Made Island (Burmese: မဒေးကျွန်း, also spelt Maday, Ma De, or Ma Day) is an island off Kyaukphyu, in Rakhine State, Myanmar. The island is the site of a deep seawater port being constructed as part of the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone. The island is home to four villages (including Ywama, Pyein, and Kyauktan),[1] 700 homes, and 3,000 people.[2] Most villagers engage in fishing, although recent development projects have forced fishermen to give up their fisheries, because the movement of tankers prevents fishing.[3][2]

Maday Island
Native name:
မဒေးကျွန်း
Maday Island is located in Myanmar
Maday Island
Maday Island
Geography
LocationIndian Ocean
Coordinates19°21′32″N 93°39′19″E / 19.35898143524159°N 93.65520548017494°E / 19.35898143524159; 93.65520548017494
Adjacent toBay of Bengal
Administration
StateRakhine
DistrictKyaukpyu
TownshipKyaukpyu
Demographics
Population(3,000)
Languages
Ethnic groupsRakhine
Additional information
Time zone

Development projects edit

Construction of the China National Petroleum Corporation's pipeline through Myanmar began in 2012, and transmission of crude oil commenced on 2 May 2017.[1] Fishermen demonstrated against the project due to its impact on their livelihoods.[4] The pipeline project, whose entry point is on Maday Island, was criticized for not economically benefiting locals.[1][5] Only 47 locals were employed by Petrochina, with most workers imported from China.[5]

Made Island, along with Ramree Island, will be one of two terminals of the Kyaukphyu deep seaport.[6] The project, part of the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone, is being built at a cost of US$1.3 billion.[2]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Moe Myint (2017-07-18). "Reporter's Notebook: Has China's Pipeline Project Benefited Maday Island Locals?". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  2. ^ a b c "Myanmar: Kyaukphyu deep-sea port poses challenges for Maday Islanders and local fisheries". ICSF. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  3. ^ Yan Naing (2022-09-13). "Guest Column | China-backed Port in Western Myanmar Depriving Locals of Land and Jobs". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  4. ^ Moe Myint (2017-05-22). "Fishermen Protest Against Kyaukphyu Seaport". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  5. ^ a b "China's $10 billion strategic project in Myanmar sparks local ire". Reuters. 2017-06-08. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  6. ^ "Feature: How the development of Myanmar's Kyaukpyu port won the hearts of locals". Xinhua. Retrieved 2023-03-08.