More than US$1.6 million will be spent in the 2013 fiscal year on socioeconomic development projects along the Shwe oil and gas pipelines, state-run media announced Sunday. A contract signed Friday by the pipeline’s backers said the funding would cover 33 projects in Shan State, Arakan State, Mandalay Division and Magway Division, including the development of schools, orphanages, roads, wells and a dispensary, The New Light of Myanmar reported. The development projects will be implemented by two subsidiaries of the China National Petroleum Corporation, which is backing the pipeline along with the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise.