Public request regarding lower electricity production rate of power plants

by ENERGY

5 January 2022

  1. The Ministry of Electricity and Energy makes strenuous efforts for electricity generation and distribution from power plants for the people and industries in respective regions/states and also arranges to improve electricity supply in order to cover an annually increasing power consumption.
  2. Normally, the maximum power generation capacity is about 4,200MW, but now about 750MW production of the LNG to power plants have been suspended due to a fourfold increase in gas prices. The annual maintenance works on Yadana offshore project were conducted between 27-11-2021 and 6-1-2022 like previous years and so the power generating rate of natural gas power plants decreased about 540MW, and the 230kV transmission tower of Balu Chaung hydropower station was exploded and about 180MW was reduced.
  3. Moreover, the annual maintenance works are being undertaken at some gas-fired power plants and hydropower stations and due to the lower inflow of water to hydropower plants in the current open season and the reduction of hydropower generation at the reservoirs/dams to supply power in summer, the production is about 1,470MW lower than the total consumption. If the maintenance of the Yadana gas project completes, the power can be generated normally starting 7-1-2022, and although the repair works of destroyed towers are being made as quickly as possible, about 930MW will be still reduced.
  4. Therefore, due to the adjustment for the stability of power system as per the amount of low power generation, there is a need to reduce the load during high power consumption hours between 7 am to 11 am and between 5 pm to 7 pm, and so the power outages occur in some places.
  5. Of 10.9 million households in the country, about 6.6 million (60 per cent) currently have access to electricity from the National Grid. If these households use low-power-consumption LED bulbs/lights, it can save about 20W per household while 6.6 million households about 132MW. Moreover, if the households with high power consumption swift off unnecessary lights to save about 100W per household and about 300MW for three million households, and so it can fulfil the reduction of 432MW and the meter bill payment of one household will also be lower.
  6. Therefore, the Ministry of Electricity and Energy raise a request to the public to understand if there are any inconveniences caused by the reduction of load in some areas for lower power generation for balance load and are working hard to supply power as quickly as possible and arranging new projects to produce power more from various sources, including solar and hydropower.

Ministry of Electricity and Energy

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Interested bidders are invited to conduct a preliminary survey of four new hydropower projects in the Tanintharyi River Basin

by ENERGY

The Ministry of Power and Energy has invited companies interested in conducting tenders for four new hydropower projects in the Tanintharyi River Basin to conduct feasibility studies. Hydropower Implementation Department; The tender form and details for the feasibility study for four new hydropower projects in the Tanintharyi River Basin will be available from 14 to 28 January 2022 at Office No. 27; It will be sold at the front gate. Tender bids must be submitted by May 16, 2022. The tender acceptance and scrutiny committee has announced that the tender must be submitted to the meeting hall (Office No. 27, Three Storey Building, New Office, Nay Pyi Taw) and the tender advertisement form can be accessed on the website of the Ministry of Electricity and Energy.

In the 2019-2020 fiscal year, 3,225 megawatts will be generated from hydropower, depending on the energy source. 2773 MW from natural gas; 40 megawatts of solar power; According to the Ministry of Power and Energy, LNG has generated 900 megawatts and coal from 120 megawatts for a total of 7,058 megawatts. Hydropower accounts for 46% of total electricity generation; 39% from natural gas; 13% from LNG; One percent is made from solar and two percent from coal. 3181 MW from hydropower in 2015-2016 fiscal year; 1752 MW from natural gas; Coal generates 120 megawatts for a total of 5,053 megawatts. 63% from hydropower; 35% from natural gas and 2% from coal.

In the 2018-2019 fiscal year, 11,227.82 million kilowatt-hours of hydropower generation will be generated. 9366.56 million kilowatt hours from natural gas; 2,169.70 million kilowatt hours from steam; Diesel generates 104.73 million kilowatt hours. In the fiscal year 2017-2018, 12,265.03 million kilowatt hours from hydropower; 7,459.22 million kilowatt-hours from natural gas; 1,080.60 million kilowatt hours from steam; Diesel generates 77.55 million kilowatt hours. In the 2016-2017 financial year, 12,265.03 million kilowatt hours from hydropower; 7,459.22 million kilowatt-hours from natural gas; 1,080.60 million kilowatt hours from steam; Diesel generates 77.55 million kilowatt hours.

The annual capacity of the Ministry of Electricity and Energy was 15965 million units in the 2015-2016 fiscal year. 17867 million units in the 2016-2017 financial year; In the fiscal year 2017-2018, million units 200555; Production increased to 22,879 million units in the 2018-2018 fiscal year and 27,300 million units in the 2019-2020 fiscal year. If we look at the per capita electricity consumption increase year by year, in the 2015-2016 financial year, 263 kWh; 301 kWh in the 2016-2017 financial year; 335 kilowatt hours in the 2017-2018 fiscal year; In the 2018-2019 fiscal year, it was 379 kilowatt hours and in the 2019-2020 fiscal year, it increased to 432 kilowatt hours, and in five years it increased to 169 kilowatt hours.

