Electrical industry of burma/myanmar

Additional references
See above: ‘Back in black:: Electricity rotation system returns to Yangon’ (MT: 09/04/12)

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

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

‘Electricity supply key to Iindustry shift to Myanmar’ (MT: 16/08/10)

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

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

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

‘Small businesses, factories struggle to keep up with rising fuel prices’ (IRROL: 06/03/08)

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

‘Fisheries factories to get 24-hour power by March’ (MT: 22/10/07)

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DECENTRALIZATION, PRIVATIZATION ARE PRIORITIES OF NEW GOVERNMENT

NLM, 07/04/11. Condensed and rewritten. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs11/NLM2011-04-07.pdf

At a meeting in Nay Pyi Taw of members of Union level organizations, Union Ministers, the Union Auditor-General and the Chairman of Union Civil Services Board, Chief Ministers of the Regions and States and Union Deputy Ministers, President Thein Sein pointed out that a new system and a new era had emerged [in the country]. The people's aspiration for change had to be understood, he said. Changes needed to be made both in ideas and procedures. Instead of using the centralized system, a system should be adopted in which organizations at the lower level are responsible to the upper level organizations at every stage.
The people are urged to work on a self-reliant basis for their socioeconomic development, instead of relying solely on the government, the PM said. The only duty of the people is to work and the government on its part is to create job opportunities and levy taxes. Except for important State-run factories that are beyond the people’s capacity, the government wished to transfer the remaining ones into private hands. So, State and Region governments should encourage more entrepreneurs in their respective administrative areas.
Duties and responsibilities had been assigned to respective ministries and states and regions, the PM noted. Centralization had been reduced and state and regional governments had been entrusted with rights and powers. Regions and States needed to seriously encourage private and corporate businesses enabling their people run mini hydropower plants, electricity generation and distribution, mineral and gem mining and industries at their own region individually or in groups. But they must be aware of the possible manipulation by foreigners from behind the scenes or inflow of black money.
Additional references
NLM, 15/07/11. Edited. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs11/NLM2011-07-15.pdf

Myanmar needs to do more to promote industrial development, Industry-2 Minister Soe Thein told a joint meeting of national, regional and state representatives in Nay Pyi Taw on 13/07/11. The minister said that industrialization was the key to national economic development, poverty alleviation and the creation of more job opportunities. It was necessary for both private and public sectors to work together closely in order to supervise the tasks related to industrial development and the industry zones throughout the country, the minister said. He called for greater focus on the work of the related subcommittees in order to scale up industrial development. Following Soe Thein’s remarks, the recently appointed ministers of electric power and industry of the fourteen Regions and States, as well as officials of the Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and members of the national industrial development committee held sector talks. In his concluding remarks Minister Soe Thein stressed the importance of raising capital for small- and medium-scale industries and compliance with ISO standards in order to be able to compete with other countries.

NLM, 02/07/11. Edited and condensed. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs11/NLM2011-07-02.pdf

The President Office of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar issued Order No. 37/2011 today. The following ministers of Rakhine State submitted by the Rakhine State Chief Minister were appointed at the ministries shown against each in accord with the Paragraphs (e) and (f) of Section 262 of the Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Paragraph (c) of Article 19 of the Union Government Law and Paragraph (g) of Article 8 of Region or State Government Law. (a) Col Htein Lin Ministry of Security and Border Affairs; (b) U Soe Aye Ministry of Finance and Revenue; (c) U Kyaw Thein Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Breeding; (d) U Aung Than Tin Ministry of Forestry and Mines; (e) U Mya Aung Ministry of Planning and Economics; (f) U Kyaw Khin Ministry of Transport; (g) U Tha Lu Chay Ministry of Electric Power and Industry; (h) U Hla Han Ministry of Development Affairs; (i) Dr Aung Kyaw Min Ministry of Social Affairs;

