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Energy in Myanmar

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Myanmar's energy sector is characterised by low per capita energy consumption and a limited electrification rate, with an estimated 65% of the population lacking access to the national grid as of 2019. Most of the country's rural population relies on biomass, such as wood, as their primary energy source.[1] In 2017, electricity production was dominated by hydropower, which accounted for 74.7% of total generation.[2] By 2020, the share of hydro had fallen to 54% as natural gas grew to 40%.[3] In 2019, the government aimed to achieve 100% electrification by 2030 and to increase the share of renewable energy to 12% by 2025.[4]

Myanmar's abundant energy resources have made it a net energy exporter in Southeast Asia. Hydropower potential is estimated for a generation capacity of 140 TWh annually, though future developments are mainly planned for export.[5] Solar energy development is seen as a key climate change mitigation strategy. The oil and gas sector is a large part of the economy, with Myanmar serving as a net exporter of natural gas to countries like China and Thailand. However, infrastructure like the Sino-Myanmar pipelines has also become a geopolitical focal point for the country's internal conflicts.[6]

Energy usage and Electrification

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Roadside petrol station in rural Mandalay Region

Myanmar had a total primary energy supply (TPES) of 16.57 Mtoe in 2013.[2] Electricity consumption was 8.71 TWh.[2] 65% of the primary energy supply consists of biomass energy, used almost exclusively (97%) in the residential sector.[2] Myanmar’s energy consumption per capita is one of the lowest in Southeast Asia due to the low electrification rate and a widespread poverty. An estimated 65% of the population is not connected to the national grid.[1]

The electrification rate in Myanmar is one of the lowest in Asia, at 50% in 2019 December.[7] The electrification rate is especially low in rural villages, which are mainly not connected to the power grid. Wood and biomass are used as a primary source of energy in these areas.[8] Energy consumption is growing rapidly, however, with an average annual growth rate of 3.3% from 2000 to 2007.[9] In 2015, a World Bank report found significant needs for growing energy demand associated with the 2010s' rapid economic growth in the context most existing energy development projects being export-orientated.[10] The country plans to achieve 100% electrification by 2030.[11][4]

Energy mix

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In 2017, Myanmar's electricity was primarily produced by hydroelectricity (74.7%). The rest is from fossil fuels, with gas as the main fuel (20.5%) followed by coal and oil.[2] Myanmar had an installed electricity generation capacity of about 5 gigawatts (GW).[12] In May 2020, the total installed capacity of Myanmar was 6034 MW: 3262 MW of hydro power (54%), 2496 MW of natural gas (41%), 120 MW of coal (2%), 116 MW of diesel (2%) and 40 MW of solar (1%). The cost of electricity production was revealed to be 12 kyats per Kwh for government owned hydro power plants, 72 kyats per Kwh for private owned hydropower plants, 150 to 190 kyats for natural gas plants and 195 kyats for solar power plants. [3]

At the Myanmar Oil and Gas Society annual meeting on 24 January 2021, minister U Win Khaing mentioned that the country is realigning to new energy mix to hydropower 40%, solar 14%, domestic gas 34% and LNG 11%. This will bring the make the renewable energy composition to 54% and clean fuel (natural gas) composition to 45% of total installed capacity of 8,118 megawatts (MW).[citation needed] The country is targeting 12% of all electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2025.[13]

Hydropower

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See also: Hydropower dams in Myanmar
Baluchaung Hydroelectric Power Station No.1 at the Lawpita Dam, Kayah State

Hydropower resources are estimated to be about 40 GW at a capacity factor of 0.40, giving a total yearly hydropower generation capacity of about 140 TWh.[5] Installed hydropower capacity as of 2011 was 1.54 GW with a total generation of 3.9 TWh, there is, therefore, a substantial opportunity for further growth of this energy source.[5]

The Shweli 1 hydroelectric power plant, with a capacity of 600 megawatts (MW), started operation in 2008. The Yeywa hydropower plant opened in 2010 with a capacity of 790 MW, the largest in the country. Several other hydropower projects are under construction or planned. Planned major hydropower plants have been designed mainly for export. The Myitsone Dam project, with a capacity of 6,000 MW, is expected to supply 100% of its electricity to China, while the Tasang Dam project with a planned capacity of 7,110 MW is planned to supply 1,500 MW to Thailand.[5]

Solar energy

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Main article: Solar power in Myanmar
the location of Solar Power Plant Projects

Developing solar energy in Myanmar is viewed as an important climate change mitigation measure for the country that is highly vulnerable to the detrimental impacts of climate change.[14]

Myanmar has one solar power plant operating in Minbu, Magway Division.[15] The plant has the capacity to produce 170 MW of electricity. The country plans to build two more solar power plants Mandalay Division, each to have a generation capacity of 150 MW.[16] Energy subsidies for electricity and lacking tax policy, lack of qualified workforce and limited public administration capacity are viewed to be among the main obstacles complicating development of solar energy in Myanmar.[17] Another study identified three major barriers to promoting solar energy in Myanmar: weak renewable energy governance, lacking clear regulatory mechanisms, and the complicated investment climate for international investors.[18]

