Coal-fired power plant in Myanmar backed by China that villagers feel powerless to oppose

SCMP
Robert Bociaga
13 Jun, 2021

Almost two decades ago, in a small hillside town in southern Shan State, Myanmar’s largest coal-run power plant was built. Tigyit has been forever changed by this joint venture between the China National Heavy Machinery Corporation and a group of Myanmar businessmen affiliated with the country’s ruling generals who were responsible for the coup d’état on February 1, which ended the nation’s all-too-brief flirtation with democracy.

About 60 hectares of land were confis­cated to build the Tigyit plant, yet local communities surrounding the site, such as the Pa’O and Taungyo people, say they have seen no compen­sation for the land appro­priated for the power station or for the adjacent forests that have been razed to make space for mining the coal that fuels the plant.