March has added safety concerns, though officials say China will use advanced engineering. The military has held at least 26 meetings to build local support, but ethnic and environmental opposition remains strong.