Source: Daily Eleven

Myanmar Central Bank sells nearly $444 mln in Feb-Dec period

by ECONOMY

The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) sold US$443.8 million at its FX auction rate to the authorized dealers in the past 11 months (February-December) 2021, according to the auction results released by the CBM. Consequently, the exchange rate was pegged at around K1,700-1,800 in December-end, according to the CBM. In a bid to strengthen the
local currency and govern the market volatility, the CBM reportedly sold about 6.8 million dollars on 3 February 2021, $12 million in April, $24 million in May, $12 million in June, $39 million in July, $28 million in August, $63 million
in September, $110 million in October, $31 million in November and $118 million in December in the auction market.

The CBM trades the foreign currency with the authorized private banks under the rules and regulations of the FX auction market. The currency intervention is required to steer the own currency value. It is one of the responsibilities of the CBM to control the price. This is why the CBM practised the foreign exchange intervention. Additionally, the use of Yuan or Kyat in the bilateral transaction is officially allowed in the border areas between Myanmar and China in a bid to encourage the trade, according to the notification released by the Central Bank of Myanmar on 14 December, in the exercise of the power conferred by Sections 17 and 22 of the Foreign Exchange Management Law.

This move is aiming to boost the bilateral cross-border trade, facilitate the trading and bilateral transaction and increase the use of domestic currency in line with the objectives of ASEAN Financial Integration. The local forex market’s data showed that the dollar exchange rate touched the maximum of K1,345 and the minimum of K1,327 in January 2021. The rate moved in the range of K1,335-1,465 in February. It reached the lowest of K1,420 and the highest of K1,550 in March. The rate fluctuated between K1,550 and K1,610 in April. The rate fluctuated between K1,585 and K1,730 in May and it moved to the maximum of K1,595-1,620 last month.

The local forex market’s data showed that the dollar exchange rate touched the maximum of K1,345 and the minimum of K1,327 in January 2021. The rate moved in the range of K1,335-1,465 in February. It reached the lowest of K1,420 and the highest of K1,550 in March. The rate fluctuated between K1,550 and K1,610 in April. The rate fluctuated between K1,585 and K1,730 in May and it moved to the maximum of K1,595-1,620 in June. The rate stood at K1,626-1,670 in July. It hit the lowest of K1,660 and the highest of K1,682 in August. The rate edged up to K3,200 and fell to K1,696 in September. In October, it stayed between K2,430 and K1,830. The rate was pegged around K1,700-1,800 in November and December.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Telenor to sell 51% stake in Wave Money to Thein Wai’s Yoma, Nikki Asian stated

by ECONOMY

According to Nikki Asian, Telenor will sell 51% of Wave Money to Thein Wai’s Yoma Company. In Wave Money, Telenor owns 51% and Yoma Strategic Holdings holds 49%. According to Nikki Asian, Telenor has received $ 53 million worth of shares for sale, valued at $ 104 million, which is higher than the $ 105 million it earned when it sold the telecommunications business. “Wave is a good business and Yoma needs to buy it. They (Telenor) have no choice if they do not want the shares to be owned by another business. 

It is in line with Yoma Bank’s efforts to develop the retail sector and the growth of digital financial services, ”a market expert quoted Nikki Asian as saying. If the final acquisition is successful, Yoma will own up to 75 per cent of the money in the future, with the remaining 25 per cent likely to be owned by private investors at the Yoma-led company, according to the report. Following the political upheaval in Myanmar, Telenor plans to sell its telecommunications business in Myanmar to the M1 Group, which is owned by a Lebanese millionaire. 

However, the Burmese government has not yet given permission. As a result, it is planning to sell its stake in Wave Money while waiting for approval, the report said. The transfer is scheduled to take place in the middle of this year, but neither company has been able to confirm the news, according to Nikki Asian. Nikki Asian has announced that Wave Money has been separate from Telenor since it planned to sell its telecommunications business to the M1 Group. Wave Money will provide regular services to millions of customers. Wave Money said in a statement in July 2021 that the business was operating normally and that commitments to Myanmar would remain strong.

Source: Daily Eleven

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About 40 trucks of Myanmar products exported daily to China through Kyinsankyawt trade post

by TRADING

About 40 trucks of Myanmar products are being exported to China through Kyinsankyawt checkpoint at the Muse border trade, said U Min Thein, vicechair of the Muse Rice Wholesale Centre. Earlier, the export truck of Myanmar products to China was roughly about 400 trucks per day. “This Kyinsankyawt is a checkpoint that used to be able to cross about 300 or 400 truckloads of goods. But now, only 30 or 40 trucks are passed through the crossing,” U Min Thein clarified. China shut down all the border crossings with Myanmar in the wake of COVID-19 negative consequences.

