The Union of Myanmar Economic
Holdings Limited (UMEHL) and Htoo Company had a meeting with local
villagers from Longlon Township on August 2 to discuss plans to
construct an oil refinery in Dawei District, Taninthayi Region of lower
Myanmar.
“We held a discussion with the villagers
from Nyin Maw village where the plant will be built, officials from the
companies and the group who will carry out the project's environmental
and social impact assessment. The company and UMEHL explained about the
construction of a refinery plant and the locals also inquired what they
wanted to know because they don’t want any impacts of the business on
their environment," said Thant Zin from Dawei Development Committee.
He added that the oil refinery would
need 1,000 tons of fresh water an hour and that they would dam the Tha
Phar waterfall near the project to get the required fresh water.
"The fresh water is getting without
fees. The construction is a major project because it needs 1,000 tone of
fresh water. The locals worried about the water shortage when the dam
is being constructed. So we need to explain the locals about the
construction of the dam," Thant Zin added.
Local residents worried about the
environmental pollution created by the waste products of refining crude
oil. Although the waste would only constitute 0.5 percent of total
output, of a total of five million tonnes of oil that would mean about
25,000 tons of waste.
"The locals urged the company to reveal
the ongoing of construction plans. Do they accept the project asked by
the monk from Lay Thon Khan village? The villagers replied that they
don’t need. Finally, the company promised them they don’t make the
project if the villagers will not accept," said Thant Zin.
The UMEHL and Htoo Company will begin
oil refinery importing the crude oil from the Middle East. The UMEHL had
bought an oil-palm farm and about 1,600 acres of oil-palm factory owned
by the Ministry of Industry with 2.600 billion Kyats near Nyin Maw
village in last year to build the oil refinery plant. Nyin Maw village
where the plant to be built is located near Longlone Township is about
15 miles from Dawei Township and over 70 houses with 400 people live
there.
source: Eleven Myanmar
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