Posts in category: ENERGY

The Ministry of Electricity and Energy is implementing 29 solar power projects, with the installed capacity of 1,030 megawatts, to generate electricity in mid-2021, according to the 4th coordination meeting of National Renewable Energy Committee on 29th January,2021. The committee meeting was held in Nay Pyi Taw and it was attended by Union Minister for Electricity and Energy U Win Khaing as the chairman, Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Dr Aung Thu as the vice chairman, Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Ohn Win, Union Minister for Transport and Communications U Thant Sin Maung, Union Attorney-General U Tun Tun Oo and committee members.

At the meeting, Union Minister U Win Khaing said that the committee has organized three meetings since it was formed in February 2019, and could work for the improvement of renewable energy in Myanmar’s Energy Mix, opening the first solar power plant in Myanmar with 40 MW capacity in Minbu on 27 June 2019, the 0.5 MW solar power plant in Manaungkyun on 19 December 2019 inaugurated by the State Counsellor. The 0.5 MW solar power plant in Cocogyun Township began electricity generation for 24 hours every day since 4 January 2021. After completing the ongoing solar projects, Myanmar’s energy mix for electricity generation would be 40 per cent from hydropower, 14 per cent from solar, 3 per cent from domestic natural gas, 11 per cent from liquified natural gas and 1 per cent from other sources.

When the installed capacity reached 8,118 MW, the power generation from renewable energy will account for 54 per cent and 45 per cent from clean fuel. The country has met international policies for renewable energy and exceeded the expectation of ASEAN on renewable energy. The electrification ratio of the country has reached over 58 per cent, and renewable energy would significantly contribute in 75 per cent coverage of electricity in the country. Moreover, the electricity supply in Yangon and Mandalay region is targeted to reach 75 per cent this year, while Myanmar has pledged at the Climate Ambition Summit which was held on 12 December last year as the preliminary event of COP 26 Climate Change Conference that will take place in Britain at the end of this year to develop up to 39 per cent of renewable energy in the country’s electricity ratio.

Under the Nationally Determined Contribution, which is aimed for the reduction of climate change, Myanmar is working to reduce carbon dioxide emission from 297 million tonnes of the present to 144 million tonnes in 2030. Union Minister U Win Khaing also talked about the works of Department of Rural Development to set up solar mini-grid and solar home system in remote and rural areas, increasing 5 per cent of electrification rate in the country. The MoEE will implement the floating solar project in collaboration with the MoALI, and the solar-power plant with the MoPFI. The meeting was attended by ministerial officials, Yangon City Mayor U Maung Maung Soe, Mandalay City Development Committee member Dr Thit Sin and senior members of relevant organizations via online.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

The Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) held its first meeting for the year yesterday via videoconference. The meeting chaired by Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and Chairman of the MIC, U Thaung Tun was attended by Vice-Chairman Dr Than Myint, Union Minister for Commerce and members of the Commission.

The meeting approved 14 new investments proposals and increase in capital in 4 existing projects. The approved investments in the energy, fisheries, real estate and services sectors totalled US$295.279 million and Kyat 153.686 billion. The projects are expected to create 4,371 job opportunities. The approved projects include four 40-MW solar power projects in Mandalay, Sagaing and Magway Regions as well as a fish meal factory proposal submitted by Scoular Myanmar Co., Ltd.

The solar power projects are in keeping with Myanmar’s commitment to tackle climate change. At the virtual Climate Ambition Summit held on 12 December 2020, the State Counsellor announced Myanmar’s intention to submit its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The NDC will aim to reduce over 243 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by increasing the share of renewable energy to 39% and reducing the net emission from the forestry sector by 25%. It is learnt that Singapore, the People’s Republic of China and Thailand head the list of 51 countries investing in Myanmar. 

