June Cement Industry Ltd has broken ground on a new cement factory in the Pyar Taung area of Kyaikmayaw Township, Mon State.
MNA previously reported on construction of a cement factory led by Mawlamyine
Cement Limited (MCL) in Kyaikmayaw Township, slated to start operations in mid-2016. Similar to MCL’s expected production capacity, the June Cement Industry factory also anticipates producing 5,000 tons of cement daily from its location near Magro and Kaw Dun villages.
“Now we are gathering sand. We are also building shelters to house the vehicles and for workers to stay in. Because I am just a daily wage employee, I do not know when the factory will start running,” said a man working on the June Cement Industry site.
According to locals, June Cement Industry has not yet met with residents to discuss the construction project or collect feedback.
“They have not explained the factory construction to locals. We heard that they will use coal power to generate power for the factory. When the factory expels waste water into the Attran Creek, it is dangerous for fish and other species living in the waterway. It can also threaten people living in the area,” said Nai Htun Kyi, a resident of Magro Village.
June Cement Industry purchased the roughly 700 acres from residents in Magro, Kaw Dun and Kaw Panow villages before 2010, according to locals.
“The company has not explained to locals what kind of power generator they will use to run the factory yet. For us, we will completely oppose it if they run with coal power,” said Nai Shwe Win of the Pyar Taung Area Development Association.
He added that if the cement factory were to be constructed, it would potentially cause risks to the community, local health, and nearby crops. He also worried that mining activities at the factory could shake and damage the pagoda and Buddhist stupas on Pyar Taung and Magro mountains, along with local monasteries, schoolrooms and houses.
Permission to construct the factory was granted to June Cement Industry by the Myanmar Investment Commission on March 25 (meeting number 11/2016).
