PDFs transport oil from Kyunhla through village-connecting routes
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Phyo/Htaik San (NP News) - Jan 8
A source familiar with the route told the Statesman Journal that PDFs are transporting oil from Kyunhla through village-connecting routes between Kyunhla and Taze.
There are over 500 oil sites in Mawton village, Mawkal village and Yay Yein village on the west side of Thaphanseik Dam in Kyunhla Township, Sagaing Region, and they are being exploited with the permission of PDFs.
The above- mentioned source said that “Some rely on their own capacity. They are small-scale producers with a few wells. However, some dig with heavy machines to extract oil. The scale of operations varies. There are at least 500 to 600 wells. Oil can be explored in Mawton, Mawkal and Yay Yein.”
He continued that PDFs were earning benefits worth millions of kyats from those oil wells, while the government was not receiving any revenue from them.
“Monthly production is in the tens of thousands of barrels. There is no benefit to the country. Not a single kyat of benefit,” he told The Statesman.
These oil wells are controlled by PDF groups, who are reportedly collecting 500,000 kyats per month for small-scale mining, 10 lakhs per month for medium-scale mining, and 15 lakhs per month for large-scale mining.
He said, “The oil transportation route runs through Mawton and Mawkal. Currently, oil extracted from Kyunhla is taken out through Nyaungkai Village. From Nyaungkaing, it goes to Sitha, then from Sitha to Ywarshay, from Ywarshay to Nabakgyi, and from Nabakgyi to the Oatpho Ai Road. From the Oatpho Ai Road, it passes toward Kanhtuma. That is the Taze–Kanhtuma road. After getting onto the Taze–Kanhtuma road, it exits at Kanhtuma. From there, it proceeds to the Ye-U road, then goes out again to Muebaung between Depayin and Ye-U. From Muebaung, it finally re-enters Monywa,” he said.
On the other hand, the Thaphanseik power station near the oil wells has been destroyed by PDF groups and is not operational due to a lack of staff, which is why both Kanbalu and Kyunhla townships have been without electricity for a long time, according to the source.