Electrical industry of burma/myanmar

Additional references
See above: ‘Additional gas-fired power plants to be built in Yangon’ (MT: 05/12/11)

‘Improved power supply brings better business climate to most’ (MT: 06/06/11)

‘Rangoon reels under severe power cuts’ (Mizzima: 02/04/10)

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

‘Ywama power station dependent on gas distribution system’ (NLM, 01/02/07)

‘Pipeline to solve electricity shortages’ (MT: 16/09/02)

‘Yadana gas will fire electric power plants in Myanmar’ (MP: Sept 1995)

‘Use of Yadana gas for power generation and industry: Chronology (Appendix 6)

NLM, 13/06/10. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs09/NLM2010-06-13.pdf

A golden valve on the 24-inch natural gas pipeline from the Yadana natural gas platform is opened at the natural gas distribution centre in Ywama and a stone plaque unveiled, to mark launching of sending natural gas through the new pipeline. [A photo is included in the print edition of NLM.]

Monthly Eleven, June 2010. Excerpt.

http://eversion.elevenmediagroup.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=621%3Aburst-of-offshore-natural-gas-pipeline-causes-decline-in-electricity-distribution-to-yangon-&Itemid=109

The offshore gas pipeline [through Myainggalay] to Yangon burst at 10am on 02/06/10, so there was not enough gas available to generate electricity. Because the Tanintharyi-Yangon natural gas pipeline bursts frequently, a 24-inch diameter pipeline is being constructed [through Daw Nyein village in Ayeyawady division to the Ywama gas plant] to solve the shortage of electricity available for distribution in Yangon. A YESB official said the new pipeline from the offshore Yadana field was nearly completed, but was not yet ready to convey gas. The extended facilities at the gas control and distribution station at Ywama were ready, the official said, and as soon as the pipeline was operational, natural gas conveyed by the new 24-inch line would be distributed to the turbine engines.

Thomas Kean (editor, Myanmar Times), Jakarta Globe, 25/05/10. Excerpt. http://www.burmanet.org/news/2010/05/25/jakarta-globe-forsaken-but-not-forgotten-rangoon-will-rise-again-%E2%80%93-thomas-kean/

One of the main gripes in Rangoon, the city most susceptible to political unrest, is the lack of electricity; the government supplies only 300 megawatts a day, less than half of the estimated demand. Some neighborhoods receive less than eight hours of power a day, while most get no more than 12. A new natural-gas pipeline from the Yadana offshore field should help alleviate the power outages. At an estimated cost of $270 million, the pipeline project is a rare display of government largesse in lower Burma, and should conveniently come online in the third quarter of 2010.

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.

NLM, 29/03/10. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs08/NLM2010-03-29.pdf

Energy Minister Lun Thi inspected the Swiber Conquest pipelay barge and the pipeline center near Daw Nyein Village in in Pyapon district. On completion, the 24-inch diameter [gas] pipeline will be 179 miles long: 86 miles inland and 93 miles inshore areas. So far, pipelines have been laid for 86 miles inland, and for about 85 miles offshore. Officials are working hard for completion of the whole project on schedule.

NLM, 08/01/10. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs08/NLM2010-01-08.pdf

On 06/01/10, Deputy Energy Minister Than Htay visited the Yadana natural offshore platform where he was briefed on production and distribution of natural gas by the general manager and officials of Total Myanmar Company. The deputy minister also inspected the construction of the pipeline centre and landfall of the offshore natural gas pipeline installation enterprise near Daw Nyein village in Amar township in Ayeyawady division.

DPA, 30/11/09. http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/296989,domestic-natural-gas-to-triple-in-myanmar-in-next-decade.html

The supply of natural gas for domestic use is to triple in Myanmar over the next decade, the Myanmar Times reported quoting the Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE). The gas is due to come from two major projects coming on stream - Shwe and Zawtika - leading to increases in onshore gas production, and the construction of a new pipeline linking the older Yadana offshore gas project with the capital Yangon. Gas exports are also scheduled to increase, almost doubling over the same period, said U Myint Oo, MOGE's acting managing director earlier this month. Electricity generation from natural gas in Myanmar is to drop from 39.8pc of the total in 2005 to just 4.3pc in 2030, when almost 95pc of electricity is due to come from hydropower projects.

