Coal for electricity in Myanmar a long way off?

Coal for electricity in Myanmar a long way off?

Coal from electriciy using clean technology is the norm in developed
countries such as America, England, Australia, Germany, Russia, Japan and
China.

It is also commonly used by Myanmar's neighbours such as Malaysia,
Bangladesh, India and the Philippines which have built coal-fired power
plants by using this technology.

In Myanmar, electricity from coal is not commonly used at the moment.
Electricity produced from coal has some negative effects which is why it is
not widely used here. Clean coal technology, which is used by the world's
superpowers also remains out of reach for the country.

Hydropower and natural gas have been relied on as the main sources in
generating power in Myanmar. Renewable energy technology such as wind and
solar power systems have not shown any significant improvement for many
years.

According to data from the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, in producing
electricity in 2016, 61 percent of power was generated from hydropower, 35pc
from natural gas and about 2pc from coal, wind and solar power.

"Although hydropower projects are on going they cannot be finished in time
due to financial constraints," said a minisrty official.

On the other hand, people still object to hydropower projects as they are
worried that environmental damages can occur.

But, the electricity requirement in Myanmar is on the rise with 6.5 million
of its population living without electricity. The government hopes to be
able to provide electricity in all areas by 2030.

Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise( MOGE) managing director U Myo Myin Oo said
that three natural gas offshore projects - Yadanar, Shwe and Zawtika which
supplies 400 million cubic metres of gas a day has gradually declined in
production.

There are new natural gas fields offshore in Rakhine offshore but the
natural gas is not renewable so it is impossible to depend on it long term,
said industry sources.

Aiming for sustainable electricity supply, industry sources have suggested
various methods including drafting a master plan, raising electricity prices
and exploring new resources, and at the same time, the government
enterprises are making losses annually and even the cost of distribution
cannot offset the cost of production.

A monograph "goal for long-term electricity production and water resources
ratio" by former deputy minister for Electricity and Energy, U Maw Thar Htwe
stated there are three methods to explore power resources - hydropower,
coal, natural gas and renewable energy. It added that there are more than 50
or 60pc of water resources, coal is between 20 and 25 pc, natural gas is
between 10 and 15pc and renewable energy is between 5 and 10 pc.

Electricity prices will vary according to the usage of different energy.

Electricity prices can be cheap if there is higher ratio of production from
hydropower resources but the public still opposes hydropower projects on the
grounds of potential environmental damage. At the same time Myanmar still
faces an insufficient power supply.

Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein said the cost of natural gas
may be higher but coal-fired power plants can be cheaper.

Further, some top leaders of the Ministry of Electricity also revealed their
monographs on the availability of electricity. Their monographs suggested
that generating power with coal should be increased to 33pc in 2030 from the
current 2pc.

The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) has also
presented its findings on electricity production (using various sources) for
ASEAN countries; Cambodia's power needs were 55pc from hydropower and 45pc
from fuel in 2010; but for the year 2020, it plans to have 45pc from coal,
41pc from hydropower, 10pc from fuel, and 4pc from natural gas. Similarly,
Laos has been placing a 100pc reliance on hydropower for electricity in
2010, but for 2020, it plans to get 49pc from coal, and 51pc from
hydropower.

Furthermore, Indonesia and Malaysia have both been producing 35pc of
electricity from coal in 2010, and for 2020; Indonesia will increase
production to 58pc, while Malaysia will increase to 41pc; there are also
plans for the Philippines to expand power production by using coal, it is
learnt from statements from respective ministries of the countries.

Myanmar's neighboring country - Thailand, has utilized over 68pc of
electricity produced from petrol and natural gas in 2012, and it has also
used 20pc from coal, and 12pc from hydropower.

According to a Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution paper by U
Aung Than Oo, former Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Electricity and
Energy Myanmar has generated a total of 5235 megawatts in 2016; with 35pc
from natural gas, 61pc from hydropower, and 2pc from coal and diesel.

However for the year 2020, electricity usage would be over 53pc from
hydropower, over 22pc from natural gas, and about 22pc from coal; for 2030,
production of electricity from coal could be increased to 33pc.

According to a paper by U Maw Thar Htwe, former Deputy Minister of the
Ministry of Electricity and Energy the costs for production and distribution
of energy from hydropower and coal were the cheapest.

Therefore, by looking at these figures, energy production from hydropower
and coal had the cheapest production rates.

The government expects to fulfill power demands by producing 33pc of
electricity from coal in the 2030 project. As energy generation from coal
can effectively reduce time, cost, and environmental damages; efforts must
be made to get the public's acceptance and the plan must be carried out to
the point where it becomes sufficient, said U Aung Than Oo.

The world's countries are producing electricity from coal mines by using
Clean Coal Technology widely and if Myanmar uses that technique, it can be
produced, said mining experts.

"There are 16 kinds of Clean Coal Technology and 15 of them are now being
used widely in the world. The coal factories of Myanmar needs these
techniques, they also need government associations to examine and watch
systematically. The rules and acts should be specified to prevent air
pollution. If these facts are all perfect, we can build coal-fired power
plants," mining expert U Tun Tun said on his social page.

"The coal cannot be grinded as Run-of-Mines (ROM) instantly. We have to
purify the sand and mud (that comes along with coal) by grinding, separating
and washing. By doing so, the polluted water will settle in a tank. It can
come up to nearly 10pc and we need a system to use that sand and mud. If we
do it systematically, we can build coal-fired power plants that do not harm
the natural environment that much," he wrote on his social page.

The coal contains harmful particles and elements. If we fire the carbon
which contains the coal, it produces carbon dioxide (that warms the earth).
The sulfur from coal can produce acid rain and nitrogen can also produce
nitric acid. Therefore, the coal is not Clean Coal. But, the mining experts
say, there is technology for cleansing coal.

"People are worried about how to remove these gases. There are ways to
remove these dangerous gases. Lime can be added into sulfur dioxide. The
international countries use them in building new coal-fired power plants.
They capture the coal ashes with bags or electricity. The removal method by
heating water can also used. There may be four or five kinds of removal
methods. Japan uses this method. If we can reduce carbon dioxide, it cannot
be harmful to people. The investors to Myanmar do not explain these facts,"
mining expert U Saw Moe Myint told The Myanmar Times.

Regarding Myanmar's coal production, environmentalist U Maung Maung Than
said a country, in need of energy, should seek help from other countries
which have policies and technologies that are less harmful to society.

In the quest to fulfill the country's energy requirement, it is important
not to harm the natural environment in the process, if possible. In order to
achieve this, proper technologies, policies, rules and regulations are
indispensable. At present, Myanmar lacks these. Although new technologies
can be implemented, it is crucial that the ministries and government
organisations, which are in charge of laws and policies, are honest in doing
their jobs, and a legal record should be kept for reference. If CSO helps
with the right intention to develop the country, nothing is impossible, U
Maung Maung Than urged.

The mineral experts point out that it is more suitable to buy raw materials
from Indonesia if Myanmar wants to produce electricity from coal.

They made the suggestion as the total amount of coal found in Myanmar up
until now is only about 200 million, and the amount of coal to be mined can
be less than the amount already excavated. Likewise, it is not financially
viable to use low quality local coal because of high transport expenses as
the distance to source is very far. Bigger ports will also be needed to load
and unload coal.

Permanent secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental
Conservation U Khin Maung Yi said that the country has reserved 1168,345
acres of land in Sagaing and Magwe regions for coal mining, necessary for
future use.

Developed countries in the world have been generating most of the
electricity in coal-powered electricity generating factories, and will
continue to do so. Moreover, US President Donald Trump signed an executive
order to undo an environmental protection bill which restricts coal mining.

Myanmar, is adopting a "wait and see" attitude to see if the current
government can persuade the public to accept energy production from coal by
means of Clean Coal Technology to ease energy shortage.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/opinion/25876-coal-for-electricity-in-myanm
ar-a-long-way-off.html

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com