China National Heavy Machinery Corporation (CHMC) signed contracts with the Department of Hydroelectric Power of Myanmar Friday on the implementation of the Yeywa Hydropower Project, the largest in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, the Yunnan Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Co Ltd (YMEC) of China signed an agreement with the Myanmar side on the Upper Paunglaung Hydroelectric Power Project located in the east of Pyinmana, northern Mandalay division.

Under the contracts worth of US$45.84 million, CHMC is to undertake the supply of 230 kilo-volt(kv) transmission lines and substations for the Yeywa Hydropower Project.

The signing was witnessed by Myanmar Minister of Electric Power Major-General Tin Htut, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Li Jinjun and President of the Chinese company Lu Wenjun.

This is the fifth time that Myanmar and Chinese companies signed contracts for the Yeywa hydropower project.

The first one with US$2.2 million was signed between Myanmar and the China National Electric Equipment Corporation in March 2004 for building a dam gate. 

The second and the third ones, worth US$125 million, were inked in July by a Chinese joint venture consortium consisting of the China International Trust and Investment Corporation (CITIC) Technology Co Ltd and Sinohydro Corporation Ltd.

The fourth one, valued at US$46.32 million, was concluded in early August between Myanmar and the China Gezhouba Water and Power (Group) Co Ltd for constructing a reinforced concrete dam with the supply of machinery equipment under the Yeywa project.

The 790-megawatt four-generator hydropower project, being implemented on the Myitnge River, 50 kilometers southeast of Mandalay, will generate 3.55 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year upon completion. The electricity will be transmitted to the whole country through Kyaukse, Meikhtila and Mandalay via 230 kv double cable lines.

(Xinhua News Agency September 2, 2005)