Plans for pulp and paper production: High Grade Paper Mill and Newspaper Mill in Thabaung

Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Augng Hlaing together with Ayeyawady Region Chief Minister U Tin Maung Win, the Commander of South-West Command and officials inspected Thabaung High Grade Paper Mill and Newspaper Mill (Thabaung) of the Ministry of Industry in Thabaung Township, Ayeyawady Region on Tuesday.

On arrival at the High Grade Paper Mill (Thabaung) and Newspaper Mill (Thabaung), the Prime Minister and party were welcomed by the staffs. Union Minister for Industry Dr Charlie Than and Director of the Heavy Industry of the Ministry of Industry reported on history of the factory, production of pulps and papers from the operating to suspending time, types of inputs and products, assigning the staff, industrial raw forest plantations, paying salaries for employees and pensions according to the fiscal year, attempts for public-private partnerships (PPP) and plans to implement in line with the guidance of the Prime Minister.

After that, Union Minister for Energy U Myo Myint Oo reported on gas production from Mau Bin gas well and MaU Bin and Nyaung Ton Oil Fields, distribution to relevant factories, the need of gas for operating Thabaung High Grade Paper Mill and Newspaper Mill (Thabaung) and maintenance of gas pipelines.

Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Khin Maung Yi reported on getting bamboo raw materials from natural forests, types of bamboos growing across the nation and paper manufacturing, availability of bamboos annually and cultivation of fast growing forests to produce pulps.

Chairman of Myanmar Economic Corporation Lt-Gen Nyo Saw reported on checking machines and tools to re-operating of the mill, arrangements for repairig, factory and plantations and the ways for getting energy.

In response to the reports, the Prime Minister said that papers needs a lot for the country and the demands of papers such as office use, school and newspaper that are used daily are imported from abroad. Bamboos and timbers will be needed as a raw material for re-operating paper mills and energy will be needed for generating machine.

At the repairing time of the factory, the extension will have to be carried out and the forest and bamboo plantations will be grown to fulfill the demand of raw materials. The pulps can be produced in Kachin State and Sagaing Region and transported again to paper mills.

The Prime Minister urged officials to emphasize on re-operating of paper mills for the national interest of the state and reducing the use of foreign currency as the papers are imported from abroad. Later, the Prime Minister observed display of types of papers that are manufacture by the mill and discussed the needs.

The Prime Minister and party then viewed around the mill compound and inspected the pulping plant, 50-ton paper mill and 60-ton newspaper mill and gave necessary instructions. Later, the Prime Minister presented honouraria for the staffs of the Thabaung High Grade Paper Mill and Newspaper Mill (Thabaung) and cordially greeted the staffs.