Myanmar: New energy master plan for Yangon

Myanmar: New energy master plan for Yangon

A master plan to allow local and foreign investors to have a stake in the
energy and electricity sector is underway for the Yangon Region as power
consumption continues to surge in the capital city.

Currently, the Union Government is almost fully responsible for the
production of electricity while region and state governments are allowed to
produce up to 30 megawatts of power.

However, as costs of power production continue to increase and consumption
of energy in the Yangon Region - which accounts for almost half of all
electricity produced across the country - grows, the need for a more
sustainable energy plan is crucial.

The master plan will amend existing laws to allow local and foreign
investors to have a stake in electricity production, transmission and
distribution in the Yangon Region, said Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo
Min Thein.

He said that the original energy laws were no longer sustainable as the
government was selling electricity at half the actual electricity production
cost.

U Phyo Min Thein said that the process of creating this new master plan will
be kept open so that all stakeholders will be well-informed of its
developments, adding that foreign investors will be invited to make their
proposals.

As the cost of energy production continues to rise, industry experts have
urged for alternative energy sources to be tapped into.

Reliance on renewable energy sources such as solar power, hydroelectric
power and biomass should increase in the future in order to create a
sustainable energy plan, said U Zaw Min Win, chair of Union of Myanmar
Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI).

Last year, the government subsidised about K450 billion for electricity
power distribution, repair of underground and overhead transmission lines
and upgrading of sub-transmission stations.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/24811-new-energy-master-plan-
for-yangon.html

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com