Electricity problem in Burma

[sayagyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Electricity problem in Burma

Electricity is one of the numerous problems being faced by the people of
Burma. Military authorities opened the economy and invited foreign
investment. Is increase in demand the only reason for shortage of power
supply?

According to official figures, current electricity consumption in Burma is
750 Megawatt while the maximum capacity to provide is only 680 megawatt per
day. That excludes consumption in Arakan, Chin, Kachin and Shan States and
Tanaserian division where power supplies intermittently come from diesel
engines and small-scale hydroelectric plants. 

Since Burmese Way to Socialism era, Law-pi-ta, the largest hydroelectric
station, which has capacity of 196 megawatt, had been providing 70 Megawatt
a day by quota system. In 1997-98 there was 38% shortfall of rain. Thus,
only 48 megawatt in daytime and 120 megawatt at nighttime was provided.
Law-pi-ta machine needs water level of 1,600 cu ft/sec to produce 196
megawatt. Because of shortfall of rain and shortage of water gathered, it
has reduced to 700-1,000 cu ft/sec.

Insufficient rain is not only problem for Law-pi-ta plant. It also needs
spare-parts for maintenance. Consultations are underway with Japanese
company, which built the plant. Water level of Moe-byae dam falls 3 feet
from 2,880 feet. It depends on water supply from Inlay Lake, which receives
water from upper Be-lu, Nam-le and Nam-kup streams. As farmers block the
streams for their cultivation and shortfall of rain, Inlay Lake became dry.
It is learnt that deforestation caused drought around Inlay Lake.

There are more than 15 natural gas power-supply factories: 4 in Myan-aung,
3 in Shwe-daung, 3 in Alon, 3 in Hlaw-gha and 2 in Ywa-ma. As the natural
gas has to share with other ministries, electricity supply department did
not get enough gas to run the factories 24 hours. Only 2 out of three
factories in Alon can be put to use. Even then it needs to buy diesel to
run the machines between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Out of three only one in
Shwedaung factory is functioning 24 hours. Other two are run by diesel for
peak hours: from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Out of four in
Myan-aung, only one is running on gas exclusively for State-own cement
factory. So shortage is 258 megawatt in day and 230 at night.

As an alternative supply, 50-year old steam turbine in Ywa-ma is renovated
and two waste-heat power factories in Hlaw-ga and Alon are ordered to
complete 5 months ahead of scheduled dates. Albeit the plan goes well, the
people have to wait till 2002 to enjoy relatively enough power supply. For
that a factory in Kalay-wa has to use coal and hydropower projects in
Pon-long, Moe-nae, and Thafan-seik have to be completed.

Since 2/19/99, the charge of power-meter was increased from 3 kyats to 25
kyats per unit because Energy ministry has to buy diesel 120,000 gallon per
day at the rate of 160 Kyats per gallon to run the engines to supply
electric power for 12 hours a day. That schedule is brought about in
mechanical zones only in Rangoon, Mandalay and Monywa. Although all
power-meter holders have to pay the new price, not all are provided
half-a-day power supply.

Ye-ywa project near Kyauk-tse (600 megawatt) and at Tar-san (3,600
megawatt) which will block Salween River are two hydropower projects
jointly ventured with foreign companies. A factory at Kan-bauk and one in
Rangoon division will be constructed using offshore gas.

Meanwhile there is new system of electric power supply arrangement for the
students. The authorities ordered the parents in every ward to contribute
donation to buy generators and diesel. The schoolmasters have to arrange
the study centers for the students who have to come and study there and
return home. At downtown in Rangoon, the electric department, if is
informed sends generators to each room to pump water for the apartments
which do not get any power supply for long.

The energy ministry said there was 41% of technical and non-technical
losses when the ministry was constituted. Since 1984, electricity law was
amended. Power theft can be fined 5,000 to 10,000 kyats or sentenced to 2
to 5 years and both.

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