Electrical industry of burma/myanmar

YWAMA POWER STATION DEPENDENT ON GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

NLM, 01/02/07. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/07nlm/n070201.htm

EPM No 2 Khin Maung Myint inspected Thakayta, Hlawga and Ywama power stations and attended to needs for the stations to run at full capacity. On his inspection tour of Thakayta power station, the minister called for the timely completion of the replacement of machinery at the station to ensure the running of the station at full capacity. At Hlawga power station, the minister inspected the installation of pipelines and refinement of natural gas supplied to the station.
At Ywama power station, the minister met with officials and heard reports on the arrangements for refinement of natural gas and supply of gas to the station. He gave instructions on extended supply of power to Yangon. Afterwards, the minister went to the natural gas store/distribution station (Ywama) of the EM where the engineer in-charge, U Ye Myint, reported on the system of gas pipelines linking offshore and inland gas fields. After hearing the reports, the minister and party inspected the supply of natural gas to the power stations.
Additional references
Data summary: Ywama
See above: ‘More gas to be diverted from Yadana for national use’ (MT: 14/01/08)

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

‘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.]

Kyaw Kyaw Hlaing NLM, 05/06/10. Rewritten and condensed.

http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs09/NLM2010-06-05.pdf

The upgraded Ywama gas distribution station is 100% complete and will be opened soon. It already distributes natural gas to four power plants in Yangon with a total generating capacity of about 340MW These plants consume about 153 million cubic feet of natural gas daily, while natural gas-fueled vehicles use about 20 million cubic feet. MOGE has been supplying natural gas from the Yadana offshore natural gas region through a 20-inch diamenter pipe that was connected from Kanbauk to Myainggale in 2000 and extended from Myainggale to Yangon in 2006. Some gas for Yangon is also received from the Nyaungdon and Maubin natural gas fields. Gas supplied through the new 24-inch pipeline will be distributed to the four power stations at Hlawga, Ywama, Thaketa, and Ahlone to fire electric turbines there, as well as to state and privately-owned factories that use natural gas. It will also be supplied to the Pinpek steel plant in Taunggyi, cement plants in the Pyinyaung region of Thazi township, the Taungphila, Yeni and Mindon cement plants in Nay Pyi Taw, as well as to other factories. The offshore Yadana gas platform will pipe 150 million cubic feet of natural gas per day at 1400 pressure psi to the pipeline center in Daw Nyein village in Pyapon district from where it will be piped to Yangon at 800 pressure psi. The new 24-inch diameter pipeline is of international standard with a 30-year life span. A world-famous oil and gas company had proposed to erect the new pipeline at a cost of US$ 760 million in a three-year period. But, MOGE has constructed it in just 15 months at a cost of only US$275 and K 4111 million. The 24-inch diameter natural gas pipeline is laid on the floor of sea underwater along a 94-mile route from the Yadana natural gas platform to Daw Nyein village in Pyapon District. TL Geohydrographic Co of Malaysia and privately-owned SMART Technical Services of Myanmar surveyed the 85-mile-long land route from Daw Nyein to the Ywama gas supply station. [The article provides much more detail about the laying of the pipe-line. Several photos and a diagram are included in the print edition of NLM.]

NLM, 01/0610. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs09/NLM2010-06-01.pdf

Energy Minister Lun Thi visits the natural gas control and distribution station in Ywama and gives detailed instructions on the systematic distribution of natural gas from the the 24-inch pipeline that will connect the station with the Yadana natural gas platform in the Gulf of Mottama. [Photo in print edition of NLM.]

NLM, 06/05/09. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs07/NLM2009-05-06.pdf

EPM-2 Khin Maung Myint reports to the SPIC that major repairs to the generators in the Hlawga, Ywama, Ahlon and Thakayta gas-fired power plants in Yangon and at the Kyunchaung, Mann and Shwedaung gas-fired power stations.

NLM, 12/03/08. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/08nlm/n080312.htm

Necessary maintenance was carried out on the NEDO turbine at the gas power plant in Ywama. The technicians responsible received a special cash award of K 100,000.