Of the land borders, Kyinsankyawt has been reopened on a trial run from 26 November. Thus, it has to be done step by step with many restrictions during the pandemic period. Besides the trucks carrying goods are being stuck in the one checkpoint. Currently, rice and broken rice, rubber, various types of peas, dried plums, watermelon, melons and other foodstuffs are exported to China through land borders. The Muse border, which is the mainstay of Myanmar-China border trade, is connected with Nandawphyu, Hsinphyu, Mang Wein, Kyinsankyawt-Wang Ding and Pansai-Wamting borders.

At present, Myanmar carries out border trade with China mainly through Muse, Lwejel, Chinshwehaw, Kampaiti and Kengtung border checkpoints. Of these, Muse border trade points stood the largest trade zone. Nevertheless, checkpoints from the Muse border trade zone were closed for over four months in 2021 due to COVID-19. As a result of the complete closure of the Myanmar-China border, about 5,000 labourers from Myanmar are now unemployed. Now, about 50 or 60 buses operating between Muse and China are facing losses. Likewise, the merchants in Muse, who are trading with China are facing the loss as well. In the 2019-20FY, the value of border trade through the Muse border zone totalled $4,057.724 million, according to the official statistics of the Trade Department under the Ministry of Commerce.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

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Myanmar’s foreign trade value drips by nearly US$601 mln in mini-budget year

by TRADING

Myanmar’s foreign trade has dropped nearly US$601 million in nearly three months of the mini-budget year of the 2021-22 financial year (FY) starting in October last year, according to the figures released by the Commerce Ministry on Saturday. From 1 October to 24 December this mini-budget year, the country trade was $6.662 billion, while the previous FY saw $7.263 billion in the same period.

This year saw a drop of over $601 million compared to the same period of last year. Similarly, the country has earned over $3.437 billion from exports, while its imports was valued at over $3.225 billion. Myanmar exports agricultural products, animal products, minerals, forest products, and finished industrial goods, while it imports capital goods, raw industrial materials, CMP raw materials and consumer goods.

According to the annual data released by the commerce ministry, the country’s foreign trade value was $18,045.929 million in the 2012-2013FY, $27,714.826 million in 2015-2016FY, $29,209.607 million 2016-2017FY, $33,578.052 million in 2017-2018FY, $18,728.815 million in 2018 mini-budget year and $35,147.012 million in the 2018-2019FY. Agro-based food production, textile and clothing, industry and electronics, fishery production, forestry production, digital production and services, logistics services, quality management, trade information services and innovation and entrepreneurship sectors are the main priority areas of the National Export Strategy (NES) 2020-25. 

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Domestic gold price soars to K1,823,000 per tical in New Year

by ECONOMY

The domestic gold price has mounted to K1,823,000 per tical (0.578 ounces or 0.016 kilogrammes) on New Year Eve, according to the domestic gold market. The price of domestic gold is on the rise right now because of the rising of the international gold market and the US dollar exchange market. Currently, the US dollar exchange rate is fixed at around K1,900 per dollar in the foreign market, while the international gold gained US$1,829 per ounce. The domestic gold price is positively linked to the international gold price and US dollar exchange rate.

The pure gold price was up to K2,220,000 per tical in September in the domestic market, while the US dollar exchange rate touches a high of above US$3,000 per dollar. Last September, there has been a lot of demand in the gold market due to the depreciation of the kyat against the dollar, hence the gold purchase orders were accepted in an appointment system. Besides, the shops are urged to sell only small pieces of gold bar. The association is also monitoring to stop accepting orders without raw gold material and to stop distance trading.

In January 2021, the gold price was ranged between the minimum of K1,316,000 per tical (28 January) and the maximum of K1,336,000 per tical (6 January). It reached an all-time high of K1,410,000 per tical on 3 February and hit the minimum of K1,340,000 per tical on 2 February. In March, the rate fluctuated between the highest of K1,391,000 (25 March) and the lowest of K1,302,000 (4 March). The price has registered the highest of K1,455,000 (30 April) and the lowest of K1,389,000 (1 April). The price reached an all-time highest of K1,709,000 (12 May) and the lowest of K1,447,000 (3 May).

The price moved in the maximum of K1,575,500 (11 June) and the minimum of K1,543,000 (19 June). Last month, it fluctuated between K1,562,300 (26 Jul) and K1,587,000 (9 July), the gold traders said. According to gold traders, the price of gold reached the lowest of K1,572,800 (3 August) and the highest of K1,698,000 (31 August). The local gold reached the lowest level of K1,703,500 (1 September) and the highest level of K2,220,000 (28 September). In October, the rate ranged between 1,750,00 (27 October) and K2,030,000 (1 October). The rate fluctuated between the highest of K1,810,000 (6 November) and the lowest of K1,768,500 (24 November). In December, the pure yellow metal price moved in the range of 1,768,500 (6 December) and 1,823,000 (29 December).

