Myanmar (formally Burma) is in southeast Asia, bordering the Andaman sea and the bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand. It has a total land area of about 423,000km2, and a population of about 52M, estimated to reach 60M by 2010 and 80M by 2025. The total electricity generated by Myanmar is 6614GWh, consisting of oil (612GWh, 9%); gas (3770GWh, 57%); and hydro (2232GWh, 34%) (IEA, 2002).
Myanmar has a tremendous hydro power potential: 39,000MW, although the economical exploitable potential is about 37,000MW. The country is progressing rapidly with its impressive programme of hydro power development. Recent hydroelectric developments in Myanmar are Mone (75MW) and Panuglaung (280MW); eight more projects are under construction, including the country’s two largest – Yeywa (790MW) and Shweli (400MW), and the first 200MW stage of the major 7110MW Tasang scheme is likely to go ahead shortly.
A total of 35 hydro projects are already in operation in Myanmar. Since 1990, the nation has tripled its installed capacity of hydro plants, from 253MW to 745MW. Myanmar’s hydro power development activities and plans include five-year short term plans and a 30-year strategic plan. This also involves generating power for exporting to neighboring countries like India, Thailand and China. Total planned hydro power development in Myanmar is 14,600MW.
FilesMyanmar profile