Chauk

Chauk, town and port, north-central Myanmar (Burma). Situated in the Irrawaddy River basin, it is a petroleum port for the Singu-Chauk oil fields. Traditionally, people of the Mon group gathered asphalt in the area to weatherproof houses. In 1902 the British discovered the Chauk-Lonywa oil field. Later, crude oil from Chauk was sent by a 350-mile (563-kilometre) pipeline to Syriam for refining. Insurgent sabotage of the pipeline after World War II confined marketing of Chauk’s oil to northern Myanmar. Oil tankers began operation on the Irrawaddy River as an alternative means of transport to the damaged pipeline. The Chauk refinery was renovated in 1954, and the pipeline was repaired between Chauk, Tagaing, and Yenenma and between Pyay and Syriam. A pipeline connecting Man and Syriam was completed in 1979. Abundant natural-gas reserves are found in the Chauk oil fields. Paved roads extend from Chauk in several directions, and air connections are accessible through Meiktila town. Pop. (1993 est.) 67,845.