The government hopes to increase electricity coverage to 60 percent of the country by 2021, according to the National Energy Planning Committee.
In 1988, only 10.6 percent of the country was connected to electricity. This increased to 23.2 percent in 2009, and rose to 29 percent in 2013.
The Ministry of Electric Power has introduced plans to increase this to 45 percent in the 2015-16 fiscal year, and 60 percent by 2020-21.
The MEP states that Myanmar still has the lowest electricity connectivity in ASEAN, blaming the problem on low income levels and lack of basic infrastructure.
Access to electricity is restricted by income and region. For example, in May of 2013, 75 percent of Yangon City residents had access to electricity, 70 percent in Naypyitaw, 44 percent in Kayah state and 37 percent in Mandalay region.
According to a statement from 2013, the total generation capacity of Myanmar’s power plants is 3,831.5 megawatts (MW), but they typically only generate 1,655MW, not enough to meet demand of 1,930MW.
Individual electricity consumption in Myanmar is about 180kwh. This rate is the second lowest in the ASEAN region and neighbouring countries – Cambodia is the lowest with 131kwh per person.
