While there are frequent power outages in Myanmar, the Ministry of Electricity and Energy under the State Administration Council said, in its second announcement on reduced power generation, that the power outage will continue due to the reclining power generation capacity of large power plants in the national grid.
The ministry issued the second announcement on the matter on January 12, 2022, after the first announcement on January 5, 2022.
The country’s maximum power generation capacity is about 4,200MW, but a fourfold increase in gas prices has forced some LNG power plants, which account for about 750MW.
Moreover, due to the destruction of 230 kV Biluchaung (2) – Shwe Myo Power Line, 230 kV Biluchaung (2) – Toungoo power line and 132 kV Biluchaung (2) – Tikyit Power Line, which are being repaired, about 220 megawatts of electricity from Biluchaung Hydropower Plant could not be sent to the National Grid.
Due to the load adjustment for the reduced power generation of about 970 MW, “load reduction will continue between 07:00 am and 11:00 am and from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, which is a time of high-power consumption. The public is requested to understand if there is any inconvenience,” the ministry said.
Because of the reduced power generation, many people in cities are facing frequent power outages lately causing trouble for those working from home and cooking. On the other hand, the Ministry of Electricity and Energy is struggling to collect electricity bills as many citizens denied to pay it in an attempt to stop the financial flow to the military regime.
