Posts in category: ENERGY

The sale of private cars, including EVs, has been regular, and it is expected to become active in May, said Myanmar Automobile Manufacturer and Distributor Association’s general secretary U Kyaw Swa Tun Myint.
Currently, commercial-use cars priced around K50 million, private cars priced between K50 million and K100 million and private cars priced between K100 million and K200 million are being sold regularly, he said.
“The sale has been regular. Those who need cars buy. Dealers also buy if they need. There are private car customers, and some buy cars for their business. It is not that the sale has completely stopped, but it runs regularly. No surge has been seen, though the sale has been normal. The sale of cars priced between K400 million and K500 million has been slow, but K100 million-K200 million cars have been sold regularly. EV is a part of the automobile industry, so there are buyers and sellers for EVs,” he said.
If no policy change happens in March and April after the Thingyan period, it is not likely to have an impact on the car market.
As of December 2023, automobile sales have been slowing. Around May after Thingyan, the car market is always lively every year, so there is also a possibility this year, he said.
“Every May, before monsoon season, the car market is always lively. Some buy for their business, such as school ferry services. In previous years, the sale used to be active again in around May. There is a 60 or 70 per cent possibility this year too. In Myanmar, there is a community that wants to enjoy luxury cars, and there is another community that wants to make profits from buying and reselling cars. Vehicles can easily be liquidated. So, people consider buying and reselling cars as a business-like making investment in property and gold,” said U Kyaw Swa Tun Myint.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

The Ministry of Electric Power (MoEP) has announced plans to install a solar power system with a capacity of up to 14 megawatts in the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Thanlyin Township, Yangon Region.
Currently, three plants within the Thilawa SEZ have already installed solar systems, generating approximately two megawatts of power. Further studies conducted by companies in the zone suggest that the solar system has the potential to produce up to 14 megawatts of power.
Myanmar-Japan Thilawa Development Company Limited (MJTD) has confirmed that once the solar system is installed, surplus power will be transmitted and distributed to other factories within the special economic zone through the Ministry of Electric Power’s power lines.
Covering an area of 667.275 hectares (approximately 1650 acres), Thilawa SEZ has attracted investment from 114 companies across 21 countries. Among the economic zones currently being implemented in Myanmar, Thilawa SEZ stands out as the most successful. 

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

U Maung Win, Deputy Direc tor-General of the Department of Rural Development, announced that steps are now taken to provide electricity to a total of 900 villages nationwide through small-scale home solar systems at a cost of K20 billion in 2024.
The project commenced in the 2016-2017 financial year to bring electricity to villages located more than 10 miles away from the national grid.
“In implementing the project, priority is given to villages that can contribute a specific amount towards the cost. Currently, approximately 10,000 villages (500,000 houses) have been electrified under the World Bank’s programme between the 2016–2017 financial year and the 2021–2022 financial year,” stated U Maung Win. 

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

SOLAR, electrical and electronic equipment and other industrial product manufacturing factories currently owned by No 2 Heavy Industries Enterprise under the Ministry of Industry will be leased to private investors, according to the ministry.

The ministry is planning to invite expressions of interest (EoI) from domestic and foreign private investors for a long-term lease/venture of No 24 Heavy Industry (Dagon) in South Dagon Industrial Zone 1, Yangon Region, which manufactures solar, electrical and electronic equipment and other industrial products. The industry is currently being operated by the ministry’s No 2 Heavy Industries Enterprise.

Domestic and foreign companies that have a desire to invest should apply and receive an expression of interest form from the Administration Department of No 2 Heavy Industries Enterprise by submitting relevant documents, valid company registration, and company credentials at Office No 41 in Nay Pyi Taw starting 11 March and submit them by 3 pm on 8 April. 

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

With the approval of the National-level Steering Committee on Development of Electric Vehicles and Related Accessories, Aiqar eQ3 electric vehicles imported by Myanmar Great Motor Co Ltd, Kanbo electric motorcycles imported by Aung Kan Bo Motorcycle Industrial Co Ltd, and YADEA electric motorcycles and relevant accessories imported by Myanmar Arr Thit Man Motor Co Ltd arrived at Yangon Port. They were allowed to be claimed on 29 February under rules and regulations.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

According to data released by the Ministry of Cooperatives and Rural Development, 500,000 houses in more than 10,000 villages have gained access to electricity over the past eight financial years, mainly through small-scale power generation projects and home solar panel systems.
Breaking down the figures, between the financial years 2016-17 and 2023-24, approximately 2.5 million people residing in these 500,000 houses across more than 10,000 villages have been provided with electricity through small-scale power generation projects and home solar panel systems.
The areas covered by these projects include regions situated at least 10 miles away from the national grid and designated locations earmarked for electricity supply, particularly in Taninthayi Region, Ayeyawady Region, Shan State, and Rakhine State.
The report indicates that the Department of Rural Development has applied two systems since the 2016-17 financial year to electrify villages under the National Electrification Plan. Villages with fewer houses have been equipped with solar panel systems for home use, while those with more houses and higher electricity demands have been supplied with renewable solar energy.
Furthermore, the department aims to extend nationwide electricity access to all villages by utilizing renewable energy resources by 2030.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

China-made Honda ENS1 EVs, Dayun Yuehu S1 (VIP Edition) EVs, BYD D1 EVs, DFSK Seres-5 EVs and Faw Toyota bZ4X EVs, imported with the approval of the Steering Committee on National-Level Development of Electric Vehicles and Related Industries, arrived at Yangon Port. Golden Octopus Co Ltd, Amazing Auto Co Ltd, Earth Renewable Energy Co Ltd, Yaung Ni Oo Automobile Co Ltd and Dongfeng Motor Corporation Ltd imported these electric cars. They were claimed by the importers following the required procedures yesterday. 

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Vehicles priced between K 30 million and 200 million are selling better in the current market, according to U Kyawswa Tun Myint, secretary of the Myanmar Automobile Manufacturers And Distributors Association.

With sales stagnating in early December, the market started to pick up from the second week of December and it has now increased, he explained.

“The current automobile market is quiet with regular sales and purchases – no rise or fall in prices. But, the price of some small cars with higher demand increased by a few percentage. Sales have increased when compared to the early December last year,” he said.

Vehicles priced from K 30-35 million to K 100-150-200 million are selling better and sales of more expensive cars are present, but not frequent, said U Kyawswa Tun Myint.

“It has increased by a certain percentage. Sales didn’t stop in December. There were some sales. Now, the number of sales is increasing more than before. The price of some small cars rose by a few percentage. Not many. If compared to early December, there were more frequent sales,” he said.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

SOLAR panels are currently sold more than generators, according to electronic stores. The market has been low at present, but there are more solar panel buyers, said an electronics store owner.
“It has been a couple of months that the market has been low. We normally sell about K30-K40 million a day, sometimes about K20 million. Now the sale has just K8-K10milion recently. There is no sale of generators but solar panels,” he said. People who can afford more buy solar panels that can run air-conditioners. Including batteries that are used with solar panels, other devices have been in high demand in the market, said another electronic store owner.

“At our shop, the battery has also been in high demand. Buyers are from Yangon as well as from other regions and states. The sale of solar panels is larger than the generator sale. Buyers bought small-sized panels previously, but now there are customers for big-sized panels. Our shop is oriented towards the non-Yangon market. Because most of the buyers are from other regions and states,” he said.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

THE Construction Task Force No.5 under the Department of Hydropower Implementation has been
constructing the Upper Kengtawng Hydropower Plant near Kengtawng Town in Shan State (South). The power plant may fulfil both the State’s and the country’s electricity demand by harnessing the power of Namteng Creek. The project has an installation capacity of 51 megawatts with three 17-MW power stations. The electricity produced from the power plant will be transmitted through the national grid by connecting the Namsam Main Power Sub-station via the 230-kV power grid. U Toe Lwin, director of the Department of Hydropower Implementation at the Ministry of Electric Power, said: “We’d finished 80.52 per cent of the project by October 2023. We’ll try to finish it by the end of the financial year 2024-25. We’re trying our best since it can supply our country’s much-needed electricity demand.” The department successfully constructed the 54-MW Kengtawng Hydropower Plant on 26 March 2009.

During the construction of the Kengtawng Hydropower Plant back in 2006, the department’s engineers
conducted an initial survey with experts from the Japan-based Kansai Co Inc to build another power plant on the Namteng Creek. Moreover, the engineers and specialists from the Switzerland-based Colenco Power Engineering Co Ltd studied locations for hydro-powered structures, geological features and quality of construction materials for the Upper Kengtawng Hydropower project in 2009. Similarly, the Japanese NEWJEC and the Norwegian Nor- Consult/Multi-Consult cooperated with the department in building access roads and staff accommodations by producing blueprints and conducting detailed measurements. The director added: “We collaborated with specialists from Japan, Switzerland and Norway for the early initiative. We’re working, but our homegrown engineers carry out the technical and construction works.” The dam installed in the Upper Kengtawng project is 1,800 feet long and 230 feet tall. It’szone-type pebble-filled earthen dam, and all the materials, including rocks and sand used in a barrier, underwent rigorous scrutiny to ensure the highest quality.

The main dam was finished in November 2021. To channel water to the power station, the engineers
excavated an underground tunnel with a length of 1,726 feet and a diameter of 26 feet. So far, every
component of the hydropower infrastructure has been built except the high-pressure steel pipeline, power station and sub-station. To deliver the necessary water volume to the power plant, a vertical conduit with a diameter of 82 feet and a length of 151 feet is being constructed in connection with the tunnel. The civil engineering aspects are completed, and the engineers assemble the gate.
The water stored in the main dam will drive the power stations. To manage excess water during the
rainy season, a 460 foot-wide spillway, designed as a Labyrinth Type Weir and the first of its kind in Myanmar, has been constructed. The engineers are currently applying the finishing touches. Only the high-pressure steel pipe connecting the power station and sub-station is left to be done. The department has procured essential electrical equipment through a contract with the China-based Consortium of DEIC & GF. Approximately 50 percent of the equipment has been successfully delivered. The department has meticulously selected projects with minimal environmental and social impacts. The Upper Kengtawng Hydropower Project, with a storage capacity of 104,000 acre-feet, has a low potential for adverse impact.

The project is expected to improve the quality of life for the local population. Resident U Sai Ponnya supported the project: “When the Upper Kengtawng Hydropower Project is done, we’ll have two hydropower plants here. They’ll enable us to use electricity 24 hours a day. Thanks to this, our towns have become much more developed.” Since electric power plays a crucial role in building a developed country, the department strives to finish the project by the end of the financial year 2024-25. Upon completion, the two hydropower plants will collectively generate 267 million kilowatt-hours annually, capable of supplying electricity to about 700,000 people connected to the main grid. The project can serve the residents of Loilem, Namhsan, and Langkho districts and supply surplus electricity to the broader public via the main grid. Undoubtedly, this initiative is poised to benefit the people through illumination.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar