U Aye Cho, director of the Ministry of Energy’s Myanma Petrochemical Enterprise (MPE), said that the project was still in the preliminary phase as they continue to consider which firm will carry out the required environmental and social impact studies.
“We have seen at least three foreign consultancy firms, but we are still choosing among them,” he said.
The ministry announced tenders for assessments in July, with a deadline to pick one by August 16, but the ministry has not released details of any progress in those assessments.
The new refinery, capable of producing up to 50,000 barrels per day, will be built in Minhla township and will process crude oil coming from the Myanmar-China Oil Pipeline, the ministry has said.
The Union Parliament approved K40 million for the assessment of a new oil refinery last year.
“It is an ongoing project and we haven’t decided yet on how it will be funded. The capacity would be from 40,000 barrels per day to 56,000bpd, but we haven’t decided on that yet either,” said U Aye Cho, adding that three locations in Minhla township had been proposed to accommodate the refinery.
Currently MPE runs three refineries: Chauk, with capacity of 6000bpd, Thanbayagan, with a capacity of 25,000 bpd and Thanlyin, which is able to produce 20,000 bpd.
The utilisation rates of those ageing refineries are low, according to the Ministry of Energy.
source: The Myanmar Times
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