Yadana Gas Field, Myanmar

Key Data
Project TypeGas field
LocationAndaman Sea, Myanmar (Burma)
OperatorTotal S.A.
Discovered1980
Production started1998
Estimated investmentUS$1bn (approximately)
Full specifications
Situated in the Andaman sea, the Yadana gas field is around 60km offshore from the nearest landfall in Myanmar. The project has been developed in partnership with local communities and western oil companies with the objective of involving local communities and protecting the environment.
The project consisted of developing offshore as well as onshore facilities. Platforms and subsea gas pipelines have been developed offshore. For onshore support, a land pipeline and a control and maintenance centre along with a gas metering station have been developed.

Total S.A. (Total), the gas field operator, is engaged in the development of Yadana offshore field and transportation of gas from the production unit to the Thai border.

Discovery and field development

With the gas discovery in 1980, the Yadana gas field development was divided into three phases. Phase 1 (1992 -1994) started with a technical survey of the field to check for the feasibility of the project.

Total and MOGE (Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise), a state owned company, entered into the contract for developing the field in 1992. The reserves at Yadana were confirmed in 1993 and further gas sale negotiations were initiated with the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT).

“The project has played a vital role in establishing long-term socioeconomic relations between the two countries.”
The first filed survey was conducted in 1994 for exploring options for a land pipeline route. During 1995, contract for supplying gas to Thailand was signed with PTT. As per the production sharing contract, MOGE exercised its option to take a 15% stake in project in 1997. During the same year, the land pipeline was laid.

Phase two included the construction and design of production facilities and transmission by the Moattama Gas Transportation Company (MGTC). Under phase three, the gas was produced by partner companies and transmitted by MGTC. Supply of gas from Yadana to Myanmar domestic market begun in 2001.

Infrastructure

The oil field has two well-head platforms consisting of seven wells. It has one accommodation platform and one production platform. Other offshore facilities also include a 346km subsea pipeline and a 63km onshore pipeline connecting through the Tenasserim district to the Thai border.

In December 2007, a manifold compression platform was also installed for an initial project development plan ensuring targeted gas production levels and timely delivery of gas.

Thai Immigration Plans Burmese Concert Fundraiser in Mahachai

Wed 09 Sep 2009, IMNA, Mon Jit
According to an inside source, the Thai immigration office in Samut Sakhon, with the cooperation of a number of Burmese brokers , plans to host a Burmese concert for fundraising purposes in the town of Maharchai.

“They decided to host a Burmese concert because they want to remodel and improve the Thai immigration office”, this source claims.

The Mahachai immigration office plans to make T-shirts decorated with Burmese statements and the names of popular Burmese singers, and hopes to sell them to migrant’s workers in Mahachai for 150 baht, states Nai Mon, a worker in Mahachai.

According to Nai Mon, the immigration office plans to peddle the shirts in locales with a high density of migrant workers, such as the factories where they are employed, and the migrant settlement in which they reside.

Unfortunately, the motives of the Samut Sakhon office seem less than pure. “In the past, they also tried to raise funds for remodeling, but I think they just want the money for themselves. Thailand is a democratic country, it can provide the funds for any remodeling. The immigration officials will just use the money from the concert to line their own pockets”, states a field officer at the Labor Rights Promotion Network (LRPN) in Mahachai.

The concert will start on September 26th , and will last until the night of September 27th at Wat Kok temple in Mahachai. The posters published claim the attendance of many well know Burmese singers: Rzarni, Jenny, Htun Htun, Naw Naw, Rebacca and Han Htun. Tickets will sell for 350 baht – a sum out of reach for the migrant workers that the concert is supposed to benefit.

The field officer at the LRPN points to an incident three years ago, when the Thai immigration office in Maharchai cooperated with Burmese brokers to host a Mon Opera. The event has been criticized due to claims that few of the funds raised were used to aid Mahachai’s migrant worker population.

Two bombs blasts target Burmese government troops

Wed 09 Sep 2009, IMNA, Rai Maraoh
On September 9th at 9:40 am, two bombs exploded in succession at that a site about 1 quarter mile from the Northern side of Three Pagoda Pass [TPP] town.

The explosions took place at an abandon checkpoint formerly controlled by the Karen Peace Force (KPF) on the road to Maketa forest near a checkpoint of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA). According to villagers, village militiamen from Three Pagoda Pass town also used to keep watch there.

