Myanmar’s new government plans to complete the long-stalled Myitsone dam project within eight years, according to a Reuters report citing official sources. The $3.6 billion hydropower project, located in Kachin State in northern Myanmar, is being revived with Chinese support following President Min Aung Hlaing’s recent visit to China. The dam, originally suspended in 2011 after widespread local protests, had been a source of tension between the two countries.

Government officials said the project could supply more than half of Myanmar’s required 10 gigawatts of electricity, addressing the country’s severe power shortages. Presidential spokesperson Khaing Khaing Soe stated that authorities are considering local concerns about flooding and displacement. Lawmakers from Kachin State confirmed that preparations for restarting construction are underway.

Revised cost estimates suggest the project could now reach $11.5 billion, more than triple the original budget. The renewed push comes amid heightened safety worries following a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in central Myanmar in March that killed thousands. Forty-nine civil society groups have recently called for the project’s complete cancellation.