Country Report on Infrastructure Development with a Focus on Public Private Partnerships (PPP), July 2007, p 25 [doc 26]. http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/ppp/reports/Myanmar_6july2007.pdf

A NEDO[-financed] gas turbine power plant with a capacity of 24 MW was installed [at Ywama in 2004], bringing the total number of gas turbine stations in Myanmar to ten. At the same time a NEDO combined cycle model project was successfully implemented adding another 9.4 MW to the generating capacity of the station.

Platts Myanmar Country Energy Profile. [mid-2007]. For access information, see Power Profile.

Ywama power station in Yangon has a generating capacity of 90 MW including oil- and gas-fired steam and gas turbines

Myanmar Times, 02/10/06. http://www.myanmar.com/myanmartimes/MyanmarTimes17-336/n003.htm

Repairs have been completed on a pipeline that supplies natural gas to four power plants in Yangon; problems with the pipeline were blamed for blackouts in Yangon. The 320-km (199-mile) pipeline carries 3.1 million cu m (110 million cu ft) of gas a day to the Ywama gas control station from Yandana gas project in Tanintharyi division.

NLM, 26/04/05. http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs3/NLM2005-04-26.pdf

NLM, 27/04/05. http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs3/NLM2005-04-27.pdf

Myanmar launched the first-ever drive to distribute electricity to the people in the post-independence period with the use of two coal-fired power plants -- a coal-fired power plant (30 MW) in Yangon, and the other in Ywama. At that time, the plants were installed with the turbines, each of which could generate only 10 MW.
NLM, 04/05/04. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/04nlm/n040504.htm

At the main natural gas station (Ywama) of MOGE in Insein township, EM Lun Thi lays down plans for the distribution of natural gas to power stations, factories and plants in Yangon and other regions. A 14-inch natural gas pipeline has been connected and greater quantities of natural gas produced in the Nyaungdon region can be distributed to the factories and plants in Yangon.

NLM, 31/01/04. http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/04nlm/n040131.htm

Officials of MOGE brief DepMin EPM Than Htay on the installation of a 14-inch gas pipeline leading from the Nyaungdon oil and gas field to Ywama.

Myanmar Times, 28-07-03. [not available on-line]

MEPE is expected to begin work soon on building a 33-MW power station in Insein tsp that will have one gas-powered turbine and another that uses steam; most of the project funding is to be provided by the Japanese government.

U.N.O Consultant Geotechnical Engineering Group, [undated].

http://www.consultantgeotech.net/our_project.htm

The company carried out a survey for a proposed No 3 gas turbine project site in the compound of the Ywama power station at Insein. The client was the MEPE.

Myanmar Ministry of Energy, [circa 2001]. http://www.energy.gov.mm/MEP_1.htm

Ywama gas turbine power station has a generating capacity of 66.90 MW

Salween Watch, November 1999. http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs/SW03.htm

Ywama thermal power station opened in 1958 and was equipped with steam driven turbines having a capacity of 30 MW. In 1975 additional gas turbines capable of generating 37 MW were added.

Tin Maung Maung Than, “Burma's Energy Use: Perils and Promises” in Southeast Asian Affairs 1986, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 1986, p. 84. [not available on-line]

Among the gas turbine power stations commissioned in recent years, those at Mann, Ywama and Prome, started in fiscal year 1978/79, were financed partly by loans and grants (mainly for turbo-generators and control/switching elements) from the United Kingdom.

World Bank, Burma: Issues and Options in the Energy Sector, June 1985, p 54. [doc, p 75]

http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/1999/09/17/000009265_3970723102606/Rendered/PDF/multi_page.pdf

Future increases in consumption of [of natural gas] will be dominated by a small number of big users: a new glass factory at Chauk (2 billion cu ft per annum), the conversion of the Sittang paper factory to use natural gas (2 billion cu ft), a new fertilizer factory at Kyaw Zwa (5.5 billion cu ft), a methanol plant at Seiktha (5.5 billion cu ft), and the conversion to gas of the Ywama power station (1.5 billion cu ft).

