Driven by the surging need for electricity in Myanmar, Singapore’s Sembcorp Industries Ltd recently launched its US$310 million Sembcorp Myingyan independent power plant in Mandalay, according to Group President and CEO Neil McGregor.
McGregor said at the launch the 225-megawatt power plant would generate around 1,500 gigawatt hours of electricity per year for supply to Myanmar’s Electric Power Generation Enterprise.
“This is enough to meet the power needs of around 5.3 million people. Our facility is also the country’s most efficient power plant, applying advanced technology to maximise power output and minimise emissions,” he said.
McGregor said the plant would help modernise Myanmar’s power industry, provided that it is one of the largest combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plants in Myanmar. The firm has brought its technical and operational expertise to solve infrastructure challenges in Myanmar by establishing the model for public-private partnerships in the nation’s power sector, he added.
“We have worked hard to strengthen our relationship with residents in the immediate area around our plant through open, proactive engagement,” he said.
“We have taken time to listen, and have invested in initiatives to make a lasting positive impact to them. We believe in meaningful initiatives that empower our people and communities.”
According to the top executive, 95 per cent of the firm’s staff at Sembcorp Myingyan site are locals, and it will continue building the capabilities of its local employees, and will expand the team over time.
“Building up local talent and knowledge transfer has been a key part of our agenda. We have a number of Myanmar nationals working with us in Singapore. With the experience they gained, we sent them back to Myanmar to work at the plant, where they could also mentor and train new local employees,” he said.
In a bid to help equip its team with the specialised skills to operate a CCGT plant, the firm designed a rigorous programme that included field visits to its facilities in Singapore and Oman to see operations there first-hand.
McGregor lauded his team for their performance. During the construction of the plant, the firm achieved more than 8.7 million safe man-hours, with zero lost time injuries. For this outstanding safety performance, the firm received gold awards from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in 2016 and 2017.
As the first internationally and competitively tendered power project in Myanmar, the plant commenced full commercial operations in October 2018. The development and delivery of the plant demonstrates a successful partnership with many other international partners including Asian Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and International Finance Corporation, he said.
For the implementation of the project, the firm also secured loans from commercial lenders including Clifford Capital, DBS Bank, DZ Bank and the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation.
- also announced that it is the first thermal power plant in Myanmar to have built-in solar power capabilities. Rooftop solar panels at the plant’s administrative building and warehouse will generate clean energy for onsite use. This will enhance sustainability at the plant, and also allow it to export more power to the national grid.
Strong indicator
McGregor said the success story of Sembcorp Myingyan would encourage Singaporean and foreign companies to invest in Myanmar’s energy sector.
“It is a story about partnerships. The delivery of the plant is an achievement, not just for us, but also for a number of key stakeholders who have been vital to the success of the project,” he said.
“In many ways, it is a major project for a number of Singapore companies venturing into Myanmar. Singapore companies were also involved in the construction of the plant, providing professional services and funding, and many of whom were operating in a new market.”
