Union Minister for Electric Power U Thaung Han inspected the construction of the Upper Kengtawng Hydropower Plant 14 miles southwest of Kengtawng Town in Shan State together with Shan State Chief Minister Dr Kyaw Tun and Eastern Central Command Commander Maj-Gen Myo Min Tun on 23 October.
First, the director-general of the Department of Hydropower Implementation and the director of No 5 Task Force reported on the project procedures including the construction of conduit, main dam, main spillway, diversion tunnel, steel-lined pressure tunnels, other work plans to be carried out in respective FY and the power generating of 54 MW by Kengtawng hydropower plant.
Then, the Union Minister said electricity plays an important role in the country’s development.
Based on the availability of natural resources, the Ministry will continuously implement new hydropower that will be cost-effective and have the least impact on the environment and social environment and also to meet the country’s increasing need for power in time. Electricity can improve the business sector and create job opportunities for local people, promoting their socioeconomic status.
Afterwards, the Union Minister and party inspected the construction sites of the project.
The main embankment of the Upper Kengtawng Hydropower Project is 1,800 feet long and 230 feet high with storage of 104,000 acre-feet of water. The power plant can produce 267 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. The project is now 72.2 per cent completed and set to be fully completed in March 2025.
The electricity produced from Upper Kengtawng Hydropower Project and the current Kengtawng Hydropower Plant will be transmitted through the national power grid by connecting the Namsam Main Power Sub-station via the 230 kV power grid. — MNA
