Big rush to complete Yangon power plants

The ministry is jointly operating about six projects – three with local investors and three with 

foreign groups – in different townships in the former capital. 

The project should be able to start operation towards the end of this year, the official said.

“Electricity requirements in Yangon, the commercial capital of the country, have significantly increased each year. There are about 1,500 villages in Yangon suffering from power shortages,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

Three local power plant projects, which will be complete by this year’s end, will generate 50 megawatts each. 

Zeya Company, Myan Shwe Pyi Company and CIC Company are working on the projects 

in Hlawgar, Ywama and Tharkayta townships.

Three foreign joint ventures include a 530MW power-plant project by Hydro Lang Cang (China) in Hlawgar township, a 500MW project by Busan Korea Biotechnology (Korea) in Tharkayta township, and 120MW project by Toyo Thai (Thailand) in Ahlon township.

Two power generators with the capacity of 120MW each, which were donated by Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, have also arrived in Ywama township, and a gas-fired power plant will be set up there before the end of this year.

“Yangon city is currently supplying electricity through the national grid system from seven 230 kilovolt power stations in Thanhlyn, Hlawgar, Hlaing-tharyar, Ahlon, Tharkayta, Myaungdagar and Bayintnaung townships as well as from four gas-fired power plants in Yangon. 

According to the annual power-consumption figures, this year demand will be around 800 to 900MW,” the official from the ministry said.