NLM: 10/09/09. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs07/NLM2009-09-10.pd

Energy Minister Lun Thi inspected the site chosen to build a station to distribute natural gas sourced from an offshore field at the Ywama [power] station.

Anatoaneta Bezlova, IPS, 10/09/08. http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=16754

Although Burma ranks 10th in the world in terms of natural gas reserves, its per capita electricity consumption is less than 5pc of neighboring Thailand and China, as its government exports most of the country’s energy resources.

NLM, 14/08/09. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs07/NLM2009-08-14.pd

Energy minister Lun Thi inspected the site for laying a natural gas pipeline across the Hline river on 10/08/09. The pipeline, which is being undertaken by MOGE, will terminate at the Ahlon gas power plant. After the minister was briefed on the use of horizontal directional drilling techniques under the bed of the Hline river, he oversaw laying of the pipeline from the Ahlone bank. The 24”-diameter pipeline is being laid at a depth of 42 feet and will reach 3,100 feet across the river. The work is a part of a project which will bring natural gas from the offshore Yadana field to Yangon.

Xinhua, 03/07/08. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/03/content_8482390.htm

More natural gas will be needed in addition to hydropower to generate the 500+ MW of electricity to supply the round-the-clock needs of the country’s largest city, the weekly Yangon Times reported on 03/07/08. The journal quoted the EPM No 2 as saying that it requires a total of 135 million cubic-feet (3.82 million cubic-meters) of gas to meet the daily demand for electricity in Yangon. Of this total, 100 million cf/d would be needed from off-shore gas fields with the rest available from on-shore fields. According to the report only 67 MCF of offshore gas and 27 MCF of onshore gas are available daily for the generation of electricity in Yangon. At present, the city gets only 250 MW of electricity which has to be distributed alternately to the townships in the city. (Compiler’s note: The gas volumes in the sentence beginning, “Of this total . . . “ have been corrected)

NLM, 01/05/08. http://myanmargeneva.org/NLM2008/eng/5May/n080501.pdf

Electricity supply to Yangon has still not returned to normal because repair work on off-shore gas pipe lines which transport natural gas to four gas-fired power plants in the city has not yet been completed due to adverse weather conditions. Efforts are being made by the Yangon Division Electric Power Supply Board to maintain sufficient supply of power to the city.

NLM, 28/04/08. http://www.myanmargeneva.org/08nlm/n080428.htm

Power generation at the Ahlon, Hlawga, Ywama and Thakayta power plants that supply electricity to Yangon will be cut to 100 MW while offshore pipe lines that provide gas to the four plants are temporarily closed down for repairs. The service interruption will last from 6 pm on 27 April to 6 pm on 29 April, the Yangon City Electricity Supply Board announced.

Khettiya Jittapong, Reuters, 03/04/08. http://www.irrawaddy.org:80/article.php?art_id=11267

A leak in a pipeline from Burma's Yetagun offshore gas field will be fixed in five days by Malaysia's Petronas, Thai Energy Minister Poonpirom Liptapanlop said on Thursday. Petronas, operator of the gas-rich offshore field in the Gulf of Martaban, had found two cracks on the onshore part of the pipeline near Thai and Burma border. “Gas supply from Yetagun should be back to normal in five days," she said. About 1.16 billion cubic feet per day (cfd) of gas from the Yetagun and nearby Yadana fields that is exported to Thailand is mostly used in power generation. Thailand's PTTEP said on Wednesday the leak caused a loss of supplies to Thailand of about 400-500 million cf/d. The leak also prompted PTT to postpone a plan to shut down the gas pipeline to Burma for routine maintenance from April 11-20, Poonpirom said.

NLM, 28/12/07. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/07nlm/n071228.htm

Natural gas production at the Yadana offshore gas field will be suspended while repairs are carried out to the production process of the field from 28 December, 2007 to 7 January, 2008. Gas-powered plants and factories are to reduce their production during the period. However, the authorities have already taken necessary measures not to affect the supply of electricity to Yangon during the period.

