Full Breakdown
Myanmar Restarts Controversial Myitsone Dam
7/1/2026, 11:23:27 PM
Myanmar Plans to Restart Myitsone Dam Project
The military government led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing announced that construction of the Myitsone dam in Kachin State will restart within eight years, aiming to finish a 6-GW plant originally budgeted at $3.6 bn.
Background and Timeline
The project was approved in 2009 under a China-Myanmar pact, halted in 2011 after protests, and revived after the February 2021 coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi. Min Aung Hlaing’s June 2026 Beijing visit revived talks; Kachin leader Khet Htein Nan calls the dam a “historic achievement.” A civil-society statement on May 5 2026 opposed the dam, and Reuters noted the eight-year target on July 1 2026.
Project Scope, Cost and Power Export
The dam will be 152 m tall and wide at the Mali–Nmai confluence, generating 6 GW. IRENA estimates total cost at $11.5 bn, more than three times the 2009 $3.6 bn figure. The design calls for exporting 90 % of power to China, but the pact’s status is unclear; Myanmar needs roughly 10 GW, so the dam could supply over half the shortfall.
Government Position
Spokesperson Khaing Khaing Soe said the dam could meet over half of the electricity shortfall and that the administration is “analysing these matters in detail, evaluating the extent of the benefits versus the negative impacts, to strike a balance.” She added China is ready to apply new technology to mitigate environmental and seismic risks.
Civil Society Opposition
A coalition of 49 groups warned the dam would flood an area the size of Singapore, displace communities and sit above a seismically active zone after a 7.7-magnitude quake struck Myanmar in March 2026. Their joint statement said the project offers no public benefit and threatens lives, homes and property. At least 26 public meetings have been held, yet the coalition says the dam endangers livelihoods.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
Reuters could not confirm whether the 90 % power-export agreement with China has been renegotiated. Cost estimates vary from $3.6 bn to $11.5 bn. Sources differ on Soe Win’s Myitkyina visit month—April versus December. China’s foreign ministry has not responded.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It will begin shortly,” — Htet Paing Htoo, Kachin State Parliament member
- “They will use technology to ensure it can withstand such risks. There is nothing to worry about,” — Khet Htein Nan, Kachin State leader
- “It offers no benefits to the public and will only result in the severe destruction and loss of people's lives, homes, and property,” — Joint statement of 49 civil-society groups
- “We are analysing these matters in detail, evaluating the extent of the benefits versus the negative impacts, to strike a balance,” — Khaing Khaing Soe, Presidential Office spokesperson
Outlook
The junta plans to issue a formal restart announcement within weeks and begin construction. International observers will watch for changes to the China export deal and compliance with environmental safeguards, while civil-society groups pledge continued protests and legal challenges.
