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Electricity Coverage : Ministry Plan To Increase To 99% With Foreign Investments

Minister of Electric Power has invited foreign investors to make investments in Myanmar, Deputy Ministry for energy U Aung Than Oo said in AMCHAM Myanmar Economic Summit in Yangon.In Myanmar, only 33% of households are accessible to electricity. So, the ministry has targeted to generate 14,000 megawatt of electricity more in 2030-2031fiscal year to supply 99% of households. 

But, social and environmental impacts are posing a challenge in implementing major projects like building of hydro power plants, and coal-fired power plants. So, the ministry is considering to rely more on gas turbine and solar energy plants with foreign investments. 

Deputy Minister ,Ministry of Electric Power ,H.E Aung Than Oo : "We need about 14,000 megawatt to be generated more in order to cover the 99% of households in our country. So we need to build more power plants across the country. Not only for building of power plants but, we still have to focus on transmission and distribution cases. So I think there are lots of opportunities for them to invest".

There are two power plants run by foreign investment and are in Myin Chan and Tha Htong townships. 2 more be built by the American and Thailand firms. General Electric (GE) company also agreed that Myanmar has a lot of potential to invest.

CHIEF COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE ,GE GLOBAL GROWTH ORGANIZATION ,ANDREW LEE : “The country has right now about 33% of electrification rate and other 60,000 villages you know one-third is electrify so you can imagine there are opportunities we can help the country, GE, we look at helping building power plants and also building gas platform to high technology to aviation, to healthcare, to transportation, so there are a lot of to do in Myanmar we believe”

However, law firm communities considered the existing policies especially for investment sectors are still weak to attract effective cooperation with the private sector.

ADVOCATE ,H & R LAW FIRM LTD ,NAING LIN ZAW : "In some cases, some laws are delayed to be passed and some needed to be updated. Let's say, investment law, I heard that the two laws will be combined but it still delay. In addition, rule of law is important as well, to attract foreign investors".

The ministry estimated that more than 2,400 megawatt will be used by the whole country this summer.

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