Volcanic mud may lead to re-zoning at Kyaukphyu

The SEZ was originally slated to sit in the eastern part of Kyaukphyu township, occupying over 100,000 acres.

In mid-2014, officials working on the project said the potential for even minor damage caused by mud volcanoes posed hurdles when it came to procuring site insurance.

Questions remain over a 250-acre section of the project, which has not yet been clearly demarcated.

The winning bid for developing the site, which has been decided but will not be announced officially until early next year, will see the developer conduct a feasibility study on the land, said U Than Maung, a member of the Bid Evaluation and Awarding Committee (BEAC) for the SEZ.

“We haven’t heard any plan to move the land. As some hotel projects will be included in the SEZ, [some might appreciate the volcanic activity] as a tourism attraction. But it [might not be possible to have] construction in the area,” he said.

The site’s low-level volcanic activity is considered similar to a site to that at Minbu in Magwe Region: It is not generally considered dangerous and is not an igneous volcano in that it does tend to produce lava. (Courtesy of MMTimes)