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| The site near Dawei in southern Burma is earmarked for a special economic zone and deep sea port |
The Burmese
authorities have halted the construction of a Thai-backed power station, citing
concerns over pollution and the environment.
The
decision on the coal-fired plant at Dawei comes four months after the
controversial Chinese-funded Myitsone hydroelectric dam was halted.
The move is
seen as another indication of burgeoning political and economic reforms.
The
announcement came from Minister for Electricity Khin Maung Soe.
Speaking to
reporters in Rangoon, he said that the decision to stop construction of the power
station had been taken after "listening to the people's voice and reading
the concerns about the environmental impact of this plant in local media
reports".
The
4,000-megawatt plant would have formed part of the huge Dawei development on
Burma's southern coastline and activists had warned the project could trigger
an influx of "dirty" industry.
"This
is intriguing as there had been no real public campaign on the same scale as
for Myitsone," said Aung Zaw, the editor of the Thailand-based Irrawaddy
magazine.
"This
is a pre-emptive move from a government that is increasingly worried about
public opinion and stability."
More
engagement
The
designers of the Dawei Development Project say the opening of the deep sea port
and the subsequent development will provide a new east-west trade route,
allowing goods from China a land shortcut on their way to European markets.
Plans for
the $50bn (£32bn) industrial zone include road and rail links, a fertiliser
plant and an oil refinery.
The
decision on the power plant comes as the international community continue to
deepen their engagement with the once isolated nation.
On Monday,
Australia announced that it was easing some of its sanctions as a response to
political reforms introduced by the new military-backed civilian government.
Last week
William Hague became the first British foreign secretary in more than 50 years
to visit Burma. His trip followed on from one by Hillary Clinton, the US
secretary of state.
Both came
as part of efforts to encourage the Burmese authorities towards further reforms
and the release of political prisoners.
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