Ministry plans to produce additional 2700 mw to satisfy increasing power demand

Ministry plans to produce additional 2700 mw to satisfy increasing power demand
Published 14 January 2019

Plans are under way to generate an additional over 2,700 megawatts as the nationwide power consumption is expected to hit around 4,531 mw in 2020-2021, said Win Khaing, Union Minster for Electricity and Energy on January 9.

Currently, the country’s nationwide power consumption is increasing from 15 per cent to 19 per cent.

To meet increasing power demand, the ministry plans to build three LNG-fired power plants which have a production capacity of about 3,000 MW, in addition to hydropower, gas-fired power and solar-powered plants. The natural gas production will decline in 2020, he added.

Currently, the highest power consumption is 3,483 mw. A total of 16 thermal power plants produce 1,083 mw.

The government is making constant efforts to enable all regions and states to have equal access to electricity.

On January 2, the highest power production reached 3201.4 mw. Yangon’s power consumption hit 1,327 wm, accounting for more than 41.45 per cent of the total power consumption.

Mandalay consumed 496.9 mw (15. 5 per cent of the total power consumption), Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, 131.3 mw (more than four per cent), other regions and states, 1274 mw (39.79 per cent).

From 1988-1989 until November 2018, the government granted permits to 19 foreign investments worth over 21 billion USD, in the country’s energy sector. Of them, 18 investors are operating their businesses worth over 15 billion USD, according to the figures of Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC).