Energy in Myanmar

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is already sufficiently detailed; see [[WP:SDNONE]] --> {{EngvarB|date=August 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} [[File:Myanmar electricity imports.png|thumb|Myanmar began exporting electricity in 2016]] [[Myanmar]]'s energy sector is characterised by low per capita energy consumption and a limited [[electrification]] rate, with an estimated 65% of the population lacking access to the national grid as of 2019. Most of the country's rural population relies on biomass, such as wood, as their [[primary energy]] source.<ref name=ASEAN/> Myanmar has abundant energy resources, particularly hydropower and natural gas.<ref name="MEC2013">{{cite web |title=Overview: Uncovering the untapped energy opportunities |url=http://www.myanmarenergyinvestmentsummit.com/ |access-date=23 November 2015 |publisher=Myanmar Energy Investment Summit 2013}}</ref> In 2017, electricity production was dominated by hydropower, which accounted for 74.7% of total generation.<ref name=iea2013 /> By 2020, the share of hydro had fallen to 54% as [[natural gas]] grew to 40%.<ref name="EPGE Press Conference"/> In 2019, the government aimed to achieve 100% electrification by 2030 and to increase the share of renewable energy to 12% by 2025.<ref name=eleven/>

Myanmar's abundant energy resources have made it a net energy exporter in Southeast Asia. Hydropower potential is estimated for a generation capacity of 140 TWh annually, though future developments are mainly planned for export.<ref name="WEC2" /> [[Solar power in Myanmar|Solar energy development]] is seen as a key [[climate change mitigation]] strategy. [[Oil and gas industry in Myanmar|The oil and gas sector]] is a large part of the economy, with Myanmar serving as a net exporter of [[natural gas]] to countries like China and Thailand. However, infrastructure like the [[Sino-Myanmar pipelines]] has also become a geopolitical focal point for the country's internal conflicts.<ref name=diplo/>

[[File:Mandalay-Tankstelle-06-gje.jpg|thumb|Roadside [[petrol]] station in rural [[Mandalay Region]]]] ==Energy usage and Electrification== [[Myanmar]] had a [[TPES|total primary energy supply]] (TPES) of 16.57 [[tonne of oil equivalent|Mtoe]] in 2013.<ref name=iea2013 /> Electricity consumption was 8.71 [[TWh]].<ref name=iea2013>{{cite web|title=Myanmar|url=http://www.iea.org/statistics/statisticssearch/report/?year=2013&country=Myanmar&product=Balances|website=www.iea.org|publisher=International Energy Agency (IEA)|access-date=23 November 2015}}</ref> 65% of the primary energy supply consists of biomass energy, used almost exclusively (97%) in the residential sector.<ref name=iea2013 /> Myanmar's energy consumption per capita is one of the lowest in Southeast Asia due to the low electrification rate and a widespread poverty. An estimated 65% of the population is not connected to the national grid.<ref name=ASEAN>{{Cite web|url=http://theaseanpost.com/article/electrifying-myanmar|title=Electrifying Myanmar|date=4 January 2019|website=The ASEAN Post|language=en|access-date=9 March 2019}}</ref>

The [[electrification]] rate in Myanmar is one of the lowest in Asia, at 50% in 2019.<ref name="Myanmar Electrification">{{cite web|title=EC|url=https://elevenmyanmar.com/news/over-50-of-myanmar-to-have-access-to-electricity-by-december|publisher=Eleven Media|access-date=8 June 2020}}</ref> As of 2023, only 73.7% of the population had access to at least 4 hours of electricity per day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Share of the population with access to electricity |url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-of-the-population-with-access-to-electricity?tab=chart&country=MMR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240414060548/https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-of-the-population-with-access-to-electricity?tab=chart&country=MMR |archive-date=2024-04-14 |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=Our World in Data}}</ref> The electrification rate is especially low in rural villages, which are mainly not connected to the power grid. Wood and biomass are used as a primary source of energy in these areas.<ref>{{cite web|title=Status for Renewable Energies in Myanmar|url=http://www.asiabiomass.jp/english/topics/1306_03.html|website=Asia Biomass Office|publisher=New Energy Foundation|access-date=23 November 2015}}</ref> Energy consumption is growing rapidly, however, with an average annual growth rate of 3.3% from 2000 to 2007.<ref name=ADB>{{cite web|title=Interim Country Partnership Strategy: Myanmar, 2012–2014 Sector Assessment (Summary): Energy|url=http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/linked-documents/icps-mya-2012-2014-ssa-01.pdf|website=www.adb.org|publisher=Asian Development Bank (ADB)|access-date=23 November 2015}}</ref> In 2015, a World Bank report found significant needs for growing [[energy demand]] associated with [[2011–2015 Myanmar political reforms|the 2010s' rapid economic growth]] in the context most existing energy development projects being export-orientated.<ref name=worldbank/> The country plans to achieve 100% electrification by 2030.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmtimes.com/business/15110-ministry-talks-target-of-100-electrification-by-2030.html|title=Ministry talks target of 100% electrification by 2030|date=19 June 2015|website=The Myanmar Times|language=en|access-date=9 March 2019}}</ref><ref name=eleven>{{Cite web|url=https://elevenmyanmar.com/news/ministry-implements-first-phase-of-nep|title=Ministry implements first phase of NEP|date=10 February 2019|website=Eleven Media Group Co., Ltd|language=en|access-date=9 March 2019}}</ref> [[File:Myanmar share of electricity production from hydropower.png|thumb|The share of electricity generated by hydropower has fluctuated between 2000 and 2023]]

===Energy mix=== In 2017, Myanmar's electricity was primarily produced by [[hydroelectricity]] (74.7%). The rest is from [[fossil fuel]]s, with [[natural gas|gas]] as the main fuel (20.5%) followed by [[coal]] and [[petroleum|oil]].<ref name=iea2013 /> Myanmar had an installed electricity generation capacity of about 5 gigawatts (GW).<ref name = BNEF>{{cite web|title=Climatescope 2018: Myanmar|url=http://global-climatescope.org/results/mm#power-market|publisher=Bloomberg New Energy Finance|access-date=14 February 2019}}</ref> In May 2020, the total installed capacity of Myanmar was 6034 MW: 3262 MW of [[hydro power]] (54%), 2496 MW of [[natural gas]] (41%), 120 MW of [[coal]] (2%), 116 MW of [[diesel fuel|diesel]] (2%) and 40 MW of [[solar energy|solar]] (1%). The cost of electricity production was revealed to be 12 kyats per Kwh for government owned hydro power plants, 72 kyats per Kwh for privately owned [[hydropower]] plants, 150 to 190 kyats for natural gas plants and 195 kyats for [[photovoltaic power station|solar power plants]].<ref name="EPGE Press Conference">{{cite web|title=EPGE 2020|date=8 June 2020|url=https://burma.irrawaddy.com/news/2020/06/08/224249.html|publisher=Irrawaddy|access-date=8 June 2020}}</ref> == Hydropower == {{see also|Hydropower dams in Myanmar}} [[File:ဘီလူးချောင်းအမှတ် ၁ ဓာတ်အားပေးစက်ရုံ.jpg|thumb|Baluchaung Hydroelectric Power Station No.1 at the Lawpita Dam, [[Kayah State]]]]

Hydropower resources are estimated to be about 40 GW at a capacity factor of 0.40, giving a total yearly hydropower generation capacity of about 140 TWh.<ref name="WEC2" /> Installed hydropower capacity as of 2011 was 1.54 GW with a total generation of 3.9 TWh, there is, therefore, a substantial opportunity for further growth of this energy source.<ref name="WEC2" />

The [[Shweli I Dam|Shweli 1 hydroelectric power plant]], with a capacity of 600 megawatts (MW), started operation in 2008. The [[Yeywa Dam|Yeywa hydropower plant]] opened in 2010 with a capacity of 790 MW, the largest in the country. Several other hydropower projects are under construction or planned. Planned major hydropower plants have been designed mainly for export. The [[Myitsone Dam]] project, with a capacity of 6,000 MW, is expected to supply 100% of its electricity to [[China]], while the [[Tasang Dam]] project with a planned capacity of 7,110 MW is planned to supply 1,500 MW to [[Thailand]].<ref name="WEC2" />