“The explosions were very loud. Even when I was in the town [TPP] I heard them very clearly,” said a resident from TPP. “But there were no injuries. On a usual day the place where the explosion occurred is occupied by wood collectors and carriers that go from Burma to Thai side of the border. But today when the explosions occurred no one had yet arrived there, that’s why no one injured.”

The group or organization responsible for setting off the bomb blasts has yet to be identified. Analysis from military experts in the area indicate that the explosions were likely to have been caused by a claymore type anti-personnel mine that can triggered remotely.

“This morning the [Light Infantry Battalion] LIB No. 283 troops, who had been deployed together with DKBA troops for operations in Maketa forest [returned],” a TPP resident explained. “After they passed the site about 60 yards behind them the [two] explosions occurred.”

According to some experts (who did not wish to be named) on armed groups based in Three Pagoda Pass town, the type of mines some suspect were detonated in the explosion are used by the KNU.

In a previous bombing on June 28th, two bombs were denoted in the TPP area. One exploded in front of the gate of IB No. 32 and the other 100 yards from IB No. 32. In both blast no soldiers or civilians were injured.

The June 28th explosions were investigated by authorities but there have been no results to indicate who was responsible for the blasts.

After the previous explosions TPP authorities tightened security in the area, however after the most recent explosions the authority have not tightened security, said a source close to a resident in the area.

Shan villagers allowed to rebuild homes burnt by the army-vdo

opinion-karencrisis by Kwekalu Karen News

http://www.kwekalu.net/opinio/karencrisis.html

The United States Embassy in Rangoon said it is talking to the Burmese government regarding an American, arrested at the Yangon International Airport on September 3.

US Embassy investigates arrest of American citizen in Burma
by Mungpi
Wednesday, 09 September 2009 18:52

New Delhi (Mizzima) – The United States Embassy in Rangoon said it is talking to the Burmese government regarding an American, arrested at the Yangon International Airport on September 3.

Burma born American citizen, Kyaw Zaw Lwin a.k.a Nyi Nyi Aung, was arrested at the Mingalardon International Airport on September 3, on arrival from Bangkok on a TG flight.

An embassy official told Mizzima on Wednesday that they are talking to Burmese authorities on Kyaw Zaw Lwin’s arrest but refused to provide further details, citing diplomatic protocol.

“We are aware of Kyaw Zaw Lwin’s arrest. We are investigating the case,” the official said adding that “Our priority is to provide assistance to American citizens, so, yes we are reaching out to the government here.”

Kyaw Zaw Lwin was a student activist during Burma’s 1988 popular uprising and fled to Thailand to escape the military crackdown on protesters. Later he was resettled in US and has been living in Washington DC, where he was neutralized as a US citizen.

According to a letter of request sent to Collin P. Furst, Consul of the US Embassy in Rangoon, by his friends, Kyaw Zaw Lwin had a valid social visit Visa obtained from the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok.

The embassy official said they do not have any information so far on the whereabouts of Kyaw Zaw Lwin.

The Burmese-born US citizen’s sister and mother are serving a jail term for their role in the ‘Saffron Revolution’, in which monks led thousands of protesters on the streets of Rangoon in September 2007.

Kyaw Zaw Lwin’s sister, Thet Thet Aung (35), was sentenced to 65 years in prison, while his mother is serving a five-year prison term.

Six Arakanese university students,were arrested by SP 2 police intelligent force in Rangoon on 1 September, 2009. Since then, they have been missing,

Six Arakanese Students Missing After Arrest

9/9/2009
Sittwe: Six Arakanese university students, some recently graduated, have been missing since they were arrested by police in Rangoon, the former capital of Burma, said a close associate of the students.

“They were arrested by SP 2 police intelligent force in Rangoon on 1 September, 2009. Since then, they have been missing,” he said.

The six students were identified as Ko Tun Lin, Ko Zaw Tun Oo, Ko Kyaw Zaw Oo, Ko Kyaw Win, Ko Khin Maung Htay, and Ko Kyaw San Hlaing. All are around 25 years of age and come from Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State.

“They were brought to an undisclosed location for interrogation by the police after their arrest,” the source said.

A relative of one youth from Sittwe confirmed the arrest but refused to provide further details out of fear of punishment by the authorities.

It is suspected that they were arrested in connection with the 70th anniversary of Saradaw Ottama Day on 9 September.

Ottama was a prominent Arakanese monk who sacrificed his life for Burma’s independence from British rule, but the Burmese military currently in power has banned observance of the memorial day in Burma.
Narinjara

Sittwe: The military authority has deployed many additional police forces at every intersection throughout Sittwe to prevent any incidents during the 70th anniversary of Saradaw Ottama Day.

One witness said, “Our town is now blanketed with police forces by the authority because today is venerable monk Ottama day. The authority deployed the police forces to prevent any possible demonstrations or distribution of flyers regarding Ottama.”

At least five constables have been deployed at each intersection in Sittwe since Sunday.

Moreover, many riot police have also been deployed to key places in the city, including Sittwe University, Fire Brigade Intersection, Lawka Nandar Pagoda, Ottama Garden, Bura Gri Temple, U Ray Kyaw Thu Monastery, the town hall, and Bura Myar Thein.

The military authority has banned the observance of Ottama day in Burma, so residents, particularly students and monks, who respect Ottama, hold ceremonies in secret.

On 9 September last year, a group of Arakanese monks and elders marched to Ottama Garden to lay wreaths and light candles at the foot of the Ottama monument there, but the authorities stopped them.

When authorities blocked the entrance gate to Ottama Garden, a clash between the locals and police erupted, but was later solved by the high authority.

However, U Maung Nyo, a well-known community leader who led the march that day, was summoned to the police station and warned against doing anything similar in the future.

The authority is worried that a similar incident could occur again on Ottama day, and has deployed police forces around Sittwe in an effort to prevent any public observance of the anniversary, said the witness.

Ottama was a prominent educated monk in Burma who rallied the national spirit among Burmese people to fight against British rule for independence. He sacrificed his life for the independence of Burma. He was born in Sittwe on 27 December, 1879, and passed away in Rangoon on 9 September, 1939.

Hot air balloon released by Mon Youth bearing message condemning Burmese government

Tue 08 Sep 2009, IMNA, Asah
Mon youth released a traditional hot air balloon that was painted with a statement condemning Burmese government oppression of Mon culture and its pressure on the largest Mon political party to essentially give up its arms.

On September 3rd, during the Buddhist “full-moon” holiday, Mon youth and members of the Young Mon Monks organization launched a large traditional Mon paper lantern filled with hot air, that was pained with a message that stated the organizations stance against the ruling Burmese military regime, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).

According to group members, the statement on the lantern read, “We don’t want the MNLA [Mon National Liberation Army] to become a border guard force [BGF]. The military has the power now and we don’t want to be slaves. They can do anything. Because of that we are not free.”

According to a young monk from Mon State, this balloon was made on this holiday because the Military government has guaranteed itself 25 % of the parliamentary seats when they rewrote the constitution in 2008. Monks and Mon youth though that after all, they heard that as they know, they want resident know and putting against vote in coming 2010 election.

According to youth in one of the community groups, they are also angry that when the Burmese government made the constitution, no provisions were made for the Mon nation or Mon ethnic rights.

Wa leaders have ordered their people to be on alert and dig bunkers for protection in case fighting breaks out, according to sources on the border. Troops of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) have been building strategic outposts in the mountains.

Wa Units in Southern Shan State Build Defenses
Shan sources said UWSA units in southern Shan State will reportedly ally with the ethnic rebel Shan State Army – South in fighting government troops if necessary.

Ten thousand UWSA toops led by Wei Hsueh-Kang, who is blacklisted in the US for drug trafficking, are stationed in southern Shan State. The UWSA has a total of about 25,000 soldiers.

The US Department of State has offered a US $2 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Wei Hsueh-Kang.

Border sources said Burmese government forces will likely launch an offensive against Wa units in southern Shan State, because the junta has been beefing up its troops in the area since the fall of Kokang’s capital, Laogai, on August 24.

The Burmese military junta reportedly wrote to Wa leaders demanding that they surrender the Kokang leader, Peng Jiasheng, who is believed to have taken shelter in a UWSA-controlled area. Source said the UWSA did not respond to the junta’s request.

Troops from the Burmese regime’s light infantry divisions (LID), including LID 99, 55, 33 and 22, have been moving into Shan State since Aug 24, according to border and Burmese military sources. About 10 battalions under Military Operation Command 16, based in Theindi in northern Shan State, have also been deployed south of Laogai, military sources said.

Speaking to The Irrawaddy, one resident who asked for anonymity said he witnessed three 120mm mortar launchers and 10 armored cars going to southern Shan State, where UWSA units are based.