Nearly half of households to be electrified
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Nearly half of 9 million households will have access to electricity in the next fiscal year, according to state media.
The Global New Light of Myanmar quoted Electric Power Minister Khin Maung Soe as saying that there is the need to pay attention to unelectrified households, numbering 7.2 million.
Despite an increase in per capita consumption of electricity from 104 kWh to 190 kWh since the time of the new government, only 33 per cent of households have access to electricity across the country, he added. The latest data indicated Myanmar, with a population of over 52 million, has more than 3.2 million electrified households, up from about 2.1 million households in 2010. About 30,000 villages of more than 60,000 have access to grid-based electricity in rural areas.
Myanmar plans to provide electricity access to all households by 2030.
The minister also anticipated that electricity consumption would exceed 4,500 megawatts in 2020, an increase from current electrification of 2,340 MW. More than 2,000 MW is needed for 7.2 million unelectrified households.
A World Bank-funded electrification project in Myanmar will be able to create electricity access for 1.7 million households only, he said.
According to the ministry, the country sees a 15 per cent increase in power demand every year, expecting to hit 4,531 megawatts in 2020, 8,020 in 2025 and 14,542 in 2030.
