India’s government-owned hydro developer has signed an agreement with the Myanmar government to develop the 1,200-MW Tamanthi and 600-MW Shwezaye hydroelectric projects on Myanmar’s Chindwin River.
Chairman S.K. Garg of India’s National Hydroelectric Power Corp. (NHPC) and Col. Zaw Min, minister of Myanmar’s Ministry of Electric Power No. 1, signed a memorandum of understanding September 16 at a ceremony in Myanmar’s new capital, Naypyitaw.
Government-run New Light of Myanmar said that under the memorandum, Myanmar’s Hydroelectric Power Department and NHPC jointly will implement Tamanthi (also spelled Htamanthi) and Shwezaye (also spelled Shwesayay).
India media quoted India’s minister of state for power, Jairam Ramesh, saying the Chindwin Basin has hydropower potential of about 2,500 MW and also is of strategic importance to India due to its proximity to several of India’s northeastern states.
In a 2004 meeting between India and Myanmar officials, it was said NHPC would perform a pre-feasibility study of Tamanthi.
In 2007, the Export-Import Bank of India extended a US$60 million line of credit to Myanmar to finance the 100-MW Thahtay Chaung hydro project on Thahtay Creek in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. (HNN 11/5/07)
