Hundreds of thousands of farmers in central Myanmar's Magway division are joining an oil rush.
Huge makeshift settlements are springing up as more and more oil fields are discovered. And mass of makeshift tents lies on top of the Htan Gang oil field.
The settlement is home to 100 thousand people, who’ve come from all over central Myanmar to dig for oil.
The sound of engines hums all day and night under the plastic roofs.
Just over a year ago, people here worked the land... but now the place is filled with thousands of oil pits – bored by small-time investors.
“About 90 percent of people here came and invested by selling their farms or cows,” says Thet Naing Win, one oil pit investor.
Yin Htwe was a struggling farmer who brought his family here four months ago.
“Back home, if we could not get enough from the farm, we had nothing.”
In the oil field, Yin Htwe’s wife Daw Kyi carries oil from the sites to make a bit more money.
“Back in the village, we earned about 2 dollars for a whole day’s work. But here, 30 minutes of carrying oil earns us four or five dollars.”
But it’s a big gamble. Cows and farms were sold to raise the 3,000 dollars to buy an oil pit. Then they must pay for pipes, engines, and digging fees.
But this isn’t putting off young people and the unemployed from the region, says student Ko Soe.
“I came here since my school is closed. I’ve opened a grocery shop and sell water to cover the school expense.”
Daw Mya is another farmer turned oil pit investor.
“Hardships at home sent me here. I faced difficulties in other oil fields. But here is ok.”
The work is dangerous. And living conditions in the oil field are hot and dirty. There is little to no sanitation.
And there is a greater danger...
Land disputes between the government and land owners in Htan Gang and other oil fields in the area, can turn violent.
“In 2006, authorities seized the lands and fired their guns. One person died and two were injured. If we can work without fear, I think we can find more money for our country,” says oil pit investor, Thet Naing Win.
Some people have moved from oil field to oil field, so their children miss out on a regular education, says Yin Htwe.
“For the children, it’s difficult to go to school. We had to take out our elder daughter after sixth grade. She could go to school when we were in our village. But when we decided to move here, we had to take her out of school.”
Htan Gang oil field is now over crowded with oil pits and the rate of production is decreasing as the oil dries up.
People came here to make a lot of money fast. Now many are straddled with debts they cannot pay off.
“It’s also impossible to go back to our villages and work there as there is nothing left. Now, here, we have some oil pits and we could earn some money for our family.”
For the drillers who persevere here, the prospect of striking it rich, far out-ways the risks and the hardships, of this way of life.
