Electrical industry of burma/myanmar

GENERAL THAN SHWE VISITS THE UPPER YEYWA HYDROPOWER PROJECT

NLM, 22/04/10. Edited. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs08/NLM2010-04-22.pdf

Accompanied by several SPDC members, senior militaryofficers of the MoD, regional commanders, cabinet ministers and officials, Gen Than arrived at the Upper Yeywa Hydropower Project being implemented by EPM-1 near Taungchay village of Kyaukme township.
Gen Than Shwe and party viewed the operation of heavy machinery carrying out ground work at the main embankment. They also looked into the excavation of boulders at the site.
At the briefing hall, EPM-1 Zaw Min reported on the aims of the project, progress to date, the location of the Upper Yeywa project in relation to the Yeywa project farther down the Myitnge river, construction of approach roads, conditions of the main embankment, the diversion tunnel, the spillway, the power intake structure and tunnel, the penstock tunnel and the proposed generating capacity of the project, as well as the yearly implementation schedule. In his guidance, General Than Shwe stressed the need for timely completion of the Upper Yeywa project, given the experience the workforce had gained in the Yeywa hydropower project.
The Upper Yeywa Hydropower Project is about 20 miles south of Kyaukme in Shan State North and 80 miles upstream of the already completed Yeywa dam. It will store water from the Myitnge and Namlam rivers that will be released to the Yeywa dam [in the dry season], as well as generating electricity. The project is being implemented by No 2 Construction Group of the Hydropower Planning Department. [Two photos of the dam site accompany the article in the print edition of NLM.]
N.B. The decision to construct the Upper Yeywa hydropower project on the Myitnge near Taungchay village in Kyaukme township appears to have superseded earlier plans to construct dams and power stations at Pyaungsho on the Myitnge near Yaydwingyi village and on the Namlan river in Nawngkhio township (see below). The Myitnge river is also known as the Dokhtawady and the Namtu in Shan State North.
Topographic map reference: Burma 1:250,000: Series U542, U.S. Army Map: NF 47-05: Maymyo

Upper Yeywa dam near Tawngkye village (22° 16' N, 97° 07' E) grid square reference: 13\9, 26\7

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/burma/txu-oclc-6924198-nf47-5.jpg
Additional references
Data summary: Upper Yeywa

See below: ‘Dam design at Yeywa hydropower project saves time, costs’ (MT: 04/04/05)

Hseng Khio Fah, Shan Herald Agency for News, 19/05/10. Edited and condensed.

http://www.shanland.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3035:junta-runs-underground-mine-in-shan-state-north&catid=89:drugs&Itemid=286

An unknown mining project is being secretly operated in Kyaukme township, according to local sources. The project site is located in Nawngping village tract, south of the Lashio-Mandalay highway. Outsiders are banned from visiting the site where security is very tight. The number of workers in the site is over 500 and more are expected soon. Other villagers have come to open shops and restaurants in the vicinity. The Burmese military has ordered workers not to release any information about the project, said another source. "They have informed people that it is only for a hydro power project." "Everything dug out is put in boxes and carried to Naypyitaw directly," she said, "Workers don't know what they are." An informed source said General Than Shwe was reported to have visited the site in the second week of April. Some local residents, believe that it will turn out to be a coal mine as a coal and metal company had been reported to be prospecting in the area two years ago.

NLM, 01/05/10. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs08/NLM2010-05-01.pdf

A signing ceremony between the Hydropower Implementation Department of EPM-1 and NEWJEC Inc of Japan took place at the ministry in Nay Pyi Taw on 30/04/10. Present at the ceremony were EPM-1 Zaw Min, Deputy Minister Myo Myint and President and Director Masaki Matsumoto and members of NEWJEC Inc. On the occasion, D-G Myint Zaw of the Hydropower Implementation Dept (DHI) and General Manager Yukao Tanaka of NEWJEC Inc signed the contracts on Agreement of Consulting Services for In-House Engineering Services. [On the same occasion] a Memorandum of Understanding on tasks [related to the supply] of concrete for the Upper Yeywa Hydropower Project was signed by the DHI and High Tech Concrete Technology Co Ltd [of Myanmar].

NLM, 19/12/09. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs07/NLM2009-12-19.pdf

EPM-1 Zaw Min and D-G Myint Zaw of the Hydropower Dept visit the Upper Yeywa hydropower project near Taunggyay village in Kyaukme township. They are briefed on the construction of roads to the project, the dam site, the location of the intake and diversion tunnels, the site for construction of the power station, the condition of the rock layers according to geological survey, and future programs. Stones from the Sein Lun quarry are being used in construction work. The project dam will be built across the Dokhtawady river, 65 miles upstream of the Yeywa Hydropower Project. The Upper Yeywa Hydropower Project will have a capacity of 140 megawatts.

