Locals protest oil refinery project in Launglon

Locals protest oil refinery project in Launglon

Published on Wednesday, 30 April 2014 17:39

Local people in Launglon Township, Taninthayi Region protesting against an oil refinery project on April 29

Local residents have staged a protest against a petrol refinery project in Launglon Township, Taninthayi Region on Tuesday. 

The project is a joint venture between the military-owned Union of Myanmar Economic Holding Ltd (UMEHL), Htoo Trading Ltd and Chinese company GTZR. When operational, it is expected to produce 5 million tonnes of petrol a year.

The protestors marched from Nyin Maw Buddhist Monastery to the project site for one and half hours yesterday morning, holding placards calling to end the project and to stop the forced relocation of villages in the project area.

"We protest against the refinery project because it is harmful to the environment. The factory is located in Nyin Maw Village but the nearby places will also suffer environmental consequences. So, the local people here do not want the refinery at all," said Chit Oo, a resident of Nyin Maw Village.

Residents said they had to apply six times to get permission from local authorities for the protest and were rejected five times. 

"The authorities mentioned traffic jams and educational events as reasons for their rejection. This time, the township police chief allowed us to protest on the outskirts but did not allow us to pass in front of schools and offices. As long as the refinery project is going on, we will continue protests," added Chit Oo. 

Six villages fall in the area of petrol refinery project site. The project is located on a 1600-acre palm oil plantation bought by UMEHL from the Ministry of Industry at a cost of Ks 2.6 billion (US$ 2.6 million).

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/locals-protest-oil-refinery-project-in-launglon/