Chinese firm close to completing study phase of wind power project in Gwa Twsp

25 Oct 2023

DMG Newsroom
25 October 2023, Gwa
 
Among Chinese wind turbine projects to be implemented in Arakan State, the evaluation stage is reportedly nearing completion for a project in Gwa Township.
 
Company officials have studied the local wind speeds and other requirements for about eight months and are preparing to break ground on the project.
 
“Recently, officials from one of the two companies came to meet us and told us that they can do a wind turbine project in Gwa Township,” said U Hla Thein, spokesman and attorney-general for the Arakan State military council.
 
A wind turbine project is planned to be implemented on Mt. Laykar east of Gwa town, and wind masts were erected and tested in March. U Hla Thein said the electricity generated from the project will be used to help power the national grid.
 
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed in March between the junta’s Electricity Ministry and Chinese companies Primus Advanced Technologies Ltd, Asia Eco Energy Development Ltd and Yunnan Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Co., Ltd to implement three wind power projects: one in Ann (150 MW), another in Gwa (100 MW) and the third in Thandwe (110 MW).
 
All three projects are slated to produce electricity by 2025. The first phase of the project in Gwa is scheduled to start producing electricity in December.
 
A local social activist said that there is hopelessness among residents about the project as there are reports that the wind power harnessed in Gwa Township will be distributed to Ayeyawady Region.
 
“The wind power that will be generated from Gwa Township will be distributed to Ayeyawady Region. It would be great if residents in Gwa Township could get the electricity produced from [the wind turbines] 24 hours a day during this time of power outages,” said a resident in Gwa.
 
Ko Myo Lwin, an environmental activist, said that the wind power project to be implemented in Ann Township has not been implemented yet, but if the project is implemented, it should be explained to the residents.
 
“Especially since the project will be implemented based on machinery, natural resources may be damaged. We are concerned about the rights of the local people in the project area and a situation in which they will be forcibly relocated without getting their consent,” he added.
 
The wind power project to be implemented in Arakan State is the first of its kind between China and Myanmar in Myanmar.