NLM, 17/04/09. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs07/NLM2009-04-17.pdf

On a visit to the Yeywa project, Gen Than Shwe is informed that the Upper Yeywa dam will be built of concrete and will be 200 feet high and 1640 feet long. It will be able to generate 140 megawatts and will contribute to the production of electricity at the Yeywa plant.

NLM, 16/11/08. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs5/NLM2008-11-16.pdf

At the co-ordination meeting (1/2008) of the Special Projects Implementation Committee, EPM-1 Zaw Min gives a brief account of six completed projects, 22 ongoing projects and 15 hydropower projects that call for the approval of the committee. [Among the the fifteen are] the Upper Yeywa hydropower project (140 megawatts) in Shan State North.

"Myanmar Country Report on Progress of Power Development Plans and Transmission Interconnection Projects" (17/06/08), p 15.

http://www.adb.org/Documents/Events/Mekong/Proceedings/PWG5-Appendix4.4.pdf

The Pyaungsho hydropower project with a capacity of 300 MW will be implemented in the near future.

NLM, 23/02/08. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/08nlm/n080223.htm

Lt-Gen Kyaw Win of the MoD is briefed on the implementation of Myaungcho hydropower station project by Nay Myo Win of HPID. The station will generate 230 MW and contribute to the implementation of Yeywa hydropower station.

NLM, 13/12/07. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/07nlm/n071213.htm

While visiting the Yeywa dam site, Gen Than Shwe is briefed on the survey, findings and preparations for the Pyaungsho hydropower project that is to be implemented on the Namtu (Myitnge) river near Yaydwingyi Village, 32 miles south of Nawnghkio town in accordance with his guidance.

NLM, 12/07/07. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/07nlm/n070712.htm

PD Myint Zaw and Dep Dir (Geology) Kyaw Nyein brief EPM No 1 Zaw Min on feasibility study for the Nawnghkio hydropower project, including geographical conditions and flow of water in the Dokhtawady river, 25 mi upstream from the Yeywa hydropower project.

NLM, 04/07/07. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/07nlm/n070704.htm

Lt-Gen Kyaw Win of the Ministry of Defence and Maj-Gen Aung Than Htut of the North East Command met with officials of the Pyaunghlyo hydropower project being undertaken by the HPID and Colenco Power Engineering Co near Nawnghkio township on 2 July, 2007. At the briefing hall, Director U Myint Zaw of HPID reported on salient points of the project including the site chosen. In response, Gen Kyaw Win stressed the need for speedy implementation of the project to satisfy the power demand. The project is situated 29/2 mi south of Nawnghkio on the Dokhtawady (Myitnge) river. It will be able to generate electricity ranging from 60 to 300 MW. After that, Lt-Gen Kyaw Win and party inspected the construction of Nawnghkio-Taungkhin-Kyaukgu-Intaw road and the Dokhtawady Bridge.

Myanmar Times, 28/08/06. http://www.myanmar.com/myanmartimes/MyanmarTimes17-331/n010.htm

The design for Htamanthi Dam is expected to be finalised in early 2007. The Agriculture and Irrigation Ministry has already drafted the design and hopes to finalise it under supervision of Colenco, an international consulting and engineering company.

NLM, 28/04/04. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/04nlm/n040428.htm

The 60-MW Pyaungsho and 160-MW Namlan hydel projects in Nawnghkio tsp are mentioned at a meeting of the National Electric Power Development Co-ordination Cte.

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RANGOON REELS UNDER SEVERE POWER CUTS

Myo Thein, Phanida, Mizzima News, 02/04/10. Edited and adapted.

