Myanmar’s nuclear pact with Russia examined; Regime re-opens oil refinery in Yangon
Regime re-opens oil refinery in Yangon to cut fuel imports
Regime leader Min Aung Hlaing attended the re-opening ceremony of the Thanlyin Oil Refinery (Phase 1) in Yangon Region’s Thanlyin Township on Wednesday. Thanlyin is located nine miles (14 km) southeast of Burma’s commercial capital Yangon.
“The refinery is a vital step towards reducing foreign currency expenditure, supplying domestic energy needs and sustaining long-term economic benefits,” Min Aung Hlaing said in his opening remarks at the ceremony in Yangon on Oct. 14.
The refinery, operating under the regime’s Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MoEE), is designed to process 500,000 tons of crude oil annually. Following the first two phases, which is scheduled for 2028, total annual processing capacity is expected to reach three million tons.
Civil society groups challenge World Bank in Bangkok
Civil society organizations from Burma, including Progressive Voice founder Khin Ohmar, led a high-profile debate and discussion at the 2026 IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday. Ohmar directly questioned World Bank Group (WBG) President Ajay Banga to bypass the regime in Naypyidaw and engage with the democratic resistance movement inside the country.
“The Bank must engage with civil society operating outside military control to give input … into the Myanmar context so the Bank can implement its humanitarian responses through third parties with integrity, safeguards, and meaningful objectives,” Ohmar said at a civil society roundtable with the WBG on Oct. 12, while calling for its local team to respond to formal letters and meeting requests.
Ohmar and other civil society representatives pressed for all World Bank funds to be diverted from the regime coffers towards independent local authorities and third-party monitors. Highlighting the delivery of aid to the regime after the March 2025 earthquake, the delegation emphasized that direct collaboration with local networks remains the only viable path to deliver aid safely without it being weaponized.
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