"Steel Plant Launch in Shan State Raises Concerns Over Pollution and Land Confiscation", 16 March 2026

A new oxygen and nitrogen production plant has officially begun commercial operations at the No. (2) Steel Mill – Pang Pet (Pinpet) in Taunggyi, southern Shan State, according to local residents. However, the project continues to face strong criticism from residents and environmental observers over land seizures and environmental damage linked to the factory…

The newly opened facility is designed to produce oxygen and nitrogen for use in the iron-smelting process at the Pang Pet steel mill…

Despite the official praise, residents living near the factory say they are facing serious consequences, including the loss of ancestral farmland and environmental degradation.

Residents in the Pong Inn area reported that factory wastewater is being discharged into Nam Tabat Creek, raising concerns about pollution and public health.

A local healthcare worker told … that residents in the area have experienced persistent skin irritation and rashes.

… Environmental expert Sai Khur Hseng said the pollution affecting the Pong Inn area is likely caused by industrial waste discharged upstream from the Pang Pet factory.

A … report by the Pa-O Youth Organization (PYO) similarly warned that more than 100 villages downstream have been affected by waste flowing into the waterway.

… According to PYO, the Russian partner VO Tyazhpromexport involved in the project is a subsidiary of Rostec, a company known for exporting weapons to the Myanmar military.

To supply energy for the plant, the project plans to use approximately 1,500 tons of coal per day sourced from Kyethi Township.

… Local groups say the project has also displaced farming communities. According to PYO reports, much of the land used for the project was acquired through intimidation, with some farmers allegedly receiving compensation as low as 5,000 kyats per acre.

As a result, many families have reportedly lost their farmland and livelihoods, forcing some residents to migrate abroad in search of work…