The Ministry of Electricity and Energy has issued a notice to proceed for the Deedoke hydropower project in Mandalay Region, according to an article in Frontier. The report said that officials from the ministry signed the agreement with the developers of the 60-megawatt project, who include local company High Tech Construction Trust, a subsidiary of the Shwe Taung conglomerate, as well as Andritz of Austria and Kansai from Japan. Myanmar’s hydropower projects have stagnated in recent years, particularly since former president U Thein Sein suspended the multi-billion dollar Myitsone Dam project in Kachin State in September 2011. However, the ministry now appears to be ready to push ahead with hydro projects, and the Frontier article said that it will soon sign a second notice to proceed, for the Shweli-3 hydropower project in Shan State, which is led by Electricite de France. Deedoke and Shweli-3 are among six projects that the ministry is prioritizing in order to meet the country’s energy needs, the report said.