[Compiler’s note: The news item above resembles similar stories appearing in the New Light of Myamar during the last week of June and the first week of July 2011. The stories all follow a similar pattern. The state or regional assemblies are called into special session. The ministers previously appointed submit their resignations and the following day a new slate of ministers is announced. Missing from the new slate is the mention of any ministers for the portfolios of education, health, religious affairs and immigration. Left unexplained was the reason for the changes but it would appear that responsibilities for matters previously dealt with by the four ministries omitted from the new slates have been transferred back to the national government. Significantly, responsibility for the supply of electric power at the the state and region level is now combined with that of industry under a single minister. In an interview, U Aung Mra Kyaw, a legislator in the Arakan State parliament told the Narinjara news agency: "The Arakan State government called an emergency meeting on 30 June where it was announced the education, health, religion, and immigration ministries in our state were withdrawn by the central government without stated reason." According to Narinjara, Aung Mra Kyaw would not “speculate as to why the education, health, religion, and immigration ministries were removed not only from Arakan, but also from other states and divisions across the country.” (Narinjara: 06/07/11) http://www.narinjara.com/details.asp?id=3011]
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CHAUNGZON SUPPLIED WITH ELECTRICITY AT A BIG LOSS

NLM, 29/03/11. Edited and rewritten. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs11/NLM2011-03-29.pdf

At the session of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw [Union Parliament] on 28/03/11, Representative Naing Hla Maung of Chaungzon constituency in Mon State asked whether the government had a plan in place to lower the rates charged for electricity. He said that in the time of the parliamentary democracy government [in the 1950s] the people on Belu island in his constituency had some success in developing their cottage industries because they had access to electricity, but that now service was insufficient and the cottage industries were in decline.
EPM-2 Khin Maung Myint replied that the township electrical engineer’s office had been opened in Chaungzon in December 1955 and that electricity had been supplied for twelve hours a day to four urban wards with a population of 815 using an 80-KVA diesel generator. Four transformers were added in 1957, he said. Three more diesel generators with an installed capacity of 150 KVA were put in place in 1968, 1980 and 1983. Together the four generators had supplied electricity to Chaungzon and five villages. They were replaced in 1987 with a 608-KVA diesel generator which supplied electricity for three hours a day. An extra 350-KVA diesel generator was added in November 1997.
In 1955, when the service had started, the price of a gallon of diesel was K 1.50 and the cost of producting a kWh of electricity was K 0.15, the Minister said. At the present time, he continued, the government was losing K 294 for every kWh of electricity it generated due to the high costs of production. Currently, electricity was being supplied to five urban wards for two hours a day and to nine villages every second day, benefiting 1978 households with a population of 9,891. Thus, the numbers of electricity users was nine times greater than in the time of the parliamentary democracy government.
To supply electricity in Chaungzon, the government was using 22,800 gallons of diesel a year at a loss of K 67 million, plus another K 7.2 million a year spent on the salaries of the 10 employees who worked electrical engineer’s office. In addition, maintenance costs for the generators, power lines and sub-power stations amounted to an additional K 13.88 million in the 2010-11 fiscal year. It was clearly evident, the Minister said, that the government was operating the electricity service at a loss in Chaungzon township.
Other townships in Mon state, the Minister said, were getting additional electrical service beyond the normal http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs12/NLM2011-09-20.pdf
Additional references
See below: ‘Small businesses, factories struggle to keep up with rising fuel prices’ (IRROL: 06/03/08)

'Petrol subsidies and the price of electricity' (Burma Digest: 02/09/07)

'Premium rates for electricity in Mon villages' (IMNA: 03/08/07)

‘Electricity metering program taking root’ (IMNA, 11/05/07)

'Acute shortage of electricity disappoints Mon residents’ (IMNA: 21/02/07)

'Private operators meet need for alternative power service’ (MT: 03/02/02)

‘Diesel-operated generating plants in Myanmar: Notes’ (Appendix 5)

NLM, 20/09/11. Edited. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs12/NLM2011-09-20.pdf

At the session of the Amyotha Hluttaw (Nationalities Chamber) of the Union Parliament on 19/09/11, U Kyaw Thein of Mon State Constituency-4 asked whether the Ministry of Electric Power-2 had plans to connect Chaungzone township with the national power grid, as its foundations for industrial development had disappeared due to lack of power supply. EPM-2 Khin Maung Soe replied that the ministry operates diesel-powered generators in Chaungzone, and that up to June 2011 had been using 1900 gallons per month to supply electricity to 1695 customers in five wards for two hours a day and in nine villages for two hours every second day. As from July, 2011, the availability of the fuel had decreased and the Ministry had sufficient funds for only 1,700 gallons per month, supplying power to five wards for two hours a day and to nine villages one and a half hours a day. Plans have been made to substitute the old generators with new ones and the power supply hour would be increased to two hours in the near future, he said. With regard to connecting Chaungzon with the national grid, it would necessary to construct a 33-KV transmission line that would ber 26.08 mile long. Or, a 15-mile-long, 66-KV line could be put into place that would connect with the Ngantae subpower station in Mawlamyine. Either way would necessitate the laying of cables across the Thanlwin river which would cost much more than normal cable lines. Currently, the Ministry was conducting an assessment as to the feasibility of linking Chaungzone to the national grid or of finding other suitable ways to provide the township with electricity.

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LOCAL ELECTRICITY PLANT POWERS VILLAGE METAL WORKSHOPS IN THABYU

Article & Photos: Tin Win Lay, NLM, 27/03/11. Edited and rewritten.

http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs11/NLM2011-03-27.pdf
The village of Thabyu (17°02'N, 96°24'E) is located about 10 km southwest of the township centre of Kawa in Bago Region. The village has over 1110 houses in six wards. Local people engage in growing monsoon paddy on 3000 acres of farmlands in the rainy season and green gram and beans and pulses in the summer.
The village has a new high school donated by U Tin Hlaing and Daw Ohnma Khin and family. There is also a 315-KV power plant which supplies electricity to the village. A second 200-KV power station is under construction. It will supply electricity to residences.
The most unusual feature of Thabyu are the 50 metal-work workshops around the village. According to U Myint Htay, a local entrepreneur, metal working has been an industry in Thabyu since the end of the World War-2. He said that the nearby villages rely on Thabyu for the metal goods it produces.
One of the workshops I visited was making large bell-mouthed canisters and pans for kitchen use. Although these were made of cast iron in the past, today they are made with light metals. Other workshops in the village produce metal parts for motors, motor-boat propellers and the metal pulleys used on power lines. Some of the metal shop owners and workers have migrated from Thabyu and set up businesses in the industrial zones of Hlegu, Myaungdaga, Thakayta, North Okkalapa and Shwepyitha.
At Thabyu jetty on the Bago river just before leaving for Yangon I saw workers unloading raw materials for the village workshops from a river boat and loading finished metal goods on it. Village Chairman Naing Aung Toe told me they could make even more goods at a cheaper price, if a bridge were to be built across the river. That would be a dream come true for the people of Thabyu, he said.
[Photos accompanying the article in the print edition of NLM show workers shaping metal pot and pans on lathes driven by electric motors. Given the location of Thabyu in an area noted for its production of paddy, the two electric power plants mentioned in the article suggest that the generator there is paddy husk-fired.]
Additional references
See below: ‘Power hungry Myaungdagar industrial zone nearly ready’(MT: 25/02/08)

'Interest growing in rice-husk generation’ (MT: 10/07/06)
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HYDROPOWER MINISTER EXPLAINS APPROVAL PROCESS FOR PROJECTS

NLM, 24/03/11. Edited. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs11/NLM2011-03-24.pdf

At the session of the Pyithu Hluttaw [People’s Chamber] of the Parliament on 23/03/11, Representative N’ Htu Phon Hsan of Kachin State said that feasibility studies with regard to the generation of hydropower at Htakhachaung waterfall in Machanbaw township had been carried out on various occasions. He wanted to know whether a project was to go ahead and when it would commence.
EPM-1 Zaw Min explained that all hydropower projects have first to receive the approval of the Special Projects Implementation Committee. After that, feasibility studies that take into account the annual rainfall, year-wise water inflow, geological conditions, and the advantages of locating the project at sites upstream and downstream of the proposed site in the river have to be conducted. Generally, it tales 18 months for these studies.
Based on the results of these studies, detailed observations are carried out. Sometimes, feasibility studies are conducted at three or four different locations, the best is chosen and then detailed studies follow. A detailed design for the project is then created – a process which can take up to 12 months. Altogether it takes about two and half years to complete the feasibility studies for and design a project. After that construction work can take from three to ten years, depending on the size of the project.
Currently, there are 34 small-scale hydropower projects and plants and 16 medium- and large-scale hydropower projects and plants. Since 2001, when the 30-year electric power long-term national plan was adopted, companies belonging to national entrpreneurs and to foreign investors have also taken on projects. At present, there are 68 projects under implementation and study which could generate up to 45,000 megawatts.
[The Minister said] that approval for the Htakhachaung hydropower project had already been from sought from the Special Projects Implementation Committee. The project was under observation and it would be classified as a small-scale project to be implemented by a company belonging to national entrepreneur company.
According to Paragraph (4) (a) of Schedule 2, Section 188 of the Union of Myanmar Constitution (p189) reads as follows: “Medium and small scale electric power production and distribution that have the right to be managed by the Region or State not having any link with national power grid, except large scale electric power production and distribution having the right to be managed by the Union.”
Therefore, private entrepreneurs and cooperative societies have the opportunity to invest in regional small-scale hydropower projects under the supervision of the [respective] State government.
Compiler’s note: The Special Projects Implementation Committee (SPIC) referred to in the Minister’s answer has been a key committee of the State Peace and Development Council directly under the leadership of SPDC Chairperson General Than Shwe. In the current circumstances of transition to a republican form of government, it has not been divulged whether and under whose direction the SPIC will continue to exist. Given the importance of the SPIC in determining the non-military priorities of the SPDC administration, it seems safe to assume that it will continue to exist in some form or other under the direct supervision of the President of the republic.
With regard to the legislative jurisdiction related to the electric power sector, Schedule One of the 2008 Constitution defines the legislative prerogatives of the Union Government under Section 96 of the Constitution. It reserves to the Union Government matters concerned with “the production and distribution of electricity of the Union” (pp 181-87). Schedule Two of Constitution defines the legislative prerogatives of the State and Region governments (pp 188-90). The translation of Paragraph 4 (a) quoted by the Minister does not read well in English. It would appear that the sense is as follows: “Medium- and small-scale electric power production and distribution that are not linked with the national power grid come under the jurisdiction of the respective Region or State governments, whereas large-scale electric power production and distribution come under the jurisdiction of the Union government.”
It would appear from the remarks made by the hydropower minister with regard to the Bontalar falls project in Chin State that projects with a generating capacity under 10 megawatts are considered to be “small-scale”. The upper limit of “medium-scale” projects is not stated. However, the main factor in determining whether or not responsibility for an electric power project would come under Union jurisdiction would appear to be its connection to the national power grid.
An on-line edition of the 2008 Constitution is available at

http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs5/Myanmar_Constitution-2008-en.pdf
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UNION GOV’T NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SMALL-SCALE POWER PROJECTS

NLM, 23/03/11. Edited. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs11/NLM2011-03-23.pdf