== Solar energy == {{main|Solar power in Myanmar}} [[File:Myanmar Solar Power Project 2020.svg|thumb|the location of Solar Power Plant Projects]]

Developing solar energy in Myanmar is viewed as an important climate change mitigation measure for the country that is highly vulnerable to the detrimental impacts of climate change.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Overland |first1=Indra |last2=Sagbakken |first2=Haakon Fossum |last3=Chan |first3=Hoy-Yen |last4=Merdekawati |first4=Monika |last5=Suryadi |first5=Beni |last6=Utama |first6=Nuki Agya |last7=Vakulchuk |first7=Roman |title=The ASEAN climate and energy paradox |journal=Energy and Climate Change |date=December 2021 |volume=2 |article-number=100019 |doi=10.1016/j.egycc.2020.100019 |hdl=11250/2734506 |doi-access=free |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

Myanmar has one solar power plant operating in Minbu, [[Magway Region|Magway Division]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmtimes.com/news/countrys-first-solar-power-plant-start-operations-magwe.html|title=Country's first solar power plant to start operations in Magwe|date=15 October 2018|website=The Myanmar Times|language=en|access-date=9 March 2019|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420102931/https://www.mmtimes.com/news/countrys-first-solar-power-plant-start-operations-magwe.html}}</ref> The plant has the capacity to produce 170 MW of electricity. The country plans to build two more solar power plants Mandalay Division, each to have a generation capacity of 150 MW.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmtimes.com/news/rural-areas-receive-electricity-powered-renewable-sources-minister.html|title=Rural areas to receive electricity powered by renewable sources: Minister|date=3 March 2019|website=The Myanmar Times|language=en|access-date=9 March 2019|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420102942/https://www.mmtimes.com/news/rural-areas-receive-electricity-powered-renewable-sources-minister.html}}</ref> Energy subsidies for electricity and lacking tax policy, lack of qualified workforce and limited public administration capacity are viewed to be among the main obstacles complicating development of solar energy in Myanmar.<ref name=":2">{{cite journal |last1=Vakulchuk |first1=Roman |last2=Hlaing |first2=Kyaw Kyaw |last3=Naing |first3=Edward Ziwa |last4=Overland |first4=Indra |last5=Suryadi |first5=Beni |last6=Velautham |first6=Sanjayan |title=Myanmar's Attractiveness for Investment in the Energy Sector: A Comparative International Perspective |date=2017 |ssrn=3023133 }}</ref> Another study identified three major barriers to promoting solar energy in Myanmar: weak renewable energy governance, lacking clear regulatory mechanisms, and the complicated investment climate for international investors.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Vakulchuk |first1=Roman |last2=Kresnawan |first2=Muhammad Rizki |last3=Merdekawati |first3=Monika |last4=Overland |first4=Indra |last5=Sagbakken |first5=Haakon Fossum |last6=Suryadi |first6=Beni |last7=Yurnaidi |first7=Zulfikar |title=Myanmar: How to Become an Attractive Destination for Renewable Energy Investment? |date=2020 |publisher=Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) |doi=10.13140/RG.2.2.29515.00806 |jstor=resrep26565 }}</ref>

On 18 May 2020, the Ministry of Electricity and Energy issued an invitation to submit prequalifying bids for the construction of several solar plants throughout the country, with a combined capacity of 1060 MW. The ministry received more than 150 bids for the tenders and on 9 September 2020 bidders were announced. All but one of the winning bids for the 30 sites involved Chinese companies, with unit price ranging from 3.48 US cents to 5.1 cents per kilowatt hour.<ref>[https://chinadialogue.net/en/energy/chinese-companies-dominate-myanmar-solar-tender/ ''Chinese companies dominate Myanmar solar tender''.].</ref>

