There are almost 200 large dams in Myanmar.CHINA IN BURMA: THE INCREASING INVESTMENT OF CHINESE MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS IN BURMA'S HYDROPOWER, OIL AND NATURAL GAS, AND MINING SECTORS BURMA'S HYDROPOWER, OIL AND NATURAL GAS, AND MINING SECTORS UPDATED: September 2008http://www.myanmar.gov.mm/NLM-2003/enlm/Aug19_h1.html > Myanmar (Burma) has a large hydroelectric power potential of , although the economical exploitable potential is about . Between 1990 and 2002, the country tripled its installed capacity of hydro plants, increasing from to . Total installed capacity in 2010 is at least MW, 6% of potential. Several large dams are planned to increase future hydro utilization.

Background Although Myanmar is underdeveloped in terms of its hydro-power potential it is not for lack of effort. While chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, Sr-Gen Than Shwe prioritized the building of dams. A native of the Kyaukse region through which the Zawgyi River flows, Shwe was widely rumored to believe himself to be a reincarnation of Ko ko (r. 1044-1077). During his reign King Anawrahta was a prolific dam- and canal-builder, especially along the Zawgyi river. He viewed his hydro projects as atonement for killing his foster-brother Sokkate.

The total electricity generated by Myanmar in 2002 was , consisting of oil (612 GWh, 9%); gas (3770 GWh, 57%); and hydro (2232 GWh, 34%).

Myanmar's hydro power development activities and plans include five-year short-term plans and a 30-year strategic plan. This involves generating power for domestic use and exporting to neighboring countries, especially China, Thailand and India. Total planned hydro power development in Myanmar is 14,600 MW.

Though the twelve large planned hydroelectric dams generating more than 1,000 MW gain much media attention, there are at least another twelve in the 100 - 1000 MW range and at least 27 smaller microhydroprojects less than 100 MW. The rest of the dams are generally lower-height irrigation structures.

At least 45 Chinese multinational corporations have been involved in approximately 63 hydropower projects in Myanmar, including several related substation and transmission line projects. The country's State Peace and Development Council Chairman Than Shwe met with Chinese representatives at the Shweli I Dam.

+Exploitable Hydropower Potential of Burma State/Region Number of Sites MWKachin State 39 2,061 Karenni State 7 3,909 Kayin State 21 17,021 Chin State 22 1,312 Sagaing Region 21 2,399 Tanintharyi Region 14 692 Bago Region 11 387 Magwe Region 8 123 Mandalay Region 17 3,482 Mon State 10 292 Rakhine State 14 247 Shan State 83 7,699 Total: 12 267 39,624

The Asian Development Bank's October 2012 assessment of the energy sector in Myanmar reported on the country's abundant hydropower potential, with 92 potential large hydropower projects already identified.

Major dams

Salween river

Seven dams have been proposed for the Salween River. The largest of these hydro power projects is the Tasang Dam on the Salween River, which is to be integrated into the Asian Development Bank's Greater Mekong Sub-region Power Grid. A groundbreaking ceremony for the Tasang Dam was held in March 2007, and China Gezhouba Group Co. (CGGC) started preliminary construction shortly after. China's involvement in the damming of the Salween River is not limited to the Tasang project.

In 2006, the government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sinohydro for the US$1 billion, 1,200 MW Hat Gyi Dam along the Thai border. In April 2007, Farsighted Group (now known as Hanergy) and China Gold Water Resources Co. signed MoUs for an additional 2,400 MW hydropower project on the upper Salween, an area which Yunnan Power Grid Co. reportedly surveyed in 2006.

In April 2008, Sinohydro, China Southern Power Grid Co., and China Three Gorges Project Co. signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement for the development of the hydro power potential of the Salween River. Despite China's involvement in these large-scale dams on the Salween, most of the electricity is destined for export to neighboring Thailand.

However, In May 2009, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao halted the construction of the Liuku dam on the Salween River in China's Yunnan province, calling for more thorough impact assessments.

Shweli River The Shweli I, II, III Cascade, in Shan State near the Chinese border, has also received significant Chinese support. Yunnan Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Co. (YMEC) began work on the Shweli I Hydropower Plant in February 2004 and, following the government's inability to secure funding, joined with Yunnan Huaneng Lancang River Hydropower Development Co. and Yunnan Power Grid Co. to create the Yunnan Joint Power Development Company (YUPD) in August 2006. For more information regarding the Salween River, see .

A few months later, YUPD assumed an 80% share in the project after creating the Shweli River I Power Station Co. together with Myanmar, turned the Shweli I dam into a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) project, and increased the installed capacity from 400 to 600 MW. At least two Sinohydro subsidiaries have provided construction services for the project, and Sichuan Machinery & Equipment Import & Export Co. and Ningbo Huyong Electric Power Material Co. have signed US$ multimillion contracts for electricity transmission cables and towers. The Shweli I Hydropower Plant is slated for completion by June 2009, and was half complete as of May 2007.

N'Mai, N'Mai, Mali and Irrawaddy Rivers In Kachin State, several Chinese MNCs are involved in the construction of seven large dams along the N'Mai Hka, Mali Hka, and Irrawaddy River, with a combined installed capacity of In 2007, China Power Investment Co. signed agreements with Burmese authorities to finance all seven dams, as well as with China Southern Power Grid Co. Yunnan Machinery & Equipment Import & Export Co. (YMEC) signed an MoU with Myanmar's Ministry of Electric Power in 2006 to develop the hydropower potential of the N'Mai Hka. However, details of this arrangement remain unclear. Changjiang Institute of Surveying, Planning, Design & Research has also completed a feasibility study at the confluence of the N'Mai Hka and Mali Hka.

Others In western Myanmar, just inside the Indian border, runs the Chindwin River, where several potential dam sites have been identified that are likely to service export-oriented hydro-power plants. The sites include Thamanthi, Mawlaik, Homalin, and Shwezaye.

In August 2001, the Kansai Electric Power Company, or KEPCO, contracted with Myanmar to provide technical assistance for developing 12 hydro-power plants, including at least five sites on the Sittang River Yenwe, Khabaung, Pyu, Bogata and Shwe Gin.

China CAMC Engineering Co. has been involved in the surveying and implementation of hydropower projects in the region. The 790 MW Yeywa Dam in Mandalay Region, which began construction in 2006, is also being financed and constructed by several Chinese MNCs, including China Gezhouba Group Co., Sinohydro, China International Trust and Investment Co. (CITIC) Technology Co., ChinaNational Electric Equipment Co., China National Heavy Machinery Co., and Hunan Savoo Oversea Water and Electric Engineering Co. Additional financial backing for the project is being provided by the China EXIM Bank.

In addition to the Yeywa, Shweli and Hat Gyi projects, Sinohydro China's largest dam company and its subsidiaries have been involved in the , Kyauk, Monechaung, Nam Hkam Hka, , Tarpein I, Thapanseik I, II, III, and Zawgyi I Dams. As with the Yeywa project, both CITIC and China EXIM Bank provided investment and financial backing for the Thapanseik Dam.

The Yunnan Machinery & Equipment Import & Export Co. (YMEC) has been one of the most active Chinese companies in Myanmar's hydropower sector. Since the 1990s, YMEC has been involved in more than 25 projects of varying size, including the Ching Hkran, Chinshwehaw, Dattawgyaing, Hopin, Kunhein, Kunlon, Kyaing Ton, Kyaukme, Laiva, Mepan, Nam Hkam Hka, Nam Myaw, Nam Wop, Nancho, Paunglaung, Upper Paunglaung, Shweli I, II, III Cascade, Watwon, Zaungtu, Zawgyi I and II, Zichaung, and N'Mai Hka River hydropower projects, as well as the Rangoon Dagon Substation. The extent of YMEC involvement in these projects, several of which are completed, is unclear, but appears to involve construction and some financing.

Lists of dams

Hydroelectric + List of operating hydroelectric dams in Myanmar Name # Impounds MW rating Commission Location Shweli I Dam 1 Shweli River 600 2008-12 Shan State, near Man Tat village(Palaung)Zawgyi I Dam 2 Zawgyi River 18 1997-5-31 Shan State, Yaksauk Township Zawgyi II Dam 3 Zawgyi River 12 1998-11 Shan State Yeywa Dam 4 Myitnge River 7902010 5 Dapein River 168 2005 Dapein II 6 Dapein River 240 2006 Upper Paunglaung Dam 7 Paunglaung River 140 2009-12 Lower Paunglaung Dam 8 Paunglaung River 280 2005 Zaungtu Dam 9 Bago River 20 2000-3 Bago RegionII 10 48 1960, 1992-8 Karenni State Sedawgyi 11 Chaungmagyi River 25 1989-6 Mandalay Region, MogokMogok 12 4 yes Mandalay RegionZawgyt (1) 13 18 yes Shan StateKattalu (Kyunsu) 14 .15 yes Tanintharyi RegionHopin Dam 15 1.26 yes Kunhing16 .15 yes Shan StateNamlat (Kyaington)17 .48 yes Shan State Chinshwehaw Dam 18 0.1 yes Shan State Kinda DamNyauggyat (Kinda) Dam Multipurpose Project ] 19 Panlaung river 56 1985 Mandalay Reg.. Thazi Township Selu 20 .024 Shan StateMalikyun (Palaw)21 .192 Tanintharyi RegionMatupi (Namlaung) 22 .2 Chin StateMaing Lar 23 .06 Shan StateBaluchaung I 24 28 Karenni State Ching Hkran Dam 25 2.52 Kachin State Laiva Dam 26 0.96 - 0.6 Chin State Nam Wop Dam 27 3 Shan StateNammyao (Lashio) Dam28 4 Shan StateChinshwehaw (Extension) Dam 29 .2 Shan State Kunlon Dam 30 Salween River 0.5 Shan State Zi Chaung Dam 31 1.26 Sagaing Region Nam Hkam Hka Dam (Mogaung) 32 5 Kachin State () Nam Suang Ngaung (Kyaukme) 33 4 Shan State Lahe34 .05 Sagaing Region Tui swang (Tonzang)35 .2 Chin State Che Chaung(Mindat)36 .2 Thapanseik Dam 37 30 2002-6 Sagaing Region 39 192 1992 Karenni state Monechaung40 75 2004 Magway Region () Shwegyin Dam 41 Shwegyin River 75 2011 Bago Region Total 40 Hydro plants 3,048.5 MW commission All Myanmar

+ List of Planned Hydroelectric Dams in Myanmar Name # Impounds Capacity (MW) Commission Location Myitsone Dam 1 Irawaddy River 6000 2017 est. Chibwe Dam 2 N'Mai River 3400 Pashe Dam 3 N'Mai River 1600 Lakin Dam4 N'Mai River 1400 Lakin Phizaw Dam 5 N'Mai River 1500 Kaunglanphu Dam 6N'Mai River 1700 Laiza Dam 7 Mali River 1560 Chibwe Creek Dam 8 N'Mai River (Chibwe Creek) 99 Shwe Kyin Dam 10 Shwe Kyin Chaung(Stream) 75 Tarpein I DamTarpien IChinese Dam Incurs KIO Wrath 13 Tarpein River 240 Tarpein II Dam 14 Tarpein River168 Nam Myaw Dam 16 4 Shweli II Dam 17 Shweli River 460 Shweli III Dam 18 Shweli River 360 Upper Thanlwin-Kunlong Dams 19 Salween River 2400 Mepan (Meipan) Dam 22 1.26 Kunhein (Kunheng) Dam 23 0.15 Kyaing Ton (Kengtung) Dam 24 0.48 TaSang Dam 26 Salween River 7110 Kengtawng Dam 27 54 Kyaukme Dam 30 4 Watwon Dam 31 0.5 Dattawgyaing Dam 33 36 Kyeeon Kyeewa Dam 39 75 Buywa Dam 40 60 Nancho Dam 41 40 Paung Laung Dam44 280 Thaukyegat I Dam 45 150 Kayin State Thaukyegat II Dam 46 120 Kayin State Kapaung Dam 47 30 Bago Region Kunchaung Dam 48 60 Bago Region Yenwe Dam 49 25 Bago Region Kyauk Naga Dam 51 75 Hatgyi Dam 52 Salween River 1360 Dagwin dam 53 Salween River 792 54 Chindwin River 1200 56 Salween River4540 Mobye Dam 57 Balu Chaung River 168 58 Balu Chaung River 28 Tha Htay Chaung 59 111 Thandwe TownshipAnn Chaung 60 Ann River 10 Ann Township Sai Din Dam 61 Sai Din Waterfall 76.52014 est. Buthidaung Laymro Dam62 Laymro River 500 Shwesayay Dam 63 Chindwin River 600 Taninthayi 65 600 Htamanthi 66 1200 Tajan67 Nam Kok 68 42,100 to 150 Bilin 85 280 Mon StatePhyu 87 65 Bago RegionBawgata 88 160 Kayin State Ywathit Dam 89 600 to 4,500 Kayah State

Irrigation only