Future Projects

1.  HYDRO

The territorial area of the Union of Myanmar is about 677,000 square kilometers over half of which is highland dissected by North-South mountain ranges, the topography combined with heavy rainfall from the South-west monsoon endows the country with abundant hydropower resources in the Ayeyarwady, Sittoung, Thanlwin and Chindwin River Basins. The World Bank estimates a figure of more than 100.000 MW of which only about 360 MW has been developed.

Raluchaung No. 2 Lawpita Power Station with an initial installed capacity of 84 MW built by Japanese war reparation fund and later increased to 168 MW and Baluchaung No.1 Hydroelectric Power Station with an installed capacity of 28 MW amounting to 196 MW is still the biggest power station in Myanmar

According to preliminary studies, the hydropower resources identified up to date is about 37,000 MW, of which about 25,000 MW is of large scale and the remainder is of medium and small scale power projects. In addition to the larger scale hydro power sites, mini and micro hydropower sites are abundant throughout the country.

The total developed capacity of hydropower about 360 MW in comparison with the country's potential is only about 1.0 percent and therefore 99 percent of the potential still remains undeveloped.

The following are some of the major hydroelectric power projects to be implemented in the near future (see table below).

Sr No.	Name of project	Location	Capacity MW	Annual Energy GWh	Remarks
1	Bilin	Mon State	280 (70MWx4)	756	A preliminary report has been completed by Nippon Koei
2	Baluchaung 3	Kayah State	48	327	Feasibility study completed by NEWJEC
3	Kun	Bago Division	60 (20MWx3)	240	Field investigation works for feasibility study completed with China National Agricultural Machinery (CNAMC)
4	Kabaung	Bago Division	30	120	Preliminary study by UNDP
5	Yenwe	Bago Division	20	72.4	Feasibility Study
6	Phyu	Bago Division	65	280	Preliminary study by UNDP
7	Thaukyegat	Kayin State	150	780	Pre-design report had completed by ECI. Preliminary study to be conducted TEPSCO
8	Bawgata	Kayin State	160	500	Preliminary Study
9	Nam Kok	Shan State	100 to 150	284	Feasibility study with Marubeni, MDX, Italian Thai developers mainly for export to Thailand. Pending
10	Hutgyi	Shan State	400	2000	Feasibility study proposed by Marubeni/NEWJEC led consortium (export to Thailand)
11	Tanintharyi	Tanintharyi	600	3476	Preliminary study by Nippon Koei (export to Thailand)
12	Tasang	Shan State	3600	23000	At present lahmehyer International is finalising pre-feasibility survey as consultant to GMS Power Public Co, Ltd, the developer
13	Shweli	Northern Shan State	200 to 300	1600	Reconnaissance survey completed. Very attractive project for rapid implementation, BOT arrangement possible. Under disscussion with YMEC
14	Tamanthi	Sagaing Division	1200	5256	Pre-feasibility. Interest from Indian Government side

Among future Hydro Power Projects, Kun, Phyu, Kabaung and Yenwe Hydropower Power Projects are being discussed win local companies Tor joint implementation as immediate measure to meet increasing demand.

Shweli Hydro Power Project. located 25 miles inside Myanmar on the Yunnan border, is the best in the country. With just a small diversion weir about 20 m high and a tunnel 4.8 km long, 300 m head and 200 MW power can be achieved.

2.Future Projects (GAS/COAL)

The Ministry of Energy is developing the Domestic off-shore gas utilization Project utilizing the 105 mmscf/day which will be available for domestic consumption. This Project consists of a pipe line from Yadana to Delta area on-shore and an approximately 300 MW Combined Cycle Plant (Hmawbi). The Ministry of Energy is concentrating on the realisation of the pipe line portion and the Ministry of Electric Power on the Power Plant.

Furthermore, 20 mmscf/day of natural gas will be also be available for domestic consumption at Kanbauk, the land-fall point of the pipe-line going to Thailand from Yadana. MEPE Is planning to build a Gas Turbine Power Plant for supply of electricity in the Tanintharyi area.

Tho Kalowa depocito are the only significant deposits for consideration for future 0001 development at the present time. A mine-mouth coal-fired power plant of about 200 MW could be developed according to preliminary studies. Itochu. Chiyoda and Nissho Iwai are studying the possible development of the Kalewa (100 to 200 MW) coal-fired power plant.

The electricity generated from this coal-fired power station could be supplied to the Copper mines in Monywa which Ivanhoe Co. is developing. The power requirement of the Copper mines is about (30) to (40) MW and the balance could be supplied to the Grid System.

3.Export Oriented Projects

Among the hydro power sites on the Thanlwin river, GMS of Thailand had started feasibility study for the Tasang (3600 MW) Project. This Project is mainly for export to Thailand .

There are also many promising sites on the Thanlwin River for export oriented power projects such as Ywathit (3000 MW) and Hutgyi (400 MW). However a detailed study of the t hantwin River Basin Is required before choosing any specific sites for hydro power development on the Thanlwin River. GMS and Its)-Thai of Thailand and other companies had shown interest in carrying out the basin study for development of hydro power from the Thanlwin River.

However due to the current economic situation In Thailand, the power demand In Thailand had significantly slowed down and consequently the pace for development of export-oriented projects to Thailand also had slowed down.

On the other hand. India also renewed Its interest to import power from Myanmar. In February 1999, an Indian delegation consisting of senior officials from several Indian power utilities visited Myanmar and held discussions with Myanmar officials for development of the Tamanthi hydropower project about 1200 MW capacity on the Chindwin river in the North-western part of Myanmar. The Project site Is just 80 kilometres from the Indian-Myanmar border and India has expressed its keen interest for purchase of power from Tamanthi Project to its North-eastern grid which is facing acute power shortage.

 

4.Minihydro Power Projects and Border

Area Development

The Myanma Electric Power Enterprise has constructed more than (20) mini hydro power projects in remote areas where hydro power resources are available to uplift the social and economic standards of the rural and remote communities especially in the Mountainous border areas.

Electrification, normally started in these areas with small diesel generating sets, but the transportation of diesel oil in some areas is so difficult that-mini - hydro provides a solution in such cases.

Hydro power development in such remote areas also promote agriculture, pumped water irrigation and small cottage industries for the local people thereby creating jobs and uplifting the living standards and economic development of the local communities.

The following are some of the small hydro power projects which are to be implemented in the near future for the development of border areas.

Sr No.	Name of Project	Installed Capacity (KW)	Location	Objective
1	Mepan chaung	1200 (600x2)	(6) miles due North-East of Mong Hsat town on Mepan Chaung in Eastern Shan State	To supply electric power to Mong Hsat and Mong Ton towns in the Eastern Shan State
2	Tumpang Hka Chaung	6000 (2000x3)	(40) miles South-East of Waing-Maw town on Tumpang Hka Chaung in Kachin State	To supply electric power to Myitkyina and Waing-Maw towns in the Kachin State
3	Kang Hkawng	1200 (400x3)	(8) miles South West of Mong Hkak town on Nam Hkak Chaung in Eastern Shan State	To supply electric power to Mong Hkak and Mong Yang townships in the Eastern Shan State
4	Kyu Hkok Chaung	320 (160x2)	(4) miles due South-West of Kyu Hkok town on Nam Khan Chaung in North Eastern Shan State	To supply electric power to Kyu Hkok town and nearby villages in Muse township in the North-Eastern Shan State
5	Nam Mae Sai	6000 (2000x3)	(2) miles due West of Tachileik town on Nam Mae Sai Chaung in Eastern Shan State	To supply electric power for Tachileik town in the Eastern Shan State and also export of excess power to Thailand