http://www.mizzima.com/news/election-2010/3783-nld-to-plunge-itself-headlong-into-social-work.html
Rangoon has been reeling from severe bouts of power cuts with consumers getting a daily supply of a meagre two hours a day last week. The power cuts in Rangoon follow repair work on the natural gas pipeline of the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise.
“We receive electricity for only about two hours a day. At times power is restored for just three minutes and goes again. Sometimes it is restored for just 10 minutes. Sometimes power is supplied at midnight for about 10-15 minutes,” a local resident said.
Electricity is supplied to Rangoon from gas turbines in Thaketa, Ywama, Hlawga, Ahlone power plants and from the Lawpita hydro power station. But these power stations are not operating at full capacity leading to the severe shortage of power in Rangoon.
The Tanintharyi-Rangoon gas pipeline leaks frequently, affecting electricity production from the gas turbines. So, a new gas pipeline from the offshore Yadana natural gas wells in the Gulf of Martaban is under construction. The Ministry of Energy has announced that the new gas pipeline will be completed next month.
The power failures in Rangoon are causing severe problems in the water supply system. “We wait for electricity to be restored to operate our pumps even at night. Every flat operates pumps simultaneously so the higher flats do not get water,” a local resident said.
Water is not available even for cooking so residents have to use bottled drinking water for preparing their meals with the result that the high demand for bottles has pushed up prices, a housewife from Lanmadaw township said. The normal price of a 20-litre bottle of drinking water is K 500 to 600 home delivered to higher floors but now it is K 800 to 900.
For downtown residents in Rangoon, the water comes from reservoirs in Nga Moe Yeik, Hlawga and Phu Gyi but most residents in suburban areas rely on tube wells.
According to the 2008 April census, Rangoon’s population is over six million and the demand for power was 400 MW but now it has risen to over 500 MW given the increase in the number of industries and rising consumption due to use of home electrical appliances.
Additional references
See above: ‘Improved power supply brings better business climate to most’ (MT: 06/06/11)

‘New hydro power plants ease dry season shortages in Yangon’ (MTBR: 20/12/10)

‘Power boost for Yangon as rain falls’ (MT: 21/06/10)

‘Coping with unreliable power supply in Burma’s cities’ (IRROL: 22/05/10)

See below: ‘Power supply improves in Rangoon’ (Mizzima: 28/07/09)

‘Gas turbine failure restricts electricity supply in Yangon’ (Xiinhua: 01/02/09)

‘More gas to be diverted from Yadana for national use’ (MT: 14/01/08)

‘Gas in short supply to meet demand for electricity’ (MT: 17/09/07)

‘Pipeline to solve electricity shortages’ (MT: 16/09/02)
IRROL, 01/06/10. Edited and revised. http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=18596

Electricity shortages in Rangoon have worsened due to insufficient gas supplies caused by a leak in a pipeline that brings natural gas to the city. An official at EPM-2 said the electricity shortage in Rangoon worsened following a leak in the gas pipeline located near Mudon Township in Mon State. The leak will take days to repair, he said. “The old pipeline was leaking while new ones were still under construction. That's why the shortages have increased,” he said.

Rangoon residents said the city had been divided into three groups that were to be provided with electricity for six hours a day in rotation. But since the gas supply worsened, electricity is available for only three hours a day on an intermittent basis. According to one resident, it often stops and starts every 15 to 30 minutes or an hour.
Rangoon needs about 600 megawatts of electrical power but only 120 megawatts can be produced under present circumstances, according to an official at the city's electricity supply board. Businessmen and residents normally enjoy electricity for 24 hours a day at this time of the year, after the start of the rainy season. But an official of EPM-1 that usually provides the additional power from its hydropower plants at Lawpita said it might not be possible to provide electricity 24/7 this monsoon season because of technical problems and low levels in the reservoirs that supply water to the hydro stations. “We have encountered technical problems in some hydro-power projects that have already been completed, but we are taking care of it. Some power plants can't produce enough electricity as well because the amount of water hasn't reached the usual levels,” said an official at the Naypyidaw electricity supply board. The Yeywa hydro-power project is said to have experienced technical problems as well.
A source at the Rangoon electricity supply board said it still can not provide electricity to industrial zones and will be unable to do so for at least another two months. “We were told that we would be provided with electricity in mid-August,” said a businessmen from the Hlaing Tharyar Industrial Zone Management Committee. “Some factories have already stopped operation while some wealthier ones have acquired electricity by paying bribes. Those who can afford it, they use diesel generators to run their factories.” On May 14, small industrial enterprises and businesses that use power meters in Rangoon were cut off from electricity, but electrical service resumed on a rotation basis after May 20.
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Myanmar Times, 24/05/10 (Vol 27: 524); Edited and condensed.

http://www.mmtimes.com/2010/business/524/busi001.html

Yangon Electricity Supply Board (YESB) has now stopped supplying electricity to industrial zones, small and medium enterprises (SME), private clinics, shopping malls and supermarkets to try to conserve the energy supply to private homes. YESB operates two supply systems, one for domestic users and the other for commercial use, which is known as the power meter. Businesses are charged K50 per unit of electricity, twice the domestic rate. Small businesses that operate out of private homes have had their power supply cut off, while the supply to the [living quarters], through a separate meter, is unaffected. “In my home, I have two meters – one for household use and the other for business. YESB cut off our power meter box on May 14 and we are not allowed to use electricity for business purposes from the household meter,” said U Tin Aung, who runs a printing company in Botahtaung township.

