More electricity will be generated with new power plants to ensure consistent power supply next summer

More electricity will be generated by new power plants while other plans are underway to reduce power blackouts in Yangon and Mandalay during the coming summer months between March and May, according to Yangon Region Electricity, Industry and Transport minister Daw Nilar Kyaw.

An additional 439 megawatts of electricity will be generated in 2018, Daw Nilar Kyaw said at the Yangon Region Hluttaw. This includes 106 MW from the Thaketa power plant in Yangon and 225 MW from the Myingyan power plant in Mandalay.

The $300 million Myingyan power plant, a 225 MW gas-fired power plant, is slated for completion in December. The plant is being constructed by Singapore’s Sembcorp Industries under a 22-year build, operate and transfer agreement with the government. When complete, it will be the largest gas power plant in Myanmar.

Separately, the 106 MW combined-cycle power plant project in Thaketa, Yangon, is expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2018.

A joint venture between China and Myanmar, the Thaketa plant is currently being constructed by China’s SEPCOIII Electric Power Construction Corp. The plant will be powered by GE's renowned F-class gas turbines, supplying electricity to Yangon, which consumes half of all the electricity generated in Myanmar.

New plans

Meanwhile, transmission lines are being upgraded in Yangon Region and plans to prepare generators utilising both natural gas and diesel to serve as an emergency source of power supply are underway, Daw Nilar Kyaw said.

By deploying K30 billion (about US$ 22 million) from the President's Fund, a 25 MW TM2500 mobile generator provided by GE Myanmar will be used to supply electricity to Yangon at peak load time and during emergencies.

The TM2500 mobile generator is designed to move easily to supply electricity during the peak periods.

GE and its partner Golden Green Energy have already transferred the generator to the Yangon Region government. It will be managed by the Myanmar Electric Power Enterprise and Yangon Electricity Supply Corporation under the Ministry of Electricity and Energy.

The plans and preparations are being made in advance after power consumption in Myanmar has tripled over the last decade and as demand for power is estimated to increase by about 15 pcannually, exceeding available supply.

(The Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/preparations-underway-ensure-consistent-power-supply-summer.html )

​