Plans by the military-owned Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) to expand the cement plant at Hpa-an Township in Kayin State in the country’s south-east have run into local opposition, Frontier Myanmar reports.

Local activists from 10 villages neighbouring the plant have formed the Thanlwin Network to resist attempts to expand the 4000tpd Myaing Kalay plant and its captive power plant from gas to coal.

Villagers opposed to the plant’s expansion have cited its impact on the local environment and raised fears that the MEC might seize land for project without compensating them, as happened when the plant was first built.