THE Myanmar Engineering Society (MES) has released a list of potential local participants in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Energy Awards 2008, to be held in Thailand at the end of May.

Potential participants were chosen to represent the country in a range of categories, including the Renewable Energy Project Competition, Energy Efficient Building Competition and Energy Management Competition.

“We selected six potential participants from different categories and those who want to take part in the ASEAN Energy Awards will have to submit applications,” said MES secretary U Win Khaing.

The awards are aimed at recognising structures or projects that are built or conducted to be environmentally friendly and in compliance with energy conservation measures. These include the use of green products, energy and water efficiency, air quality control, and waste management.

For the Renewable Energy Project Competition, MES has chosen an integrated farm in Kwin Kauk village in Ayeyarwady Division’s Ingapu township, and a Total Power project to bring electricity to Kambular village in Ngaputaw township, also in Ayeyarwady Division.

Lumbini Academy in Yangon’s Thingangyun township, and Bay of Bengal Resort and Palm Beach Resort – both in Ngwe Saung Beach in Ayeyarwady Division – were selected for the Energy Efficient Building Competition.

Fame Pharmaceutical Factory in Yangon’s Hlaing Tharyar Industrial Zone was picked to represent Myanmar in the Energy Management Competition.

Myanmar has participated in the ASEAN Energy Awards since 2002, when the Kanbawza Bank building on Pyay Road in Yangon received a special recognition award.

In 2005 Popa Mountain Resort in Mandalay Division won a first prize, while the following year U Soe Tint Aung from the Myanmar Inventor Cooperative Association (MICA) won the Renewable Energy Project Competition. Last year Mingalar Garden Resort in Pyay in Bago Division won the Energy Efficient Building Competition.

“Mingalar Garden Resort was designed to meet ASEAN green hotel standards, with a natural environment integrating a pond with tall trees to keep the property cool,” explained U Win Khaing. “The rooms are designed to be illuminated by natural light during the day so electricity isn’t needed, and only the bedrooms have air conditioning.”

The ASEAN green hotel standard is one of the six tourism standards developed by the regional grouping – whose members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam – to boost ASEAN’s profile as a travel destination.