Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing inspects No 1 Steel Mill (Myingyan) of Ministry of Industry
NAY PYI TAW May 31
Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied his entourage, Mandalay Region Chief Minister U Myo Aung, Central Command Commander Maj-Gen Ko Ko Oo and officials, inspected No 1 Steel Mill (Myingyan) of Ministry of Industry, in Myingyan Township, Mandalay Region, this morning.
As regards the implementation of the No 1 Steel Mill project in financial year 2022-2023, Union Minister for Industry Dr Charlie Than reported on points and aims of the project, progress in implementing the guidance given by the Senior General, implementation of the project at less cost and least losses, and Deputy Minister U Yin Maung Nyunt on functions of the mill, points of the Melt Shop-1, efforts to resume operations of the mill that was halted in the late 2017, smelting works that began on 24 March 2023, difficulties in implementing the project, progress of work and future programs.
In response, the Senior General said the nation’s annual steel and iron demand is about two million tons. Hence, efforts were made to resume the mill’s operations that were halted during the term of previous government. Electricity is needed to produce steel. Hence, field research should be conducted to supply enough power to the mill. In addition, solar power must also be taken into account.
Melt Shop-1 of the mill is completed, and further steps are needed to complete the entire project. All must strive for the success of the project as the mill and Pinpet Steel Mill will produce steel for the country.
Programs should be realized to bring about quality human resources for steel production.
Basic needs of employees must be fulfilled. Long-term plans should be adopted to transport raw materials to the mill and its products to various places by electric trains in the future.
He arranged synchronized work programs for union ministers and officials to facilitate the remaining tasks and to run the mill at maximum capacity.
The Senior General formally launched the Melt Shop-1 and billet production sector to mark the commissioning of the Melt Shop-1. Later, he commissioned the steel smelting functions of the foundry department. He then inspected the functions of foundry department in the Melt Shop-1, constant molding section where ninemetre long steel billets were produced.
After hearing the reports of officials, the Senior General gave the work guidance.
The Senior General put his signature on a steel cubic billet manufactured on 24 March 2023 by the electric melting section of Melt Shop-1 in accord with his guidance and presented cash award for employees. Officials of the plant returned gifts.
The Senior General presented a fruit basket for foreign experts serving at the plant.
The Senior General and party inspected installation of machines at Melt Shop-2 and steel sheets manufactured on 17 August 2016 and gave necessary guidance to officials.
At the mess hall of No 1 Steel Mill (Myingyan), the Senior General had lunch together with employees, gave words of encouragement for increased production of steel products and cordially greeted them.
No 1 Steel Mill (Myingyan) under the Ministry of Industry is located near Hsakha Village of Myingyan Township, Mandalay Region. It was implemented in 2004 through signing the agreement. It produced 2,000 tons of steel sheets from Melt Shop-2 in 2016. During the construction of the plant, although more than 90 percent of machinery arrived, the project tasks were halted due to decisions from the Union government fourth regular meeting 7/2017 and meeting decisions of the 11th day session of the four regular meeting of the Second Pyidaungsu Hluttaw in 2017. During the period of halting the project as from 15 March 2017, investments amounted to Ks-403,932.882 million and the project has completed by 66.52 percent.
Due to halting the project, the State lost a large sum of finance, and the government paid back loans for the project. Steel manufacturing is of great importance for the State. Upon completion of the project, the country can reduce import volume of iron and steel wares and can use steel wares at cheaper prices than that of the foreign market. During the time of the State Administration Council, the government meeting 1/2021 decided to verify the steel plant projects and to resume them.
During the inspection tour of No 1 Steel Mill (Myingyan) on 24 January 2022, the Senior General gave guidance on systematic supervision for timely completion of the plant project in building it in phases.
In implementing the project tasks, the Melt Shop-1 has been completed for the Phase-1. At a time when the Phase-1 of the Melt Shop-1 is being operated at full capacity, tasks will be continued to run the Phase-2 for the Melt Shop-2. Running of the whole project will be undertaken phase to Phase. No 1 Steel Mill (Myingyan) is striving as a main driving force for revitalization of the iron and steel industry of Myanmar and developing Myanmar’s industrial sector more than now.