"Myanmar's Leader Urges 'Broad-minded' Look at Chinese Dam And Other Big Projects", 14 March 2019

...Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Su Kyi said...that is important for her government to uphold investment projects approved by previous administrations, or risk being perceived by investors as "not reliable and volatile."

..."Our people need to assess the situations broad-mindedly from diverse viewpoints, whether it is Myitsone Dam or any other massive projects," she said. "We have to think strategically from all perspectives, politically, economically, socially and environmentally. It is wrong to assess them from only one viewpoint."

The U.S. $3.6-billion dam was started in 2009 but was put on hold two years later...because of widespread opposition to its environmental and social impacts, much to the dismay of China....

...Prominent meteorologist Tun Lwin said it is unacceptable for the current government to insist upon continuing the construction of the mega-dam, which he called "a mistake" by the previous administration government and not beneficial for the country.

"There are many other rivers in Myanmar and implementing a mid-size project is different," he said. "But this one is massive and is located on the most crucial location of the country. It is not acceptable. We must renegotiate at all costs. If we continue, the country will be at risk and face great losses...."

Former President Thein Sein had stopped the project amid protests over its enormous flooding area and detrimental environmental impact, as well as anger over the fact that most of its electricity would be exported to China....