MONREC issues first ever Environmental Compliance Certificate

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC) has just issued what we were told is their first ever Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). The ECC is in a letter format and confirms that the applicant’s Environmental and Social Impact Assessment is in compliance with the requirements of the Law on Environmental Conservation (LEC). It is issued by the Minister’s Office of MONREC.

Even though the LEC and its implementing regulations require an ECC before commencing business activity, in practice no ECC’s were yet issued. This caused various difficulties for investors, who had trouble evidencing they were in order with Myanmar’s environmental laws and regulations.

The ECC, which was issued on a power project advised on by VDB Loi, states a number of ongoing conditions the investors need to respect, as well as certain reporting requirements.