== Oil and gas == {{main|Oil and gas industry in Myanmar}}

The energy sector is considered a strategic industry by the Myanmar government and the petroleum sector is one of the biggest recipients of foreign direct investment.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Vakulchuk |first1=Roman |last2=Stokke |first2=Kristian |last3=Overland |first3=Indra |title=Myanmar: A Political Economy Analysis |date=2018 |doi=10.13140/RG.2.2.27989.93928 }}</ref>

In 2013, Myanmar exported 8561 [[tonne of oil equivalent|ktoe]] of natural gas and 144 ktoe of crude oil.<ref name=iea2013 /> The country is one of the five major energy exporters in the region<ref name=MEC2013 /> and is the second biggest exporter of natural gas in the [[Asia Pacific]] region after [[Indonesia]].<ref name=WEC1>{{cite web|title=Gas in Myanmar|url=https://www.worldenergy.org/data/resources/country/myanmar/gas/|publisher=World Energy Council|access-date=23 November 2015}}</ref> According to the World Energy Council, gas reserves are estimated at 244 Mtoe. Oil and coal play a smaller role with reserves estimated at 7 and 1 Mtoe, respectively.<ref name=WEC2>{{cite web|title=Energy Resources in Myanmar|url=https://www.worldenergy.org/data/resources/country/myanmar/|publisher=World Energy Council|access-date=23 November 2015}}</ref> [[File:Myanmar share of electricity production from fossil fuels.png|thumb|Share of electricity produced by burning coal and gas]] In 2015, Myanmar had four offshore [[natural gas]] producing fields, with the earliest Yadana field starting production in 1999. Onshore gas producing was older with the Mann field running since 1970. Gas pipelines with stakeholders from Korea, Thailand, India, China and the [[Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise]] (MOGE). As a net gas exporter, Myanmar supplied gas to China and Thailand due to limited domestic consumption.<ref name=worldbank>{{cite report |title=An Initial Assessment of the Economic Costs of Natural Gas for Myanmar's Domestic Market |publisher=The World Bank Group |last1=Agha |first1=Saad |last2=Penglis |first2=Evangelos |last3=Roland-Holst |date=November 2016 |url=https://documents.worldbank.org/pt/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/521291561526640149/an-initial-assessment-of-the-economic-costs-of-natural-gas-for-myanmar-s-domestic-market}}</ref>

The longest of these pipelines, the [[Sino-Myanmar pipelines]], became a point of focus for both sides to gain support from or leverage against Chinese interests in the [[Myanmar civil war (2021-present)|2021 Myanmar civil war]], being increasingly caught between combatants.<ref name=diplo>{{cite news |last=Strangio |first=Sebastian |url=https://thediplomat.com/2022/02/chinese-pipeline-in-myanmar-damaged-in-attack-by-anti-regime-forces/ |title=Chinese Pipeline in Myanmar Damaged in Attack by Anti-Regime Forces |date=17 February 2022 |work=The Diplomat}}</ref>

== Wind energy == Myanmar's Department of Renewable Energy and Hydropower Plants is prioritising the development of solar and wind energy.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=19 September 2018 |title=Renewable energy law in the works to speed up development |url=https://www.mmtimes.com/news/renewable-energy-law-works-speed-development.html |access-date=9 March 2019 |website=The Myanmar Times |language=en}}</ref> Rakhine State, Tanintharyi and Ayeyarwady regions have been identified as sites with strong wind power potential.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationthailand.com/detail/Economy/30352000|title=Myanmar urged to tap green power|date=13 August 2018|website=The Nation|language=en|access-date=9 March 2019}}</ref> However, solar energy potential is higher compared to that of wind energy in Myanmar.<ref name=":2" />

Myanmar is developing its first wind power plant in Chaung Thar, [[Ayeyarwady Region]], through a 30 MW wind power project it is undertaking with China's [[China Three Gorges Corporation|Three Gorges Corporation]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> As of 2023, there was no wind power connected to the electricity grid.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Share of electricity production from wind |url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-electricity-wind?tab=chart&country=MMR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241013053205/https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-electricity-wind?tab=chart&country=MMR |archive-date=2024-10-13 |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=Our World in Data}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Asia topic|Energy in}}

[[Category:Energy in Myanmar| ]]