1 December

The Yangon Region Hmawby Township Tatkyigon sub-station, Okekan Town Kyuntawkon sub-station and Aphyauk Town Aphyauk sub-station, built by the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, Yangon Electricity Supply Corporation (YESC), were opened in ceremonies held at the sub-stations yesterday.

At the event, Union Minister U Win Khaing said the sub-stations were opened to honor the occasion of the national grid providing 50 percent of the entire country’s electricity. When the Ministry of Electricity and Energy was reformed during the current government’s term, the national grid was providing only 34 percent of the country’s electricity. Various energy resources, such as hydro, natural gas and solar, were used to increase power generation to 904 MW, while power transmission was also expanded from 230 to 500 KV. Furthermore, in the power transmission and distribution system, more than 19,600 miles of 230 KV, 132 KV, 66 KV, 33 KV 11 KV and 400 Volt power lines were laid, and 12,636 MVA of sub-stations were constructed since 2016.

Additionally, the momentum for rural electrification was increased by expanding the power system, and today 368 towns and more than 16,941 villages are receiving electricity.

Efforts will be continued towards increasing power supplies and distribution to 55 percent of the country in 2021-2022, and 75 percent of the country in 2025-2026. The aim is to supply and distribute power to the entire country by 2030.

The National Power Supply Project, with assistance from a World Bank loan, is being carried out by the Ministry of Electricity and Energy and, in addition to providing power to villages within 2 miles of the national grid as a first step, arrangements were made for all villages in Yangon Region to be electrified by the end of 2020. At the moment, power stations are providing about 3,789 MW to the national grid system. Yangon Region’s highest utilization was about 1,548 MW, or nearly half of the power supply.

In order to fulfill the increasing demand of Yangon Region, the Ahlon 151 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant project, Thanlyin 350 MW LNG power station project and Thakayta 400 MW LNG power station are being built, and expected to be completed by about May 2020.

Due to the opening of the three sub-stations of the 42,668 households in Hmawby Township, 14 more villages with 1,520 households will get access to stable power supply. Similarly, in Okekan Town with a total of 19,597 households, 51 more villages with 3,803 households will obtain stable power supply.

In Aphyauk Town with 8,871 households, 2 more villages with 254 households will obtain stable power supply. For this to be done, the State incurred about K 2,890 million. Via the three sub-stations the State will provide more electricity to nearby urban and rural areas benefiting the people and developing their socio-economic lives.

Having more sub-stations allow the provision of stable power supply to nearby urban and rural areas as well as reducing line losses. Electricity was the basis for development of the people’s socio-economic lives and the State was prioritizing for the country to obtain and use more electricity. As this will result in all round development in the economy, education, health and social sectors, all are urged to cooperate and help toward achieving this end, said the Union Minister.

Next, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein remarked on the opening of the sub-stations while Hmawby Township constituency 2 Region Hluttaw representative U Than Aung and Tatkyigon village elder U Ko Gyi spoke words of thanks.

Afterwards, 33/11 kV, 5 MVA Tatkyigon sub-station was opened by Yangon Region Hluttaw Deputy Speaker U Lin Naing Myint, Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy U Khin Maung Win, Region minister for electricity, industry, road and communication Daw Nilar Kyaw, Pyithu Hluttaw representative U Aung Win, Yangon Region constituency 1 Hluttaw representative U Aung San Win and constituency 2 Hluttaw representative U Than Aung cutting the ceremonial ribbon. Union Minister U Win Khaing, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein and Yangon Region Hluttaw Speaker U Tin Maung Tun then pressed a button to unveil the commemorative plaque of the sub-station and sprinkled scented water onto the commemorative plaque.

At the opening ceremonies of Kyuntawkon and Aphyauk sub-stations, Yangon Region Hluttaw Deputy Speaker U Lin Naing Myint, Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy U Khin Maung Win, Region minister for electricity, industry, road and communication Daw Nilar Kyaw, Pyithu Hluttaw representative U Kyaw Myint, Yangon Region constituency 1 Hluttaw representative U Tin Shein and constituency 2 Hluttaw representative U Lwin Soe Min cut the ceremonial ribbon while Union Minister U Win Khaing, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein and Yangon Region Hluttaw Speaker U Tin Maung Tun pressed a button to unveil the commemorative plaque of the sub-station and sprinkled scented water onto it. Later they took commemorative group photo and inspected the sub-stations. — MNA (Translated by Zaw Min)