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PATHI HYDROPOWER PLANT INAUGURATED IN TOUNGOO TOWNSHIP

NLM, 03/01/08. http://burmalibrary.org/docs4/NLM2008-01-03.pdf

The inauguration of Pathi hydropower plant of the Hydropower Generation Enterprise of EPM No 1 was held at the plant in Toungoo township this morning. Southern Commander Ko Ko said the plant near Ngwetaunglay Village, 10 miles from Toungoo, will use water stored behind Pathi Dam. The dam was completed in February 1997 and has been supplying irrigation water to 1,500 acres of farmland in Toungoo township since then. Now the EPM-1 had fulfilled the demand for electricity in the region by implementing the second phase of the project which will supply power to Thandaunggyi and Thandaungthit in Kayin state through a 33 KV power line. Since Pathi creek originates in Kayin state it is fitting that electricity provided by power plant in Bago division should be used there as a sign of the friendship and amity of the national races. The power plant is equipped with two 1-megawatt generators.
Other operating hydel power stations of EPM-1 in the Sittaung valley include the 20-MW Zaungtu plant in Bago township and the 25-MW Yenwe plant in Kyauktaga township. Also under construction in the Sittaung watershed are the 30-MW Khapaung project in Ottwin township, the 140-MW Thaukyekhat-2 project in Toungoo township, the 40-MW Pyuchaung project in Pyu township, the 60-MW Kunchaung project in Pyu township and the 75-MW Shwegyin project in Nyaunglebin township. It is expected that the Khabaung station will be inaugurated in the near future. The Kunchaung and Thaukyekhat-2 hydropower projects have been designed to supply irrigatation water to farmland.
EPM-1 Zaw Min said that the Pathi hydropower plant was the thirteenth operating power plant of the Hydropower Generation Enterprise. The HPGE had begun work on the plant in December 2006 and conducted test-runs in December 2007. It will generate 8 million kWh annually. The Pathi hydropower plant is the 46th facility of its kind in the entire country, and the fourth operating station in Bago division and the Sittoung valley. Of the 15 hydropower projects currently under construction by EPM-1, seven are scheduled for completion by 2010: the 54-MW Kengtawng project, the 600-MW Shweli No 1 project, the 790-MW Yeywa project, the 30-MW Khabaung project, the 60-MW Kunchaung project, the 40-MW Pyuchaung project and the 75-MW Shwegyin project.
Afterwards, Managing Director Kyi Tha of the HPGE formally unveiled the signboard of the power plant and the commander launched generator No-1 using the controls on a computer system that automatically regulates operation of the power station. It will distribute power to Thandaung township and any surplus to the Toungoo region. [Photos of the interior and exterior of the Pathi plant are included in the print edition of NLM.]
Topographic map reference: Burma 1:250,000: Series U542, U.S. Army Map: NE 47-01: Pyinmana

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/burma/txu-oclc-6924198-ne47-1.jpg

Burma 1:250,000: Series U542, U.S. Army Map: NE 47-05: Toungoo

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/burma/txu-oclc-6924198-ne47-5.jpg

The village of Ngwedaunggale [19° 01' N, 96° 32' E] and Pathi creek (not identified) are visible in grid square 26\0,10\0 near the bottom of the Pyinmana map, a short distance from the border with Thandaung township in Karen state. To locate the area in relation to the large town of Toungoo, see the Toungoo topographical map.

KHRG has a map showing the location of Thandaunggyi and New Thandaung in relation to Toungoo.

http://www.khrg.org/maps/2007maps/toungoo2007f4.jpg
Additional references
Data summary: Pathi
NLM, 20/02/07. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/07nlm/n070220.htm

EPM-1 Zaw Min, accompanied by D-G of HPID Aung Koe Shwe, inspects the Pathi hydropower project, 10 miles north-east of Toungoo. They are briefed by Managing Director Kyi Tha of the Hydro-electric Power Enterprise on construction building of the power station. Two [single-] megawatt generators to be installed at the station will produce an average 8 million kWh per year.

NLM, 30/12/06. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/06nlm/n061230.htm

EPM-1 Zaw Min inspects the Pathi hydel power project and assists in the construction work. Two 1-MW generators will be installed at in the plant which is expected to generate 8 million kWh per year. The power generated will be sent to the national grid. Pathi hydel power project is located 10 miles north-east of Toungoo.

Monywa Copper Mine Electric Power Plant Project by BOL Scheme, ECFA -- Japan, [late 2004].

http://www.ecfa.or.jp/japanese/act-pf/H16/minkatsu_Myanmar_Eng.pdf [doc, p.18]

According to a long range plan for development of hydropower resources developed in 2001 by the Planning Dept of the Ministry of Electric Power, two single megawatt generators were to be installed at the Pathi dam which was expacted to produce 10 million kWh annually. Procurement of the turbine generator sets was said to be underway. Completion was scheduled for 2003.

NLM, 09/01/03. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/03nlm/n030109.htm

Assistant Director of Toungoo District ID Zaw Htut Oo reports data related to the Pathi dam, canals and hydro-electric power project to the Southern Commander. It is irrigating 1,200 acres of farmlands. Deputy Director of HPD No 3 Construction Group Khin Maung Lat reports on construction of the building which will house the two turbines.

Website of the Irrigation Dept of the A&I Ministry. http://www.irrigation.gov.mm/works/1988.html

Pathi dam, 90 ft high; 2500 ft long; catchment area, 21.5 sq mi; average annual flow of Pathi creek. 65,000 acre feet; dam storage capacity, 30,500 acre feet, construction costs, K 490.53 million; begun in 1993-94, completed in 1996-97; dam opened on 28/02/97.

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BUYWA AND UPPER BUYWA POWER PROJECTS TAKE SHAPE

NLM, 18/12/07. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/07nlm/n071218.htm

Generals Than Shwe and Shwe Mann and party inspected Ahtet Buywa dam project on Mone creek where they were briefed by A&IM Htay Oo and officials of the Irrigation Dept on the Ahtet Buywa, Buywa and Kyee-ohn Kyee-wa dam projects on Mone creek.
The Ahtet Buywa dam is on the upper reaches of Mone creek near Thukaungkyin village in Sedoktara township. It will generate electricity and supply water to the Buywa [20° 39' N, 94° 10' E] dam. This will increase the water available to the Mone creek and the Kyee-ohn Kyee-wa dams. As the final step in the process Mezali diversion weir below the Kyee-ohn Kyee-wa dam will be able to irrigate 100,000 acres of farmland in all seasons.
Industry No 1 Minister Aung Thaung and EPM No 1 Zaw Min reported on the supply of cement and heavy machinery for the projects.
Gen Than Shwe said the projects were aimed at providing an adequate supply of power to industries that will take shape over the next few years and efforts should be made to complete them earlier than scheduled. The engineers and technicians working on these projects had already gained much experience and should be able to be innovative in the fields of irrigation and hydro-electricity. The important thing was for them to have confidence in their work and stand on their own feet in the long run.
Afterwards, the visitors looked into the construction of the hydro-electric and diversion tunnels and the site for the main dam. The Ahtet Buywa dam will be gravel-filled. It will be 451 feet high and 3,300 feet long. It will generate 150 MW, while it is estimated trhat the Buywa dam below it on Mone creek is will generate 42 MW. Taken together all four dams on Mon creek will be able to generate 341 MW.
Topographic map reference: Burma 1:250,000: Series U542, U.S. Army Map: NF 46-15: Myohaung

Buywa dam near Buywa village [20° 39' N, 94° 10' E], grid square reference: 12\1, 23\3

Upper Buywa dam near Thukaungkyin village [co-ordinates n.a.], grid square reference: 12\3, 23\2 [?]

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/burma/txu-oclc-6924198-nf46-15.jpg
Additional references
Data summary Buywa

Data summary Upper Buywa

See above: ‘First generator at Kyee-ohn Kyee-wa dam goes into operation’ (NLM: 15/01/12)

See below: ‘Sedoktara multi-purpose dam and power station opened’ (NLM: 30/12/04)

‘Kyee-ohn Kyee-wa multi-purpose dam on Mon creek underway’ (NLM: 01/0703)
NLM, 22/04/09. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs07/NLM2009-04-22.pdf

Lt-Gen Tha Aye of the MoD and party visit the Ahtet Buywa and Buywa dam projects. At Ahtet Buywa, they are briefed by D-G Tin Maung Ohn of the ID on preliminary construction tasks, geological data for the construction of the diaphragm wall, soil testing for construction of the dam, work on the diversion tunnel, hydro power structures, and a feasibility study on construction of the spillway. At Buywa dam project, work is proceeding on the diaphragm wall, on land preparations, and on digging a diversion canal. Arrangements are being made to connect the site with the power grid.

Khin Maung Than (Sethmu), NLM, 26/01/09. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs6/NLM2009-01-26.pdf

The Buywa and Upper Buywa dam projects are being implemented in the hilly regions of Sedoktara township on the upper reaches of Mone creek which rises in the mountains of Chin state. Buywa dam is located near Bu village, 13 miles above the Mone creek dam. The Upper Buywa dam will be able to store 1,459,400 acre feet of water and Buywa dam will have a storage capacity of 403,300 acre feet. Besides the power produced at the dam itself, Buywa dam will increase the generating capacity of the Kyee-ohn kyee-wa dam on the lower Mone creek by about 120 more million kilowatt hours yearly. The Upper Buywa dam Project is being implemented near Thagaungkyin Village, 12 miles upstream from the Buywa damsite. It is expected to generate 534 million kilowatt hours yearly and will increase the amount of water in the area irrigated through the Mezali diversion weir in the rainy and summer seasons.

NLM, 17/12/08. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs6/NLM2008-12-17.pdf

The rock-filled Ahtet Buywa dam near Thugaung Kyin village in Sedoktara township will be 4000 feet long and 451 feet high. It is expected to generate 534 million kilowatt hours a year. The earthen Buywa dam near Bu village in Sedoktara township will have a hydropower generation capacity of 195 million kilowatt hours.

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 in the office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army), EPM No 1 Zaw Min gave 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 Buywa hydropower project (150 megawatts) in Magway division.

Kyaw Sein, NLM, 04/11/08. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs5/NLM2008-11-04.pdf

A news crew of the Myanma Alin Daily recently made a trip to the Upper Buywa and Buywa dam projects in Sedoktara township. The Upper Buywa project site is located near Thagaungkyin Village, 25 miles above the Mone creek dam. The embankment of Upper Buywa Dam will be gravel filled and it will be 451 feet high

and 3,300 feet long. At brim level it will store 1,459,400 acre-feet of water and at least 174,530 acre feet at minimum level. On completion, the power plant at the dam will be able to generate 534 million kilowatt hours yearly. It will also ensure a regular supply of water to the Buywa dam year round. According to U Than Tun, deputy director of Construction Group No 8 of the Irrigation Dept, who is supervising the project, generators with a capactiy of 150 MW will be installed in the plant at the Upper Buywa dam and the power produced will be used in the construction of the Buywa dam and power plant. At the site of Buywa dam which is 13 miles above the Mone creek dam the news crew learned that the location of the dam had been shifted about 4,800 feet upstream from the site originally chosen upon instructions of Gen Maung Aye when he visited the project on 5 May 2004. The earthen Buywa dam will be 151 feet high and 3,200 feet long. The dam will have a minimum storage capacity of 37,298 acre-feet of water and 169,446 acre-feet at full brim. It is estimated that construction costs of the Upper Buywa dam amount to K 124,826 million, while Buywa Dam is being built at an estimated cost of K 39,713 million. When the two dams are complete, the power plant at the Mone Creek dam will be able to generate 70 million kWh more than first planned. Likewise, the power station at Kyeeohn-kyeewa dam will increase its production by about 120 million kWh yearly. [Photos of the Buywa dam site are included in the print edition of NLM for 04/11/08.]
NLM, 21/08/08. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/08nlm/n080821.htm

On a visit to Kyeeohn-kyeewa dam project Maj-Gen Khin Zaw of the MoD is briefed by Director Tin Win of Construction Group 8 of the ID on developments at the Buywa dam, Upper Buywa dam and Myittha dam projects. The Kyee-ohn Kyee-wa, Mone, Buywa and Upper Buywa hydropower projects on Mone creek together will be able be able to generate 250 MW.

Franco – ASEAN Seminar Myanmar Country Presentation, 06-07/09/07.

http://www.jgsee.kmutt.ac.th/seminar_programme/DAY%202/Country%20Report%202/Tin%20-%20Myanmar%20-%20Presentation.pdf

Buywa dam and power station with a planned capacity of 41 MW is under implementation by the ID. It will generate 195 million kWh annually when it comes on line in 2008. The Upper Buywa dam will be 137.5 m [451ft] high and the power station with a planned capacity of 150 MW is expected to generate 534 million kWh annually. It is currently in the planning stage and will be carried out by the ID and HPID.

NLM, 23/09/06. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/06nlm/n060923.htm

Bu Ywa dam project will be launched on the Mone Creek near Bu Village, 13 miles upstream Mone creek dam in Sedoktara township, and Ahtet Bu Ywa dam project on the same creek near Thukaungkyin village, about 25 miles upstream Mone creek dam.

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