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

A total of 43 container vessels from international shipping lines are scheduled to enter Yangon ports by December 2021

by LOGISTICS

By December 2021, a total of 43 container vessels from international shipping lines are scheduled to enter Yangon ports. A total of 42 container vessels entered Rangoon ports last November to increase imports to meet domestic demand. According to the Myanmar Ports Authority, a total of 43 container vessels are scheduled to be launched this December in order to increase open season exports and increase imports to meet domestic demand. More international container and general cargo ships have arrived at Rangoon ports since May, handling more than 11,000 containers and 115,000 metric tons of general cargo, according to the Myanmar Ports Authority.

Yangon Port is under the supervision and management of the Myanmar Ports Authority. Due to the cooperation of shipping lines and importers, container vessels were able to be serviced in May 2021 with an average turnaround time of three days. Shipments and cargo handling have risen since May, handling more than 11,000 containers and 115,000 metric tons of general cargo. From June to the end of November, more than 40 container vessels entered the country. Maersk Line Myanmar (Sealand Maersk) will launch three new container vessels to meet maritime trade needs. Maersk Line Myanmar will launch new vessels, the Maersk Norberg, Maersk Narvik and Maersk Nesna. Of the three ships, the Maersk Nesna will dock at MITT and MIP ports. The launching ceremony was held on June 10, 2021 at MIP port.

The three new vessels will be able to carry 1,750 TEC 21,000 metric tons (9.5 meters in depth) and were built specifically for the Myanmar market. With the expansion of these new container vessels, there will be enough space & equipment for shipments and shipments will not have to wait to be booked for shipments. The discovery of a new waterway on the Yangon River has allowed international vessels to enter and leave the port of Thilawa, which has been allowed to increase its water restrictions. According to a statement from the Myanmar Ports Authority, 152 ships carrying more than 30,000 tonnes entered Rangoon port and Thilawa port within five months of the new tide restrictions being extended due to the discovery of a new waterway on the Yangon River.

Source: Daily Eleven

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Myanmar ships 300 tonnes of silkworm cocoon to China yearly

by TRADING

The private companies export approximately 300 tonnes of silkworm cocoon to China every year, allowing silkworm farmers to increase income and generate foreign revenue, said Daw Moe Moe Win, assistant director of Sericulture Centre in PyinOoLwin. Mulberry is perennial and the related department also provides sericulture courses so that the growers know how to properly rear the silkworms and produce silk.

The export of silkworm cocoons aims to enhance the private sector, income of the silkworm farmers and earn foreign income. The silkworm cocoon is priced at K10,000 per viss (a viss equals 1.6 kilogrammes). “The silkworm cocoon is sent to the domestic silk-reeling factories and silk are on sale under bidding system. Myanmar companies convey dried silkworm cocoons to China.

Earlier, the silkworm cocoon was delivered to China two or three times in December. This year, trade was suspended owing to the preventive measures for the COVID-19. Beyond silkworm production, mulberry cultivation can also produce nutritious mulberry tea leaves, wine and jam as it can bring health benefits,” she explained. Besides Myanmar, sericulture is commonly found in China, India, Viet Nam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, the Republic of Korea and Japan.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

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Announcement on Extension of the Precautionary Restriction Measures Relating to Control of the COVID-19 Pandemic until 31 January 2022

by COVID
  1. With a view to the further strengthening of measures to contain the spread of the
    COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar has issued the following announcements regarding temporary entry restrictions for visitors from all countries. All those restrictions were extended until 31 December 2021 by the Ministry’s announcement dated 30 November 2021.
    (a) Announcement dated 15 March 2020 regarding precautionary measures for all travellers visiting Myanmar;
    (b) Announcement dated 20 March 2020 regarding additional precautionary measures for travellers visiting Myanmar and temporary suspension of issuance of visa on arrival and e-visa;
    (c) Announcement dated 24 March 2020 regarding additional precautionary measures for travellers from all countries visiting Myanmar;
    (d) Announcement dated 28 March 2020 regarding temporary suspension of all types of visas (including social visit visas) and visa exemption services.
  2. In order to continue its effective response measures to protect the population of the country from the risks of importation and spread of the COVID-19, the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar has decided to extend the afore-mentioned entry restriction measures until 31 January 2022.
  3. In case of urgent official missions or compelling reasons, foreign nationals, including diplomats and United Nations officials, who wish to travel to Myanmar by available relief or special flights, may contact the nearest Myanmar Mission for possible exceptions with regard to certain visa restrictions. However, all visitors must abide by existing directives issued by the Ministry of Health relating to the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nay Pyi Taw
Dated. 1 January 2022

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar