Stakeholder Engagement : Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Hydropower Sector in Myanmar - Stakeholder Comments and Responses : SEA Baseline Assessment Report (English)

Myanmar has immense hydropower potential. It is home to four of the region's largest river basins: Ayeyarwady, Chindwin, Sittaung, and Thanlwin. In October 2016, Myanmar's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation and the Ministry of Electricity and Energy with the support from International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Australian government commenced a country-wide strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of the hydropower sector to understand the effects on environmental and social values across Myanmar's primary river basins. The SEA is a first step to better understand, prioritize, and plan sustainable hydropower development across Myanmar; it is not pro or anti hydropower but advocates for sustainability. Drawing on stakeholder views including advice and recommendations from an expert group, advisory group, civil society organizations, researchers, private sector, and others, the SEA provides a deeper understanding of the importance of communities' values and reliance on riverine resources. During the baseline research phase of the SEA, stakeholders were encouraged to provide feedback on baseline assessment report. This data will become the foundation for the final SEA. A public feedback period of three weeks from June to July 2017 provided stakeholders with the opportunity to review the research developed and offer their comments and expertise by chapter. The document captures the comments gathered by the SEA research team.