Mawlamyine Cement power station
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Mawlamyine Cement power station is a mothballed power station of at least 40-megawatts (MW) in Kyaikmaraw Township, Mon, Myanmar.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Mawlamyine Cement power station | Kyaikmaraw Township, Mon, Myanmar | 16.365184, 97.832431 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- ': 16.365184, 97.832431
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mothballed | coal: unknown | 40 | subcritical | 2017 |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Owner | Parent |
|---|---|
| Mawlamyine Cement Ltd [100%] | Pacific Link Cement Industries Ltd; Siam Cement PCL |
Project-level captive use details
- Captive industry use (heat or power): power
- Captive industry: Cement & Building
Background
Mawlamyine Cement Limited (MCL), a joint venture between Thai-based Siam Cement (SGC) and Pacific Link Cement, proposed a US$400 million cement plant in Mon State, due to open in mid-2016. To power the project, the company proposed building a 40 MW coal-fired power plant in the compound, which raised concerns among the local community over expected pollution.[1]
Construction began in 2014.[2]
In June 2016, it was reported that "authorities in Mon State for the first time visited a Thai cement factory where a coal power plant was built without informing locals or authorities, said local sources." The plant was reported to be completed, but in test phase and not yet operating.[3]
In November 2016, it was reported that the plant and the factory had begun operating in a trial stage. The company had transported 150,000 tons of coal to the site.[4]
In March 2017, it was reported that Mawlamyine Cement was ordered to conduct an additional environmental impact assessment at its Kyaikmayaw cement plant. The government requested that a third party conduct the study at the site. Issues with coal use, transportation of finished products via river and emissions were raised by the Environmental Conservation Department. The cement producer was also asked to include residents in the assessment to ensure transparency of the process.[5]
However, the plant was commissioned into service in April 2017.[2]
In August 2017, the committee for the assessment of financial, planning and economic matters in the Mon State Parliament asked the Ministry of Electricity and Energy about the coal-fired power facilities at the cement factory. The ministry replied on August 14, 2017, that MCL had not sought permission to run the power plant.[6]
In October 2020, Mawlamyine Cement appeared to at least temporarily suspend production due to a limestone shortage and dispute between its owners. SCG said it had resorted to arbitration to resolve the matter and that Pacific Link Cement had filed a lawsuit. [7] According to SCG's 2021 Annual Report, the case was under review of Myanmar court.[8]
According to reports, the Cement plant was potentially resuming operations sometime in 2022.[9][10]
In February 2023, SCG's 2022 annual report confirmed that the plant had been temporarily out of operation since 2020 due to the dispute with Pacific Link Cement and provided the following update to the status of the dispute: "[...] the Arbitrators unanimously decided in favor of SCG Cement, stating that the Joint Venture Agreement executed by the parties on November 14, 2012 (“2012 Joint Venture Agreement”) is valid and binding, and ordering PLCI to comply with the terms of the 2012 Joint Venture Agreement." [11]
SCG's 2023 Sustainability Report listed Mawlamyine Cement Limited with "thermal" power as its energy source.[12] SCG's 2023 Annual Report stated that Pacific Link Cement had not complied with the 2022 Arbitrator decision. In September 2023, Mawlamyine District Court refused to enforce the decision, and, in October 2023, SCG made an appeal to the Mon State High Court.[13]
In January 2024, the Mon State High Court dismissed SCG's appeal application. The company planned to file a civil lawsuit to the Union Supreme Court. As of February 2024, production at the cement plant was still suspended due to the lack of limestone.[13]
In September 2024, Siam Cement Group formally suspended their operations in Myanmar. The company reportedly stated that "there is no hope of resuming operations soon".[14] Mawlamyine Cement power station was presumed to be mothballed.
Public opposition
In April 2016, 4,000 people from seven villages near the MCL site petitioned the President and the Mon State's Chief Ministry, calling for the closure of the factory.[4]
In August 2017, Malamyine residents staged a protest against the coal plant, saying it lacked needed permits.[2]
The plant has been the source of ongoing conflicts described in more detail on EJAtlas (last updated in 2022).
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ Chan Mya Htwe, "Thai cement giant tackles Mon coal fears," Myanmar Times, February 8, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Residents stage protest against coal-fired power plant built in MCL Cement Plant," Eleven Myanmar (via Consult Myanmar), August 28, 2017
- ↑ Lawi Weng, "Authorities Visit Disputed Coal Power Plant in Mon State," Irrawaddy, June 16, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Thiha, "MCL Transports 150,000 Tons of Coal for Factory’s Operation," Consult-Myanmar, November 30, 2016
- ↑ "Mawlamyine Cement ordered to repeat environmental impact assessment," Global Cement, March 6, 2017
- ↑ "Mawlamyine plant may not have proper power plant permission," Global Cement, August 18, 2017
- ↑ "Mawlamyine Cement suspends production due to limestone shortage," Global Cement, October 29, 2020
- ↑ "Achieving ESG while Growing Business: Annual Report 2021," Siam Cement Public Company Limited, 2021
- ↑ "미얀마 시멘트 공장 재개," AD Shofar, January 24, 2022
- ↑ "The Junta Wiped Us Out Again: Socio-economic impacts post-coup in Southeastern Burma," Human Rights Foundation of Monland, October 2022
- ↑ "Annual Report 2022," Siam Cement Public Company Limited, February 2023
- ↑ "Sustainability Report 2023," Siam Cement Public Company Limited, February 16, 2024
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Annual Report 2023," Siam Cement Public Company Limited, February 22, 2024
- ↑ "Siam Cement Group suspends operations in Myanmar," ccf2up.com, September 10, 2024
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