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Union Minister for Electricity and Energy U Win Khaing said that unexpected changes will occur in the oil and gas industry in future because of the COVID-19 pandemic, calling on the Myanmar Oil and Gas Services Society (MOGSS) to prepare for the changes. The Union Minister made the remark in a video message delivered to the opening ceremony of the annual meeting held by the MOGSS via online yesterday morning. He urged the MOGSS to make suitable arrangements to adapt to the ‘new normal’ situation. It is said that the oil and gas industry continues playing an important role in the future and the market will continue growing. He continued that in 2021-2022, crude oil prices may gradually rise again.

It is pointed out that the global supplies and demands as well as changes in oil prices may have impacts on inviting international tenders for offshore block projects of Myanmar. Speaking on the effects of the pandemic, the Union Minister said that natural gas prices dropped by 5 -10 per cent and product prices in the downstream refining sector dropped by up to 20 per cent. It is also said that natural gas and LNG are playing a key role in changing energy consumption patterns due to climate changes and environmental impacts as well as increasing uses of renewable energy in ‘New Energy Mix’. Myanmar’s energy mix is about 40 per cent of hydropower; about 14 per cent of solar energy, about 34 per cent of domestic natural gas and 11 per cent of LNG, so renewable energy consumption in Myanmar is about 54 per cent and clean energy consumption is about 45 per cent, according to the Union Minister.

Moreover, it is said that major investment projects such as A-6, A-3, M-9 and M-3 offshore projects have been providing more job opportunities in the oil industry. He continued that in the future, new onshore and offshore pipeline-construction projects will be implemented, and consequently business opportunities will be open more. The Union Minister also urged all the stakeholders to observe the future trends of the power sector in line with the Future Energy Transition pathway. He also called on the MOGSS to cooperate with banks to obtain necessary funds, to provide technical training to staff members and to organize online conferences and exhibitions in order to develop the industry. The virtual meeting was participated by officials from the ministry, MOGSS officials, and representatives from companies from the oil and natural gas industry.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

The domestic fuel oil price has now risen to 30-50 per cent per litre compared to April 2019, as the vaccine optimism grew, and some businesses resume their operations, the market data indicated. At present, the domestic oil market has recovered a bit as the COVID-19 heightened measures have eased a bit. The fuel oil was pegged at around K655 per litre for Octane 92, K765 for Octane 95, K695 for diesel and K705 for premium diesel on 24 January 2021 in the domestic retail market, according to the local fuel oil market.

Domestic oil price is positively related to the global market. Oil price inched higher in the worldwide market in August. In the global markets, oil prices stood at around $39.9 per barrel for WTI crude oil on 3 August 2020. In late January 2021, the price slightly gained to $52.27 per barrel. The domestic oil prices have declined from 10 January 2020 owing to a fall in global oil prices. On 8 January 2020, oil prices were pegged at around K905 per litre for Octane 92, K995 for Octane 95, and K985 for diesel and premium diesel. Following the global market crashing, the domestic oil price plunged to more than 50 per cent in April against January’s prices.

In late April 2020, the oil prices touched a low of K290-330 per litre for Octane 92, K430-455 for Octane 95, K435-465 for diesel and K445-475 for premium diesel, according to the domestic oil market. Ninety per cent of fuel oil in Myanmar is imported while the remaining 10 per cent is produced locally. In the Q1 of the current financial year 2020-2021, about $600 million worth petroleum products were imported. The figure plunged by half compared to a year-ago period, the Ministry of Commerce stated. Usually, Myanmar imports fuel oil primarily from Singapore, with monthly volumes touching 200,000 tonnes for gasoline and 400,000 tonnes for diesel. There are about 2,000 fuel stations and 50 oil importer companies in Myanmar. 

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar’s first-ever Yangon Waste to Energy Plant has been built with minimal environmental impact, and the plant generates 760 kilowatts of electricity per day, according to the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC). In May 2015, the Pollution Control and Cleaning Department of YCDC cooperated with the JFE Engineering, which is commissioned by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, to build the plant. The plant is located on 15 acres of land near Hlawkar Road in Shwepyitha Township, Yangon, and the project cost US$16 million. The plant uses the heat generated by burning the garbage (waste) to generate electricity. Since 7 April 2017, the plant received about 60 tonnes of waste from Mingaladon Township. It incinerated the waste, generating 760 kilowatts of electricity daily.

