March 17, 2020
Twenty-four MPs were on leave at the 23rd-day meeting of the Second Pyidaungsu Hluttaw’s 15th regular session yesterday and the remaining 630 attended.
First, Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy U Khin Maung Win and Deputy Minister for Planning, Finance and Industry U Maung Maung Win explained the ODA loans from JICA for the Infrastructure Development Project in Thilawa Area (Phase III),
U Khin Maung Win said the loan of 7.339 billion Yen will be used to install two boilers that will be powered by the heat produced by two gas turbines constructed near the SEZ in 2015. The boilers will in turn power a steam turbine that can generate 25 MW for Thilawa. The loan will have an interest rate of 0.01 per cent, a 10-year grace period and 30 years for repayment.
The Speaker called for MPs interested in debating the loan to register their name.
Next, Deputy Minister U Maung Maung win and Deputy Minister for Health and Sports Dr Mya Lay Sein explained a proposal to acquire US$ 100 million from the International Development Association (IDA) and US$ 10 million as financial assistance for the Ministry of Health and Sports.
The Speaker called for MPs interested in debating the loan to register their names.
Deputy Minister U Khin Maung Win then explained a proposal to acquire US$ 350 million from IDA for the Ministry of Electricity and Energy. He said the loan would be used to replace the two old John Brown gas turbines and the H-25 Hitachi Combined Cycle CCGT of Ywama Thermal Power Plant of Yangon Region. The loan would also be used to replace transformers in sub-power stations with those that can hold a larger volume of voltage, and to purchase mobile substations that can be used when sub-power stations are under repair.
The Deputy Minister said the project period would be from 2020 to 2024 and have an interest rate of 1.25 per cent and a 0.75 per cent service fee. The grace period would be five years and the repayment period 25 years.
The Ywama power plant supplies electricity to Hlinethaya, Shwelinban and Shwepyitha industrial zones through the Hlinethaya sub-power station, and onward to Ayeyawady Region.
The Speaker called for MPs interested in debating the loan to register their name.
Next, the Hluttaw began voting on category (1) proposals of the second bill to amend the Constitution, which includes 15 provisions. None of the proposals acquired the necessary number of votes to enact amendments.
In detail, the proposal to amend Section 115-(b) received 412 votes, Section 121-(k) received 414 votes, Section 124-(a) received 413 votes, Section 124-(b) received 416 votes, and Section 147-(b) received 413 votes.
Section 172-(a) received 415 votes, Section 172-(b) received 416 votes, Section 188 received 417 votes, Section 196 received 416 votes, and Section 198-(b) received 414 votes.
Section 198-(d) received 413 votes, Section 204-(b) received 403 votes, Section 225 received 415 votes, Section 226-(a) received 415 votes, and Section 226-(b) received 416 votes.
The Speaker then announced that voting for category (2) proposals will commence on 17 March, 2020, during the 24th-day meeting of the 15th regular session, Second Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. — Aung Ye Thwin, Aye Aye Thant(Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)
