MCRB worked with Vermont Law School (supported by Heinrich Boll Stiftung), in cooperation with the Environmental Conservation Department (ECD) of MONREC, and local civil society networks, to hold workshops in Mandalay (30 November 2018 – with Green Justice Institute), Monywa (7 December 2018 – with MATA Sagaing National Coordination Unit), Taunggyi (14 December 2018 – with Mong Pan Youth Organisation) and Loikaw (20-21 December 2018 – with Eden Development Network). Read more: https://www.myanmar-responsiblebusiness.org/news/strengthening-public-understanding-of-eia.html

1. Hydropower in Kayah State:
Strategic Environment Assessment
and EIA
Vicky Bowman, Director MCRB
Loioikaw 21 December 2018

2. Strategic Environment Assessment?
Myanmar EIA Procedure, Article 123/124

3. IFC (World Bank) Strategic Environment
Assessment (SEA) of Hydropower in Myanmar
https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/industry_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/hydro+advisory/resources/sea+of+the+hydropower+sector+in+myanmar+resources+page

4. IFC Strategic Environment Assessment
consultations 2016
• Consultations in Loikaw and Taunggyi
November 2016
• Top issues raised for Thanlwin river basin:
• Development
• Environmental pressures, especially
deforestation
• Conflict
Issues raised in consultation
Opportunities raised in consultation

5. Participatory Mapping

6. IFC Strategic Environment Assessment
Recommendations (1): Mainstem Rivers
 No hydropower on 5 mainstem rivers
 Ayeyarwady - commencing at the Mali
Hka-N’mai Hka confluence;
 Chindwin - commencing at the
confluence of Headwater 1 and 2 sub-
basins between Shin Bway Yang and
Shin Long Ga townships;
 Thanlwin - commencing at the
Myanmar-China border;
 Mekong - 180 km along the Myanmar-
Lao border; and
 Sittaung - commencing at the Sinthay
River confluence downstream of the
Lower Paunglaung dam.
 If recommendations
accepted by
Government of
Myanmar, would lead to
cancellation of 7
currently proposed dams
on mainstems:
 Myitsone
 Htamanthi
 Kunlong
 Nao Hpa
 Mongton
 Ywathit
 Hatgyi

7. IFC SEA Recommendations (2): High
Environmental Value River sub-basins
IFC recommends to Myanmar government:
 Protect ‘High (value) zone’ (red) sub-basins to
maintain important river processes (biophysical)
 No large-scale or high impact hydropower
projects in ‘High’ zone
 Restrict hydropower to smaller scale projects
with low environmental and social risks, and
low cumulative impact.
 Develop projects in Low (yellow) and possibly
Medium (orange) sub-basins instead.
 Cascade dams – build several dams on one river
e.g. Biluchaung, Yeywa

8. Existing hydropower in Kayah State
HydropowerPlant
District
RiverSub-Basin
CatchmentArea(km2)
Meanannualinflow(MAF)
intoreservoir(m3/s)
AnnualRunnofinto
Reservoir(hm3)
Unitflowl/s/km2
Qmin/MAF
DamType
DamHeight(m)
RunofRiverorStorage
Developer
Investmentby
InstalledCapacity(MW)
MyanmarSelfuse(MW)
%useMYA
CommissioningYear
Baluchaung 1 Loikaw
Nam
Pawn 7,872 36.5 1,151 4.6 81% CG 11 RoR MoEE
Sole
Investment 28 28 100% 1992
Baluchaung 2 Loikaw
Nam
Pawn 7,910 38.0 1,198 4.8 79% Weir - RoR MoEE
Sole
Investment 168 168 100% 1974
Baluchaung 3 Loikaw
Nam
Pawn 8,042 40.2 1,268 5.0 75% Intake - RoR
Future
Energy Local BOT 52 52 100% 2014
IFC SEA Recommendations:
• Baluchaung zoned Medium due to high aquatic ecosystem value for Inle Lake.
• No hydropower recommended upstream of the lake
• Further hydropower development downstream could be considered.

9. *
Proposed hydropower in Kayah State
Status District
River Sub-
Basin
Catchment
Area (km2)
Annual
Runoff into
Reservoir
(hm3)
Dam Height
(m)
Installed
capacity
(MW)
Estimated
Construction
workers
Haw Kham (upper)*
TEI (SGP)/HTCT (MM) MoU Bawlakhe Nam Pawn 16,884 10,533 72 180 700
Nam Pawn (lower)*TEI
(SGP)/HTCT (MM)
MoU Loikaw Nam Pawn 7,860 4,907 88 105 400
Ywathit (China
Datang/Shwetaung) MoA Bawlake
Thanlwin
Mainstem 208,984 107,222 167
4000 (10%
MM/90% TH) 11,900
IFC SEA Recommendations
• Nam Pawn basin has a Medium rating (and high Conflict Rating. According to SEA,
Upper Haw Kham and Lower Nam Pawn are unlikely to go ahead due to geotechnical
issues at dam site and very large resettlement requirements.
• Ywathit is on a mainstem river (Thanlwin), and therefore IFC SEA recommends should
not be constructed