Ministry of Electricity and Energy is planning to build over 1,000 megawatts power stations within one and a half year time and will supply electricity using 500 KV power lines across Myanmar without interrupted, said Union Minister Win Khaing of the Electricity and Energy on March 16.

At the present, the power line can carry up to 300 megawatts and the ministry has power stations which only can generate under 300 megawatts.

“The power stations built in the future will be generated over 1,000 megawatts. We are building 500 KV power line to connect Meiktila, Taungoo, Bayargyi and Yangon and it will be the main back-bone of connecting between northern, southern, eastern and western grips. The ministry can supply electricity to anywhere in Myanmar using the national grip within one and a half year or two year time without interrupted,” said the minister.

Myanmar is now generating about 3,800 megawatts of electricity and it can generate 3,000 megawatts more within three year time, added the minister.

The demand of electricity is increased about 19 per cent annually and it needed between 300 and 500 megawatts annually. The government needs to set long term and short term plans to fulfill the electricity in line with the requirement, he continued.

“We are planning to build natural gas fire turbines to supply the electricity to meet the requirement but the availability of the gas is limited and the ministry has planned to use other energy sources to generate electricity,” said the minister.

“Electricity usage is increased from 15 to 19 per cent annually and it is expected to reach to 4,531 megawatts in 2020-21 FY,” he said.

The ministry is planning to fulfill electricity requirement through hydropower plants, gas fire turbines and solar power plants in addition to LNG power plants which will be less usable as the production of natural gas will be declined by 2020.