YESB says it will collect or lock power meter boxes in every SME. “The program aims to supply more electricity to the public than before,” said a statement from YESB secretary U Maung Maung Latt. It said electricity would be supplied six hours a day alternatively in Yangon from that day onwards. “Before this new program, we got power three times a day, but only for two hours at most,” said U Nyan Lin, a resident in Dagon Myothit East district.
U Myat Thin Aung, president of Hlaing Tharyar Industrial Zone Management Committee, said that the industrial zones were used to power shortages. “Before the induction of this new program, the industrial zones did not receive electricity for 10 days,” he said.
“Until April, our industrial zone received electricity for four hours during the day. Since the beginning of May, we did not receive electricity at all and relied on our generator,” said U Thein Tun, of Unicolour Group. “My generator uses 1.5 gallons of diesel an hour and we normally run it for at least eight hours a day,” U Thein Tun said. YESB is also maintaining power to government offices, Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC), private artesian wells, and the highway terminals. Yangon’s daily electricity demand is estimated by the Ministry of Electric Power (2) to be 666.78 megawatts (MW) but Yangon is only receiving about 250MW a day, one industrial zone committee member said.
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Ba Kaung, IRROL, 21/05/10 Edited and condensed. http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=18523

Small business owners in Rangoon are complaining they may have to shut down because of the decision by the state power authority to halt supplies to industrial users owing to the lack of water to drive hydro dam turbines. The power authority says it needs to cut industrial supply in order to provide private households with electricity on a 6-hour quota system.

But Nay Myo, owner of an air-conditioner and refrigerator workshop in downtown Rangoon, has had to halt repair work because he is solely reliant on state-supplied electricity. He says he can’t afford to run a generator to provide the power he needs to keep his workshop going. “Since there is no electricity, my shop is now full of air-cons and refrigerators which I haven't fixed yet.”
Generators are keeping an ice-cream factory in Rangoon in business, but at a high cost to its owner. “I cannot increase my ice-cream price since this will affect my customers,” he said.
Khin Maung Nyo, a Rangoon-based economist, said: “I hear that some small businesses have to shut down or run only half a day. Some store owners are thinking of operating their businesses for only a few days in a week.” An official of MEPE said he had received a wire message on Friday that businesses can now submit applications for industrial power use, but he was unsure when supplies for industrial use would resume. “Only when the dams are filled with water again will the electricity come again, I think,” said Myint Soe, the chairman of Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association (MGMA), in Rangoon. “But for big industries like ours, the one or two hours a day during which we get power doesn't make much difference.”
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Bernama, 20/05/10. Edited and condensed. http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsworld.php?id=499671

Myanmar authorities have temporarily stopped power supply for industrial use in Yangon, to divert electricity for residential use as a provisional measure to ease power shortage in the former capital. The step which was initiated at the beginning of this week, has restored 150 megawatts' (mw) for home use, up from the previous 80 mw, China's Xinhua news agency reported citing a local daily. Authorities attributed the lack of power to falling water levels in the reservoirs that supply the country’s hydropower plants during the red-hot summer months. On an encouraging note, authorities did say that a 24-inch gas pipeline that will carry natural gas from the Mottama offshore gas field to gas-run power plants has been completed and that after the installation of related machinery, power supply would be back to normal soon.

Ko Htwe, IRROL, 17/05/10. Edited and condensed. http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=18484

Electricity for businesses in Rangoon was cut off on Friday as a result of low-water levels at hydropower generating plants. The cut off affects private hospitals, shopping centers, small businesses and industry zones. Many businesses and residents are experienced in using private generators to provide their own electricity, but the cost of fuel is prohibitive. Unusually high temperatures in recent weeks have exacerbated what is normally a seasonal shortage of electricity. A businessman on 32nd Street in Rangoon said, “MEPE has sealed the meter box. Now we cannot use electricity.” An employee at Asia Taw Win private clinic in Rangoon said, “For emergency operations and patients who need air conditioning we are facing many problems. Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Monday a MEPE official said, “The conditions for distributing electricity are very difficult now. We have no choice.” In Rangoon, the power supply is usually restricted from March to June, because of a lack of rain water to power the Lawpita hydroelectric plant at full capacity. Lawpita, located 210 miles (350 kilometers) north of Rangoon, is one of the main sources of electricity for the former capital. The water supply of the Lawpita hydroelectric plant depends on Innlay Lake in Shan State, but high temperatures this year have severely lowered the lake's water level, said a resident of Khaungdine village, located near the lake. “At the center of the lake, there is only a little water. We have to carry drinking water from other places. Authorities are ignoring the situation.” The lake's water level is near a 50-year low and the famous floating market in Ywama village has nearly disappeared, according to Weekly Eleven.

Wai Moe, IRROL, 15/05/10. http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=18475

The completion of a gas pipeline from the Gulf of Martaban to Rangoon has stalled due to quality-control issues. The pipeline project, which is estimated to be worth about US $500 million, is being carried out by IGE Co Ltd, run by Nay Aung and Pyi Aung, sons of U Aung Thaung, Minister of Industry-1. IGE is a major supplier of substation and transmission line materials, oil and gas, and CNG filling stations for government projects. With an election coming later this year, the regime had promised to boost Rangoon's power supply by the end of April and Energy Minister Lun Thi has been pushing IGE to conclude the pipeline project a month ahead of the original deadline. Now accused of shoddy quality control in its work on the project, IGE is blaming Lun Thi for the problems it is facing. The delays could not have come at a worse time. Burma is experiencing its most severe heat wave in years, straining the city's limited resources, including its access to water, which requires electric pumps to ensure an adequate supply. “It's like living in hell,” said one NGO worker. “The heat is intense, and we can't run our air conditioners or water pumps because of a lack of electricity. Officials involved with the pipeline project have recently vowed to complete the 288-km (179-mile) soon, according to Weekly Eleven, a private journal published in Rangoon.

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HTOO TRADING TO BUILD COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT IN YANGON SUBURB

Myanmar Times, 28/03/10 (Vol 26: 515). http://mmtimes.com/2010/news/515/n51501.html

Htoo Trading and a Chinese partner will start work on a coal-fired power plant next July that will supply electricity to Yangon’s industrial zones, U Sein Oo, a director of the Htoo Group of Companies, told The Myanmar Times on March 17. The US$300 million project will be implemented by the Ministry of Electric Power-1, Htoo Trading and Huaneng Lancang River Hydropower under the build, operate, transfer system, whereby the private companies will finance the construction and then operate the plant for a minimum of 20 years before transferring it back to the government. Htoo Trading will provide the majority of the investment, U Sein Oo said, while the Chinese company will supply the technology and most of the machinery. They will also be responsible for training local technicians to operate the plant.
The plant, to be located on a 250-acre site in Htantabin township, Yangon Division, will initially provide 135 megawatts (MW) but that is expected to rise to 270MW after six months, he said. The project – Myanmar’s first coal-fired power plant – should be completed by the start of 2013. “The construction work will be complete within two and a half years. We will start providing electricity to industrial zones after two years as the first step,” said U Sein Oo. The plant will use coal from Kalewa mine in Sagaing Division and the electricity generated will supply factories in three industrial zones of Yangon: Hlaing Tharyar, Shwe Pyi Thar and Shwe Lin Pan. Any surplus electricity generated will be diverted to meet domestic demand. To generate the maximum amount of power, the plant will require 3000 tonnes of coal a day, or more than 1 million tonnes a year.
Myanmar produces about 250,000 tonnes of coal a year, according to government figures but there is potential for expansion. If Kalewa cannot provide enough, more will be imported from ASEAN countries, U Sein Oo said. “We will transport the coal along the Chindwin [River] and store at least six months’ supply near the plant,” said U Sein Oo. “The site of the plant has been selected bearing in mind the need to transport and unload coal.” He added that, as an environmental protection measure, the plant would be fitted with a smoke control system to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases. No price has yet been set for the power to be generated. The Ministry of Electric Power-2 charges domestic users K25 (about 2.5 US cents) per kilowatt hour and industry K50. Yangon’s electricity consumption is more than 300MW, but the actual demand is about double.
U Myat Thin Aung, chairman of Hlaing Tharyar industrial zone, said there were about 1100 businesses in the three zones. While electricity consumption figures for Shwe Pyi Thar were not available, U Myat Thin Aung said total electricity consumption at Hlaing Tharyar and Shwe Lin Pan is 88MW but demand is actually much higher. U Sein Oo said he expected the three zones to consume at least 200MW when the plant comes online.