THE Department of Hydropower is conducting preliminary surveys for 16 new hydropower plants in addition to the 15 already under construction, said a senior official from the Ministry of Electric Power (1) on August 30.

The official said the new plants are on a list of “first priority” projects to tackle after the hydropower plants currently under construction are completed.

The official said the surveys are being conducted at sites throughout Myanmar for hydropower plants from 20 to 1500 megawatts, adding that they are aiming for total power output of about 5200mw from the new plants.

Electricity generated at plants in border regions will be sold to neighbouring countries, the official said.

“The ministry is in discussions with China to build an 800mw Mayka hydropower project as a joint venture, with the electricity generated to be sold to them,” he said.

He said it was too early to set a time frame for the start of the new projects.
With the government aiming to supply the entire country with electricity from hydropower, the ministry has accelerated the pace of such projects.

Hydropower is now used to produce 38.5 percent of Myanmar’s electricity, while 48.44pc is produced by natural gas turbines.

The official said Myanmar is trying to follow the example of Norway, which gets more than 90pc of its electricity from hydropower.

“Norway uses energy mainly from hydropower and sells its oil and gas to other countries, which is what we want to do as well,” he said.