On 18 May 2020, the Ministry of Electricity and Energy issued an invitation to submit prequalifying bids for the construction of several solar plants throughout the country, with a combined capacity of 1060 MW. The ministry received more than 150 bids for the tenders and on 9 September 2020 bidders were announced. All but one of the winning bids for the 30 sites involved Chinese companies, with unit price ranging from 3.48 US cents to 5.1 cents per kilowatt hour.[19]

Oil and gas

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Main article: Oil and gas industry in Myanmar

The energy sector is considered a strategic industry by the Myanmar government and the petroleum sector is one of the biggest recipients of foreign direct investment.[20]

Myanmar has abundant energy resources, particularly hydropower and natural gas.[21] In 2013, Myanmar exported 8561 ktoe of natural gas and 144 ktoe of crude oil.[2] The country is one of the five major energy exporters in the region[21] and is the second biggest exporter of natural gas in the Asia Pacific region after Indonesia.[22] According to the World Energy Council, gas reserves are estimated at 244 Mtoe. Oil and coal play a smaller role with reserves estimated at 7 and 1 Mtoe, respectively.[5]

In 2015, Myanmar had four offshore natural gas producing fields, with the earliest Yadana field starting production in 1999. Onshore gas producing was older with the Mann field running since 1970. Gas pipelines with stakeholders from Korea, Thailand, India, China and the Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE). As a net gas exporter, Myanmar supplied gas to Chin and Thailand due to limited domestic consumption.[10]

The longest of these pipelines, the Sino-Myanmar pipelines, became a point of focus for both sides to gain support from or leverage against Chinese interests in the 2021 Myanmar civil war, being increasingly caught between combatants.[6]

Wind energy

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Myanmar's Department of Renewable Energy and Hydropower Plants is prioritising the development of solar and wind energy.[13] Rakhine State, Tanintharyi and Ayeyarwady regions have been identified as sites with strong wind power potential.[13][23] However, solar energy potential is higher compared to that of wind energy in Myanmar.[17]

Myanmar is developing its first wind power plant in Chaung Thar, Ayeyarwady Region, through a 30 MW wind power project it is undertaking with China's Three Gorges Corporation.[13][16]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Electrifying Myanmar". The ASEAN Post. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Myanmar". www.iea.org. International Energy Agency (IEA). Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  3. ^ a b "EPGE 2020". Irrawaddy. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Ministry implements first phase of NEP". Eleven Media Group Co., Ltd. 10 February 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Energy Resources in Myanmar". World Energy Council. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  6. ^ a b Strangio, Sebastian (17 February 2022). "Chinese Pipeline in Myanmar Damaged in Attack by Anti-Regime Forces". The Diplomat.
  7. ^ "EC". Eleven Media. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Status for Renewable Energies in Myanmar". Asia Biomass Office. New Energy Foundation. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  9. ^ "Interim Country Partnership Strategy: Myanmar, 2012–2014 Sector Assessment (Summary): Energy" (PDF). www.adb.org. Asian Development Bank (ADB). Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  10. ^ a b Agha, Saad; Penglis, Evangelos; Roland-Holst (November 2016). An Initial Assessment of the Economic Costs of Natural Gas for Myanmar's Domestic Market (Report). The World Bank Group.
  11. ^ "Ministry talks target of 100% electrification by 2030". The Myanmar Times. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  12. ^ "Climatescope 2018: Myanmar". Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  13. ^ a b c d "Renewable energy law in the works to speed up development". The Myanmar Times. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  14. ^ Overland, Indra; Sagbakken, Haakon Fossum; Chan, Hoy-Yen; Merdekawati, Monika; Suryadi, Beni; Utama, Nuki Agya; Vakulchuk, Roman (December 2021). "The ASEAN climate and energy paradox". Energy and Climate Change. 2: 100019. doi:10.1016/j.egycc.2020.100019. hdl:11250/2734506.
  15. ^ "Country's first solar power plant to start operations in Magwe". The Myanmar Times. 15 October 2018. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  16. ^ a b "Rural areas to receive electricity powered by renewable sources: Minister". The Myanmar Times. 3 March 2019. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  17. ^ a b Vakulchuk, Roman; Hlaing, Kyaw Kyaw; Naing, Edward Ziwa; Overland, Indra; Suryadi, Beni; Velautham, Sanjayan (2017). "Myanmar's Attractiveness for Investment in the Energy Sector: A Comparative International Perspective". SSRN 3023133. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. ^ Vakulchuk, Roman; Kresnawan, Muhammad Rizki; Merdekawati, Monika; Overland, Indra; Sagbakken, Haakon Fossum; Suryadi, Beni; Yurnaidi, Zulfikar (2020). "Myanmar: How to Become an Attractive Destination for Renewable Energy Investment?". Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI). doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.29515.00806. JSTOR resrep26565. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  19. ^ Chinese companies dominate Myanmar solar tender..
  20. ^ Vakulchuk, Roman; Stokke, Kristian; Overland, Indra (2018). "Myanmar: A Political Economy Analysis". doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.27989.93928. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  21. ^ a b "Overview: Uncovering the untapped energy opportunities". Myanmar Energy Investment Summit 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  22. ^ "Gas in Myanmar". World Energy Council. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  23. ^ "Myanmar urged to tap green power". The Nation. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
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