Norwegian Power company signed a MOU with the Chin State Government to make USD $ 50 million of investment for a new hydroelectric power plant in Chin State

Norway Power Company Limited signed an MoU with the Chin State government to make a $50 million of investment for a new hydroelectric power plant.

Chin State’s infrastructure can’t provide enough electricity for the present demand. The state also happens to be one of the least developed states in Myanmar. Therefore the government is trying to work with the private sector to provide enough electricity.

“What Chin State needs most is better transportation and electricity. We need to produce electricity through potential hydropower resources, and upgrade existing infrastructure in our power grid so that we can provide enough electricity to local people. Only after these sectors improve will other sectors in Chin State improve,”said U Salai Lian Lwe, Chief Minister of Chin State.

Only five townships out of nine townships in Chin State are electrified. The five townships are: Kanpetlet, Hakha, Felam, Thantlang, and Mindat. The remaining four townships, Tedim, Tonzang, Matupi, and Palatwa, have yet to be connected to the grid.

The government is planning to provide electricity to those four townships by FY 2020 with the assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

“There are a lot of water resources that can produce electricity. Even the Manipur River can produce megawatts worth of electricity. Therefore, we are inviting investors to come see for themselves,”U Salai Lian Lwe added.

There are 25 potential places for both large and small scale hydropower plants, and state government is building eight small scale hydropower plants in collaboration with private partners.

Myanmar is consuming approximately 2,952 megawatts total as a nation, however, Yangon is inhaling 1,105 megawatts itself. Mandalay demands 472 megawatts, Naypyidaw is using 120 megawatts, and 1,254 megawatts are being used by the remaining cities, regions, and states.

(Myanmar Business Today: https://www.mmbiztoday.com/articles/norway-power-company-invest-50-million-chin-state )

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