Myanmar to build power plants with U.S., Japan, S. Korea

Yangon (Myanmar), May 22 (Xinhua-ANI): Myanmar has planned to build more power plants with companies of the United States, Japan and South Korea in an effort to cope with electricity shortage in the country, especially in the summer season, official media reported Tuesday.

These companies which Myanmar's Ministry of Electric Power-2 is to cooperate in building power plants are General Electric Co. and Caterpillar Co. of the United States, J Power Co. of Japan and BKB Co. of South Korea, said the New Light of Myanmar.

Without disclosing the projects to be implemented with the two U.S. companies, the report said a 600-megawatt (mw) coal-fired plant near Yangon on a joint venture basis with J Power Co of Japan, while another 500-mw gas-fired power plant be carried out in collaboration with BKB Co of South Korea.

There are 18 hydropower, one coal-fired and 10 gas-fired power stations totalling 29 in Myanmar, generating a maximum of about 1, 610 mw in monsoon and 1,340 mw in summer.

Of the 1,610 mw, 1,270 mw is generated by hydropower when a full storage capacity of water is available in monsoon.

Although consumption in monsoon is 1,560 mw, less than production and is enough for distribution, but it is 1,850 mw in summer, far exceeding the production as claimed by the ministry.

The power shortage in summer has forced alternative distribution to the public, factories, workshops and businesses in three groups at an interval of six hours as so far reported. (Xinhua-ANI)