World Bank, Burma: Issues and Options in the Energy Sector, June, 1985, p 53. [doc, p 74] [see URL above]

Natural gas from the Payagon field in Bogalay township is currently being used to substitute for fuel oil consumption (1,500 b/d) in power generation at Ywama; 30 million cf/d is being supplied through a 10-inch pipeline, 47 miles long.

www.transelektro.hu/letoltes/referencelist/reference_list_2002_edition.pdf

In 1971/72, in collaboration with Investimport, Beograd, the Hungarian company, Transelektro, delivered steam turbines (29 atm., 415oC, 11.3 MW), generators (14.3 MVA, 11 kV) and complete electrical equipment to the Ywama steam power station in Rangoon.

www.unithistories.com/officers/IndianArmy_officers_D01.html

After independence in 1948, R.M. Duffy stayed back in Burma and was appointed construction engineer to build the Ywama power station at Insein, Rangoon, 1958-62. When it came into operation he was appointed power station engineer.

http://maureenb.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php

Rangoon Electric Tramway and Supply Company (incorprated in England) issued a certificate to R.M. Duffy who had been in the employ of the company from 1925 to September 30, 1953 when the company was nationalized. At the time of termination he was the assistant superintendent of the Ahlone power station. Several pictures of the Ahlone and Ywama power stations and staff feature on the website.

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ARAKAN OFFSHORE GAS FIND TO MEET NATIONAL DEMAND IN MYANMAR

Press Trust India, 19/01/07. http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=444772

The proposed Rs 8,500-crore (US$ 2 billion) gas pipeline from Burma to India may never come to pass as Rangoon has discovered that reserves in its offshore area do not support export pipelines. "Current estimate of reserves in Block A-1 is not enough to meet the demand of an export pipeline to India," said U Soe Myint, D-G, Ministry of Energy, Myanmar.
UK-based Gaffney Cline and Associates has certified the 'best' estimate of recoverable reserves at A-1, where ONGC Videsh Ltd and GAIL together hold 30pc, at four trillion cubic feet. Production estimates are being put at 18 million standard cu m/d, 40pc of volumes needed to support investment in a transnational pipeline.
"Gas found in Block A-1 and in its adjacent block A-3 will first be used to meet local demand in Myanmar and if there is surplus, we will look at export options," he said, adding Burma needs 200-300 million standard cubic feet per day (8.5 million standard cubic meters per day) of gas.
Burma plans to tie-up volumes in Block A-1 and A-3, which also has equity pattern similar to A-1, and explore development options -- a pipeline to India, China or Thailand or liquefied natural gas (LNG) to South Korea, Japan or India. "We know for sure the volumes do not support multiple export options," Myint said, adding reserve estimates in A-3 would be known by second half of 2007 after completing an appraisal programme.
Myanmar, he said, believes the blocks together hold an in-place reserve of 20 trillion cubic feet and can produce 2 billion cubic feet (56.6 million standard cu m/d) of gas for 25 years. "We need third party certification of reserves to establish our belief," he said.
Additional references
Xinhua, 20/06/08. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/20/content_8410027.htm

The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Myanmar and a consortium, led by the Daewoo International Group Corporation, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Nay Pyi Taw Friday on sale and transport of natural gas from the offshore blocks A-1 and A-3. The Daewoo consortium comprises South Korea Gas Corporation and India's ONGC Videsh Ltd and Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL). The three parties also inked an agreement on launching joint feasibility study on onshore natural gas pipeline involving six companies of China, Myanmar South Korea and India, and an agreement contract on entrusting the planning department of the CNPC by the six companies to implement the feasibility study. The signing of the MoU signified the overall launching of cooperation in natural gas project between Myanmar and the four countries, officials said. (Compiler’s note: The signing of the MoU and later agreements on the construction of the gas pipeline have effectively shut off any discussion about the use of the gas produced in blocks A-1 and A-3 for the production of electricity or other industrial projects in Myanmar)

Bloomberg/AFP, Myanmar Times, 03/09/07. http://www.mmtimes.com/no382/b006.htm

The Myanmar government will sell natural gas from from the A-1 and A-3 areas in the Bay of Bengal to the highest bidder among China, India, Bangladesh and Thailand, U Soe Myint, D-G of the Energy Planning Dept at the Myanmar EM, said in Singapore, dismissing reports that China had won the contract. “We have not concluded any deal with China,” U Soe Myint said. “The price of gas is very much undervalued.” Thailand is [currently] buying Myanmar’s gas at about US$40 a barrel for the equivalent amount of oil by energy content, compared with about $69 [a barrel] in global markets, he said. Myanmar prefers to send the gas via a pipeline in the first phase before considering an LNG plant, U Soe Myint said. A Daewoo spokesman told AFP the company hopes to supply 600 million cu ft/d of gas, or 3.7 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year [from the two blocks] for up to 25 years. The Seoul government would like the gas to be liquefied and delivered to South Korea, which imports most of its oil and gas. But Daewoo has acknowledged it would be cheaper and quicker to pipe the gas to neighbouring countries.