Out of the 760 kilowatts, about 400 kilowatts of electricity have been used to operate the plant and the remaining 360 kilowatts are fed into YESC’s National Grid. The Yangon Waste to Energy Plant employs 91 workers including officials, engineers and garbage collection workers. For annual maintenance, the plant usually stops its operations for about 40 days a year, said by a member of the YCDC. It is the first-ever Waste to Energy Plant in Myanmar, and air pollution will be kept to a minimum. The air pollution indicators are in line with international air pollution standards. The Waste Yard can handle about 200 tonnes of waste in three days. However, the plant can only incinerate 60 tonnes of waste a day. Hence, the plant handles only 60 tonnes of waste from Mingaladon Township.

In fact, Yangon produces about 2,500 to 2,700 tonnes of garbage daily, so we are working hard to build more Waste to Energy Plants to generate more electricity. They wanted to send their engineering staff to Japan to receive technological training there. But it would be more expensive to send our staff to Japan. So, they brought in Japanese experts to work in the plant and to help their staff gain technological knowledge. Over the past four years, the skills and knowledge of their staff have improved significantly. Garbage collection workers are always on duty in the stinking factory environment, so they are constantly encouraging them to be motivated. Only then, they will be able to work in the plant for the long term. Up to 90 per cent of the waste can be disposed of at the Yangon Waste to Energy Plant, and 10 per cent of the waste is properly disposed of at Kyu Chaung Cemetery in Shwepyitha Township, according to YCDC.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

MINISTRY of Electricity and Energy signed a power purchase agreement in Nay Pyi Taw for the 365 MW LNG to Power Project to be implemented by TTCL Power Myanmar Co., Ltd in Ahlon Power Plant, Yangon Region, yesterday afternoon. Union Minister U Win Khaing, Deputy Ministers U Khin Maung Win and Dr Tun Naing, Permanent Secretary U Than Zaw and departmental officials attended the ceremony. President & CEO for TTCL
Power Myanmar Co., Ltd. Mr Hironobu Iriya, Managing Director Ms Suratana Trinratana and officials, attended the ceremony through videoconferencing. The Union Minister said his Ministry is making efforts
to generate more electricity from all available sources from the country, including imported LNG, as the electricity demand increased.

The Ahlone LNG to Power Combined Cycle Power Plant project, invested by TTCL Co., Ltd is one of the three major projects that the Ministry issued Notice to Proceed (NTP) to companies. The Ahlone LNG project was launched in 2018 and TTCL Co., Ltd carried out the feasibility study, environmental impact assessment, LNG feasibility and gas pipelines, including land ownership for the project during the two-year preparation period. The Union Minister added the coordination with companies and all stakeholders for the PPA contract due to the nature of the project that is different from other conventional projects. According to the schedule in the PPA contract, TTCL Company will need to complete the commercial operation of the project within the next three years. The company has extensive experience in Japan with LNG power generation and the construction of an inland LNG Terminal and Regasification Unit.

The Union Minister said that necessary equipment such as natural gas pipeline and transmission line would be built in Yangon area and the company needs to follow not only international rules and regulations but
MoEE, TPMC company sign power purchase agreement for LNG to Power Project also domestic rules and regulations at all stages of construction and operation. Managing Director for Electric Power Generation Enterprise (EPGE), Ministry of Electricity and Energy U Than Naing Oo and Managing Director for TTCL Power Management Co., Ltd Ms Suratana Trinratana
signed the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). This is the first long-term
LNG project in Myanmar using inland LNG Terminal and Regasification Unit, and it is a reliable project due to its stable LNG supply. With the use
of Combined Cycle Technology, electricity generation can be improved, and the environmental impacts can be minimized. Upon successful completion of this project, according to the PPA, it will be able to supply and distribute electricity to the Yangon Region, especially to provide more stable electricity.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar