UK Must Sanction Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE)

As evidence grows of British companies’ involvement in Burma’s gas industry, Burma Campaign UK is calling on the British government to sanction the military-controlled Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise.

The British government must take action to prevent British companies being involved in Burma’s gas industry, which earns the Burmese military more than $2bn a year. They must also work with allies to prevent gas revenue reaching the Burmese military.

British involvement in Burma’s gas industry includes:

• InterMoor, a subsidiary of British company Acteon Group, has been working on the Shwe gas project in Burma.
• A holding company in Bermuda, a British overseas territory, is being used by Canadian company MTI Energy to purchase a 41% stake in the Yadana gas project.
• Burma Campaign UK is working to confirm information about British insurance companies insuring vessels and infrastructure for gas projects in Burma.

“British companies involved in the gas industry in Burma are facilitating an industry which enables the Burmese military to receive billions of dollars,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “Gas sales provide revenue which the Burmese military can use for the purchase of arms and equipment, including the jets used for airstrikes against civilians.”

The British government has a policy of systematically identifying and sanctioning sources of revenue, arms and equipment to the Burmese military. However, the policy is being implemented too slowly.

Burma Campaign UK is calling on Foreign Secretary James Cleverly MP to speed up the implementation of sanctions against other sources of revenue and arms.

The British government should seek to find creative ways of preventing gas revenue reaching the Burmese military, such as the creation of escrow accounts and sanctioning international bank accounts of MOGE.

Burma Campaign UK is asking supporters to write to the Foreign Secretary calling on him to sanction MOGE. The supporter action is available here.

 

More information:

Justice For Myanmar calls for Canadian and UK sanctions on MOGE following MTI Energy’s investment in the Yadana Gas Project.

International oilfield services companies supporting the-Myanmar juntas oil and gas industry – Justice for Myanmar.

Thailand energy security not reliant on Myanmar gas exports – EarthRights International.