Reuters, 16/08/07 http://asia.news.yahoo.com/070816/3/36hf0.html

Burma has agreed to sell gas from its A-1 and A-3 blocks to China, a major ally but not a stakeholder in the blocks, a senior EM official said in Yangon. "We have decided to sell the gas from A-1 and A-3 to China and details are under negotiation. Once we reach an agreement, we will go ahead," the official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters. "If everything goes well, the gas from these offshore blocks will be sold to China through a pipeline," he added. Thursday's comments were the first confirmation of that from Burma. The A-1 and A-3 fields off the Rakhine coast have proven reserves of 5.7 to 10 trillion cubic feet with up to 8.6 trillion cu ft recoverable, according to assessments by the U.S.-based international certification agency GCA.

Dow Jones, as reported in the Myanmar Times, 05/12/05. [Issue 295 of the MT is not available on-line.]

State-run MOGE is likely to conduct a feasibility study on a China-Myanmar gas pipeline soon, MD San Lwin said on the sidelines of the 8th ASEAN Council on Petroleum conference in Manila. “Our company has signed an MoU with China on the pipeline and we hope we’ll conduct a feasibility study very soon.” U San Lwin said Myanmar is also considering building a liquefied natural gas terminal in the future, because “we have a new discovery in the western part of our country.” If approved, the pipeline would be built by a consortium, including South Korea’s Daewoo International Corp, he said. However, no time-frame had been set for the project. “Based on the reserves and feasibility study, we will decide whether we should go ahead (with our plans),” he said.

Pradeep Puri, Business Standard (New Delhi), 17/01/04

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IFI-Burma/message/194

The recoverable reserve of natural gas from a recently discovered off-shore gas field in north-west Myanmar is in the range of 4 to 6 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas, which is equivalent to 700 million to 1.1 billion barrels of oil. GAIL, which is part of Indo-Korean consortium, comprising ONGC Videsh Ltd, GAIL (India) Ltd, Daewoo International Ltd and Kogas that discovered the field, has already announced plans to invest around Rs 4,000 crore (US$1 billion) to transport the gas from this field to India. Under the production sharing contract, MOGE, a dept of the government of Myanmar, has a 65pc share of the production, while the consortium reserves the right to market the remaining 35pc.

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Start 07
AGREEMENT SIGNED FOR UPPER KACHIN HYDEL PROJECTS (MYITSON)

NLM, 02/01/07 http://burmalibrary.org/docs2/NLM2007-01-02.pdf

EPM-1 Zaw Min met with V-P Shi Chongliang of the China Power Investment Corp (CPIC) at his office here on 28 December. Also present at the call were Dep EPM No 1 Myo Myint, directors-general of enterprises under the the ministry, V-P of the Dept of Planning and Development Wang Xian Chun and responsible persons of CPI Corp, and MD Tun Myint Naing of Asia World Co Ltd. They discussed matters related to the implementation of the Maykha-Malikha valley region hydel power project and the Ayeyawady confluence hydel power project.
Next, officials of HPID and personnel of CPI Corp signed an MoU for the Maykha-Malikha Water Resources and Ayeyawady Confluence Hydel Power Project. After the signing ceremony, D-G Aung Koe Shwe of HPID and V-P Wang Xian Chun of CPI exchanged documents and had a documentary photo taken.
HPID and CPI will build the 2000-MW Chibwe hydel power project on the Maykha river and the 3,600-megawatt Ayeyawady Hydel Power Project at the confluence of the Maykha and Malikha.
Website Information:
Kachin Development Networking Group, Resisting the Flood, (October 2009).

http://www.burmariversnetwork.org/images/stories/publications/english/ResistingtheFlood-1.pdf

This report updates developments since 2007 at the Myitsone and Chibwe project sites. Parts of the report are included below.

