Authorities have destroyed seized illegal small-scale oil refineries in Pauk District, Pakokku District, Magway Region, while local people and parliamentary representatives are calling for coordinated measures to wipe out such illegal businesses.
"Just recently, we visited the areas where illegal oil refineries were raided. We destroyed them as an educative measure. As those illegal refineries run with the use of firewood, there will be impact on the environment. Later, we will try to arrest and sue those who run illegal oil refineries," said Lower House MP Ye Tun Win from Pauk Township.
In order to eliminate illegal oil refineries, the region government has planned to an oil refinery zone in Pakokku Township. It has also announced in state-run newspapers that businesspeople are invited to invest in the zone.
However, some local oil businessmen said they had no position to invest in the zone due to high transport cost as the zone area is far from the region where oil is produced.
MP Ye Tun Win stressed the need for a coordination meeting between real oil producers and government officials to totally crack down on illegal oil refineries.
Oil producers from some villages of Pauk Township, Pakokku District, staged a protest on October 5, making a four-point demand including permission to launch legitimate oil refineries.