Chin State Representatives Paul Lyan Lwin and Paul Than Htai submitted a proposal to build a ‘heavy’ hydropower station at Bontalar waterfall in Matupi township to the Amyotha Hluttaw [Nationalities Chamber] of the Parliament on 22/03/11. U Paul Than Htai said that a large-scale generating facility at the falls, which is 15 miles from the town of Matupi, could supply power not only to Matupi but also to villages in the neighbouring townships of Mindat, Haka and Thantlang.
Replying to the proposal EPM-1 Zaw Min noted that up to 2008 the State had already built 33 small power plants not linked with the national grid. The smallest were equipped with generators which were able to generate120 kW, while other larger ones could generate up to five megawatts. Even a power plant which can generate 10 megawatts is still considered as small, he added. According to a survey, the Minister said, waterpower at Bontala falls could be used to generate at least 1.8 megawatts. That would only be sufficient for the local community and would not qualify as a ‘heavy’ hydro power station.
[Further to the proposal, Minister Zaw Min pointed out that] Schedule 2 of Section 188 of the 2008 Constitution, (p 189), Paragraph 4 (a) reads as follows: “Medium and small scale electric power production and distribution that have the right to be managed by the Region or State not having any link with national power grid, except large scale electric power production and distribution having the right to be managed by the Union.”
Since the building of small hydropower plants falls within the jurisdiction of the respective state governments, [the Minister continued], the proposal should be submitted to the Chin State government. Besides, private and cooperative sectors are allowed to invest in building power plants and selling the electricity. Therefore, the proposal to build a ‘heavy’ hydropower plant at Bontala waterfall in Matupi Township should not be brought to the Amyotha Hluttaw as the proposal is not eligible to be carried out by the Union and should be withdrawn.
Following the discussion, the Speaker of the Amyotha Hluttaw dismissed the proposal.
Compiler’s note: For a discussion of the meaning of Paragraph 4(a) quoted by Minister Zaw Win see the article ‘Hydropwer minister explains approval process for projects’ above.
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MINISTER CLARIFIES GRID CONNECTION PLANS FOR CHIN STATE

NLM, 22/03/11. Edited. http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs11/NLM2011-03-22.pdf

Replying to a question in parliament from Amyotha Hluttaw Representative Zung Hlei Thang of Chin State as to when towns in the state would be connected to the national electricity grid, EPM-2 Khin Maung Myint clarified present arrangements for supply of power and outlined plans for future connections to large-scale power plants under development in areas close to the state.
The minister said that currently eight small hydropower stations with a total installed capacity of 3013 kilowatts are operating throughout the state. Libar [Laiva, Hlaingba] (600 kW) station serves Haka and four nearby villages as well as Thantalang and four villages near it; Daungbar (400 kW) station also serves Haka and two villages; Ngasitbar (1000 kW) supplies power to Falam and nine villages in the vicinity; Zarlwee [Zalui] (400 kW) serves Tiddim and three nearby villages; Htwehsaung [Tuisaung] (164 kW) supplies Tongzan and two villages in the vicinity, Chichaung (260 kW) serves Mindat; Namtlaung (139 kW) provides electricity to Matupi and Paletwa hydropower station (50 kW) serves the township centre of Paletwa. These eight small-scale hydropower stations can supply 24-hour electricity to eight towns and 24 villages for seven months of the year from July to January.
For the other five months, 19 diesel generators with an installed capacity of 1119 kW supply electricity six hours a day. In addition, nine more diesel engines with an installed capacity of 423 kW provide electricity to the towns of Kanpetlet, Yayzwa [Rezua], Reidkhawdah [Rikodar] and Kyikha for two hours a day. The government makes up for a shortfall K 128.4 million a year in supplying power from 28 diesel generators that serve the twelve towns of Chin state. On average the diesel stations use 3640 gallons of fuel per month

Arrangements for the supply of electricity are carried out by 15 electrical engineering offices with personnel of 197, of whom 177 are Chin nationals. Monthly salaries of all staff amount to K 7.29 million. During fiscal 2010-11 the government has spent K 1535.667 million on the extension of power lines and the construction of subpower stations as well as the maintenance of the hydropower stations and diesel engines in the state.

As for connecting Chin state to the national power grid, plans are underway to supply electricity through 66-kV lines to be set up from the 40-MW Myittha hydropower station in Gangaw township and the 380-MW Manipur hydropower station in Kalay township to substations in Haka, Falam and Tidim. These hydropower projects are presently under construction. Matupi will be supplied with power from Gangaw through a 66-kV line running through Mindat. Plans are also underway to build a 33-kV power line linking Paletwa in southern Chin State to a subpower station in Kyauktaw and and the grid that will connect 76.5–MW Saidin, the 500-MW Laymyot and the111-MW Thahtaychaung hydropower projects presently under development in Rakhine State.