Electric power cable and wires tangled in a land post in Yangon. (Photo-Kyi Naing)
Electric consumption in Myanmar is projected to rise by 15 per cent annually, meaning the country will need another 4,530 megawatts of electricity by the 2020-2021 fiscal year, said Minister for Electrical Power Khin Maung Soe.
Myanmar has a total of 5,235 megawatts of electricity from hydropower plants, gas-fired power plants, diesel-fired power plants and coal-fired power plants, and government is providing up to 2,500 megawatts of electricity from state-owned power grip in early 2016.
Although the electricity production rate has increased annually, 66 per cent (7.178 million) of households in Myanmar do not have regular access to electricity, according to the minister.
Myanmar will need 4,530 megawatts of electricity in 2020-21, 8,121 megawatts in 2025-26 and 14,542 megawatts in 2030-31.
The government is building more gas-fired power plants. The ten state-owned gas-fired power plants only produced 270 megawatts of electricity in 2011.
Privately owned sub-power stations in Hlawga, Ywarma, Ahlone and Thaketa have been generating electricity since 2012 and added 220 megawatts to power grip in 2013.
Moreover, privately owned sub-power stations in Mawlamyaing and Kyaukse provided 133 megawatts, and two gas turbines in Thailand added 140 megawatts in 2014.
The minister said gas turbines in Kyaukpyu and Myingyan produced 135 megawatts, and a gas turbine in Mawlamyaing produced 70 megawatts in 2015.
In 2016, gas turbines in Kyaukpyu and Myingyan produced 180 megawatts, and steam-powered turbines in a Mawlamyaing sub-power station produced 60 megawatts.
There are 20 state-owned and privately-owned gas-fired power stations in 2016, and the production rate is up to 1,210 megawatts.
Myanmar generated more than 66 percent of its electricity from hydro-power plants, 29 percent from gas turbines and three percent from coal-fired power plants. More than 1,800 megawatts have been produced during the term of the current government.
Source: http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/local/myanmar-needs-another-4530-megawatts-electricity-2020
