Ceasefire Fuels Worries of Hatgyi Dam Restart

27 June 2012

Villagers in southern Karen State have expressed concern that the Hatgyi hydropower dam, put on hold because of fighting between government forces and ethnic Karen rebels, could restart now that the two sides have reached a ceasefire agreement. Burma’s Ministry of Electric Power signed a deal with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand and China’s Sinohydro in 2006 to build the dam on the Salween River, but progress has stalled due to the conflict. However, villagers say there has been more activity at the site of the project in recent months.