China continues Irrawaddy dam construction in war time

Chinese president Hu Jintao and Irrawaddy Myitsone dam in Kachin State, Northern Burma.

China is accelerating the construction of the Irrawaddy dam despite the  ongoing in Kachin State, Northern Burma, said an urgent statement released by the Kachin Development Networking Group (KDNG) dated August 31.

Ah Nan, spokesperson for the KDNG said the Myitsone (confluence) dam is being constructed by workers of the state-owned China Power Investment Corporation (CPI) and the Burma-Asia World Company as well as 700 additional construction workers from the Chinese state-owned Sinohydro Corporation, the world’s largest hydroelectric company.

More Chinese construction machinery and materials are being transported to the Myitsone Dam site by 12-wheel trucks on the Myitkyina-Kambaiti Road, said eyewitnesses in the Burmese border town of Kambaiti.

After a new military conflict started between the Burmese Army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) on June 6, in Kachin State, the KIA post along the Myitkyina-Kambaiti route banned trucks loaded with construction materials and equipment, according to truck drivers on that road.

The KIA also damaged the key bridge on the road with mines.

Part of the Stilwell Road (also called Ledo) was reconstructed in 2006, at a cost of 97 million Yuan (US$15.2) by Chinese companies from Yunnan province.

The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the political wing of the KIA, sent an open letter to Chinese President, Hu Jintao, in March, urging a halt to the Irrawaddy Myitson Dam construction because it will lead civil war in the country.

According to the KDNG statement, the Chinese communist government has refused the KIO request.

The 500 foot dam has been under construction at the confluence (Myitsone) of the Mali Hka River and N’Mai Hka River, 27 miles north of the Kachin capital, Myitkyina, beginning in December, 2009, and it will cost 3.6 billion dollars.

Most of the 6000 MW of electricity produced will be sold to China.