Thaketa gas plant commences supplying power in Yangon
More than 40,000 households will now receive electricity following the scheduled completion and opening of a combined-cycle gas power plant in Thaketa township, Yangon Region, over the weekend. The Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was signed in January 2016.
The 106 megawatt plant was built and will be operated under a 30-year joint venture between the Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MOEE) and China’s Union Resources & Engineering Co (UREC). After 30 years, it will be transferred back to the government.
The plant will generate around 800 million kilowatts of power per year, which is enough electricity for around 42,000 households, said U Win Khaing, Minister of Electricity and Energy. “If there is a surplus of power generated, this will be supplied to other areas via the national grid,” the minister said at the opening ceremony of the plant on Sunday.
At those levels, the Thaketa plant will be able to meet around 20 percent of Yangon Region’s power needs. Some 6 million people, or around 11pc of the total Myanmar population, reside in Yangon, consuming a total of 1,360 MW of electricity per annum, or around 42.5pc of the country’s total power consumption.
Currently, Yangon receives power from plants in Ahlone, Hlawga, Ywama, Thilawa and now Thaketa.
Meanwhile, new projects are also under construction to meet increasing electricity demand from both households and investors. These also include the upgrading of old plants as well as the construction of new transmission lines and power stations with funds from the State as well as via foreign loans.
“Developing and improving the power sector is one of the State’s top priorities. The government is implementing new projects to supply electricity to the whole country,” U Win Khaing said.
Among the upcoming projects is a gas plant in Myingyan operated by Singapore’s Sembcorp Industries, which will is scheduled to be complete and running in May. A second State-owned plant in Thaton will be complete in June. “The plants will be able to contribute a total of 344MW of power to the national grid in 2018, resulting in a more stable supply of electricity,” said U Win Khaing.
Meanwhile, the MOEE is still negotiating the terms of several PPAs involving the import and distribution of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Myanmar over the next three years, during which it intends to double the current supply of power to over 6,000 MW.
The PPAs are being discussed with parties involved in importing and converting LNG to electricity in Myanmar. If successful, it will be the first time Myanmar is using LNG to produce electricity.
In January, the MOEE issued a Notice to Proceed for the construction of three LNG-to-electricity projects in the country.
France’s Total and Germany’s Siemens will invest $2.1 billion in a 1,230 MW LNG power plant in Kanbauk, Tanintharyi Region, while Zhefu Holding Group from China and Supreme Trading from Myanmar will invest $2.5 billion for the 1,390 MW plant in Mee Laung Gyaing, Ayeyarwady Region. Thailand’s TTCL Public Company will invest $321 million to implement 356MW of power in Ahlone, Yangon Region.
Meanwhile, a fourth project utilising natural gas from an offshore gas field will be implemented at Kyaukphyu in Rakhine State.
Source: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/thaketa-gas-plant-commences-supplying-power-yangon.html
