Govt readies additional supply of electricity to meet demand
Govt readies additional supply of electricity to meet demand
Myanmar Times, 22 Oct 2018
URL: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/govt-readies-additional-supply-electricity-meet-demand.html
Arrangements have been made to prepare sufficient electricity to meet rising demand next year, according to the Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MOEE).
The rate of increase in electricity consumption typically rises by 15 percent per year on average. This fiscal year though, demand is expected to increase by 19pc. As such, the MOEE is aiming to raise supply to 3700 megawatts during the period, from 3400MW this year.
U Soe Myint, deputy permanent secretary of electricity at the MOEE, warned though, that some projects may still be delayed, depending on the availability of funds. The ministry is expected to spend K578 billion in next year, which includes international aid.
Myanmar generates most of its energy through gas and hydropower plants. As construction of several hydropower projects is still ongoing, additional energy requirements for the fiscal year will be supplied by three gas-fired power plants, said U Khin Maung Win, managing director of the Electric Power Generation Enterprise (EPGE).
These include the 225MW combined-cycle Sembcorp Myingyan gas plant, which commenced operations this month, a second gas plant producing 90MW of energy in Myingyan as well as a 145MW plant in Belin, Kyaukse.
Meanwhile, construction of transmission lines, substations and distribution lines to transmit the energy generated to the national grid will need to be accelerated.
However, U Khin Maung Win said more delays can be expected at this stage. “If there are financial difficulties or objections from the community in the process of constructing the supporting infrastructure such as power stations, substations and distribution lines, it will lead to delays,” he said.
The rate of increase in electricity consumption typically rises by 15 percent per year on average. This fiscal year though, demand is expected to increase by 19pc. As such, the MOEE is aiming to raise supply to 3700 megawatts during the period, from 3400MW this year.
U Soe Myint, deputy permanent secretary of electricity at the MOEE, warned though, that some projects may still be delayed, depending on the availability of funds. The ministry is expected to spend K578 billion in next year, which includes international aid.
Myanmar generates most of its energy through gas and hydropower plants. As construction of several hydropower projects is still ongoing, additional energy requirements for the fiscal year will be supplied by three gas-fired power plants, said U Khin Maung Win, managing director of the Electric Power Generation Enterprise (EPGE).
These include the 225MW combined-cycle Sembcorp Myingyan gas plant, which commenced operations this month, a second gas plant producing 90MW of energy in Myingyan as well as a 145MW plant in Belin, Kyaukse.
Meanwhile, construction of transmission lines, substations and distribution lines to transmit the energy generated to the national grid will need to be accelerated.
However, U Khin Maung Win said more delays can be expected at this stage. “If there are financial difficulties or objections from the community in the process of constructing the supporting infrastructure such as power stations, substations and distribution lines, it will lead to delays,” he said.