Thailand’s Green Earth Power (GEP) has selected Black & Veatch to provide design and consultancy services for the first solar plant in Myanmar.
The new solar plant will be built on a 300ha site in Minbu of the Magway region, and construction is expected to start in early 2016.
Building the 220MW facility will require an investment of $275m.
The Minbu project is expected be completed in four phases over 30 months, reported dealstreetasia.com.
Black & Veatch said the plant will be designed to support Myanmar Government’s goal of increasing electricity production from the current 2,500MW to 30,000MW by 2030.
“Electricity is an urgent priority in Myanmar and has serious implications on economic and social progress.”
Black & Veatch international renewable energy director Ric O’Connell said: “Electricity is an urgent priority in Myanmar and has serious implications on economic and social progress.
“As solar facilities can be built rapidly, it is an excellent alternative to quickly add power to the grid and ensure meaningful impacts on quality of life.”
Black & Veatch has previously worked on projects such as the Lopburi 55MW solar farm in Thailand.
GEP was selected as developer of the power plant by the Myanmar’s Ministry of Electric Power for the Minbu project in 2013.
The Myanmar Government increased the target of the electrification rate to 50% by 2020, along with the approval of a new electricity law as the energy source is still inaccessible for around 75% of the country’s population.
Recently, the Myanmar Government signed an agreement with International Finance Corporation (IFC) to advice on improving environmental and social risk management in hydropower projects.
Source: http://www.power-technology.com/news/newsblack-veatch-to-provide-design-services-for-myanmars-first-solar-plant-in-thailand-4692763
