Yangon revisits darkness as hydropower dries up
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The city encountered frequent power outages days before April 1 when the government's electricity fee raise becomes effective.
Deputy Chief Engineer Tun Kwel for Yangon City Electricity Supply Board said the outages were due to weaker points of the national power line which encountered faults due to the summer heat.
“Power plants which are built with private investments in Yangon Region are now operating to meet the electricity demand of the region which will soon receive a 24-hour electricity supply as power generators provided by Thailand are running now,” said Tun Kwel.
Many residents fear that the power outages would continue as they are usually common during the hot season when dams and rivers are low, lessening the electricity produced by hydropower plants.
"We're afraid we will face outages often this summer, as we had experienced every summer," said a local resident from Bahan Township.
It remains to be answered if the government’s electricity fee hike would help solve the shortage in the biggest commercial city.
Myanmar's parliament approved the government's electricity fee raise which becomes effective today. It was aimed at reducing government subsidies and making investment in the power sector more attractive. However, as big companies are entitled to special treatments, the law has brought about a series of protests both in Yangon and Mandalay.
In Mandalay, four people were arrested on Thursday night during an unauthorised candlelight vigil held as a protest against electricity fee increases.
Thein Aung Myint, from a group calling for reduced commodity prices, along with Saw Hla Aung, Kyaw Myo Tun and Tin Tin Khat, were plucked from the crowd while lighting candles and shouting slogans. They were taken to No. 8 Police Station.
“Three men and a woman were arrested under Section 18, which stipulates that protesters must get prior permission from local authorities to stage a demonstration. They will be charged under existing law as well. Bail will be available later,” said Police Colonel Sein Htun, the district police chief.
Protests were also organised in Yangon even without a permission, involving more than 100 protesters, including youths from the New Society Association, Generation Youth, university students, and members of the public.
“Public Voice, Parliament Voice, and People’s Desire are the motto. We are representing the ‘people’s desire’ in accordance with the motto. We are asking: Respect the people’s desire. I hope that a fine and a jail term should not be given for this protest. If they [the government] don’t agree with the people’s desire, then more effective protests will be planned,” said protester Tin Htut Pain.
“This democratic government should be For the People, By the People. I would say this government is oppressing democratic government because the constitution was written by the military government,” said Ko Htet from the New Society Association.
According to the Asian Development Bank, hydropower accounts for nearly 80 per cent of the country’s electricity supply. Though the electrification rate rose sharply from 16 per cent in 2006 to 28 per cent in 2012, power demand has risen by 15 per cent per annum. As the power rates are fixed, subsidies have been rising accordingly to Ks 284 billion at present.
