“We are now generating an additional 700MW and we plan to produce another more 1000MW by the middle of this year,” U Khin Maung Win said during the sitting of the Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives) on Monday. 

The deputy minister said that approvals have been granted to six international companies to produce the 1000MW of additional power from natural gas and hydropower expected to come online by the middle of this year.

“Additionally, approvals have been issued to the six foreign companies that have invested US$6.76 billion to produce nearly 4000MW from natural gas and hydropower projects,” he said.

Besides power from natural gas and hydropower, arrangements are in place to develop 40MW from a solar energy power plant in Minbu and to produce 50MW from another two similar plants. There are also plans to develop cross-border power lines to obtain 1000MW more, U Khin Maung Win said in his explanation about the country’s power infrastructure to representatives of the lower house. 

Electricity distribution has also expanded and currently the national grid supplies power to some 368 cities and 16,000 villages.

“At the end of 2019, 50 percent of the country now has access to electricity and we have plans to increase the electricity access to 55pc in 2021, 75pc in 2025and to 100pc in 2030,” said U Khin Maung Win.

He said that some K2.3 trillion from the union, regional, and state budgets had been allocated towards improving the country’s power infrastructure.

Additionally, some $1.3 billion from organisations such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and intenational aid bodies have been utilised for power projects in Myanmar.

When this government took office, only 34pc of the country has access to the national grid but it has been increased to 50pc now, the deputy minister said. – Translated

Source: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/govt-sets-goal-generating-more-electricity-meet-demand.html