Phase 1 of National Electrification Project (NEP) will be finalized at the end of September this year to provide electricity to 626,757 family households from 5,080 villages, said Union Minister Win Khaing for Electricity and Energy.

The government received a US$310 million loan from the World Bank (WB) to implement the NEP.

Myanmar has 51 state owned and private owned power stations across the country and they can produce over 5,600 megawatts of electricity. The ministry is implementing three power projects in Kanpauk, Ahlone and Mielaunggaint, according to the ministry.

Over 4.9 million out of 10.8 million family households have gained access to national grip and the ministry is targeting to provide electricity to 50 per cent of entire family households in the country at the end of 2019, said Dr Tun Naing, Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy.

The electricity production sector is needed to expand to meet the demand and the ministry is implementing 1,230 megawatts electricity project in Kanpauk, Taninthayi Region, 377 megawatts electricity project in Ahlone, Yangon Region and 1,390 megawatts electricity project in Mielaunggaint, Ayeyawady Region. A total of 250 megawatts of electricity will be generated in 2021-22 FY and 3,000 megawatts of electricity in 2025-26 FY.

About 47.25 per cent of family households had gained access to national grid in 2018-19 FY and it will be reached to 55.72 per cent in 2019-20 FY, according to figures of 2019-20 FY.

Myanmar invested Ks2.327 trillion within about three-year time and generated over 900 megawatts of electricity more. It will be over 1,000 megawatts in mid-2020.

“At the present, Myanmar is using from 15 to 19 per cent of electricity more annually and the ministry is implementing to meet the electricity demand. The government allocated funds for the electricity sector as its priority. A total of 904 megawatts of electricity are generated from three hydropower stations, six thermal energy power stations and one solar power plant between April 2016 and December 2019,” announced the Ministry of Information quoting President Win Myint in a ceremony to mark the achievement of 50 percent nationwide electrification.

At the present, more than 16,941 villages in 368 towns, which counted for 50 per cent of total households, have gained access to the national grid.