China Power Investment Corporation. http://eng.cpicorp.com.cn/

China Power Investment Corporation (CPIC) was set up from some of the constituent businesses of the former State Power Corp of China. With a registered capital of 12 billion RMB, CPIC has been approved as a state-authorized investment entity and state-owned holding corporation. By the end of 2005, the total assets of CPI amounted to 138.342 billion RMB. The installed capacity under CPIC’s control total is 32,386 MW and its equity capacity is 24,294 MW. CPI has 169 member companies/ institutions and 15 participating companies with 84,527 employees in total. CPIC owns assets in 23 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in the PRC.

Map references:

A good set of maps for understanding the context in which the Maykha-Malikha valley series of dams will be built is to be found in Damming the Irrawaddy. The locations of the major dams are tentatively pinpointed on doc p 17. The maps on doc pp 28 and 62 show the estimated flood area of the Myitsone dam near the confluence of the N’mai and Mali rivers.

http://www.burmariversnetwork.org/images/stories/publications/english/dammingtheirrawaddy.pdf
These maps may be usefully compared with the older U.S. Army topographical series listed below.

Burma 1:250,000: Series U542, NG 47-09: Myitkyina

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/burma/txu-oclc-6924198-ng47-9.jpg

China 1:250,000: Series L 500, NG 47-10: T’eng Ch’ung

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/china/txu-oclc-10552568-ng47-10.jpg

The location of the Myitson or Confluence dam and power station is to be found at a point where these two maps join. See grid square 38\2, 9\2 on both maps.

The best map for understanding how the river will be dammed up and rechanneled at the confluence is to be found in Resisting the Flood on p A 10.

http://www.burmariversnetwork.org/images/stories/publications/english/ResistingtheFlood-1.pdf
See also Google Earth for a bird’s-eye view of how the two rivers meet at the confluence. The Myitson river bend is easily located by a pop-up tag at 25°42.38’ N, 97°29.54’ E.
Environmental Impact Assessment Reports

At the beginning of 2009, teams of hydrological experts and natural scientists from China and Myanmar carried out an initial assessment of the environmental impact of series of eight dams planned for the confluence and the valleys of the N’maiikha and Malikha rivers. Two reports were issued: 1) Environmental Impact Assessment (Special Investigation) on Hydropower Development of Ayeyawady River Basin above Myitkyina, Kachin State, Myanmar over the name of the Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association (BANCA) in October 2009. For details of the BANCA report see news article ELEP043 and

http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs11/EIAPartI-ocr.pdf and

2) Environmental Impact Report of Hydropower Development in Upper Reaches of Ayeyawady River over the name the Changjiang Survey, Planning, Design and Research Ltd Co (CSPDRI) in March 2010. For details of the CSPDRI report, see news article ELEP038 and

http://www.uachc.com/Liems/eWebEditor/UploadFile/Flash/201111013053.swf
Detailed information on the Myitsone dam and power station near the confluence of the Malikha and N/maikha rivers can be found in Part I of the BANCA EIA report, hardcopy pp 35-42; [doc 79-86 of the OBL web document http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs11/EIAPartI-ocr.pdf]. The location of the dam in relation to the six Upper Cascades hydropower projects is best seen on the CSPRDRI hydrological state map 2

http://www.uachc.com/Liems/esite/content/showDetail.jsp?nid=6854&newtype_no=2247. According to the BANCA report, the area to be to be flooded by the reservoir will occupy 64784 acres (= 100 sq miles or 260 sq km). The largest flood plains to be covered are at the confluence and near Shawnga village about 35 km (22 mi) upstream from the dam. About four dozen villages in both N’maikha and Malikha valleys will be flooded out. Information on the vegetation, habitats and endangered species in this area is included on pages 36-37-51 of the BANCA report. Technical data provided in Table 2.4-1 on p 24 of the CSPRDRI Environmental Impact Assessment report

http://www.uachc.com/Liems/eWebEditor/UploadFile/Flash/201111013053.swf

indicate that the dam will be 139.5 metres high and 1310 metres long, and that the powerhouse will have an installed capacity of 6000 megawatts with expected generation of an average of 30860 GWh of electricity annually when full production is reached. It is estimated that the construction phase of the dam and power installations be about 8.0 years. Further technical data in four sets of tables available on pp 23-26 of the CSPRDRI report.

http://www.uachc.com/Liems/eWebEditor/UploadFile/Flash/201111013053.swf