ALTHOUGH Myanmar has been increasing electricity generation annually from various domestic sources, and despite the target of achieving 100 per cent nationwide electricity coverage by 2030, many components of the country’s overall electricity generation and distribution system, including power plants, transmission lines, and substations, continue to face damage caused by various acts of destructive attacks.
In Myanmar, the average daily electricity demand is around 3,400 to 4,400 megawatts. In addition, daily electricity consumption demand has been increasing annually by approximately 9-15 per cent. At present, the country is only able to generate and distribute around 55 per cent of the required electricity demand. Due to the imbalance between electricity demand and generation capacity, electricity distribution nationwide is being carried out on a rotational basis for approximately 1,100-2,000 megawatts.
Only when electricity is accessible and available for use will it be possible to focus on carrying out development-related activities. At present, the Yangon Region consumes around 50 per cent of the country’s total electricity consumption and, with around 30 industrial zones located there, it is the area with the highest electricity demand. The Mandalay Region accounts for 17 per cent of the country’s total electricity consumption, while the remaining regions and states consume around 31 per cent of the electricity.
Electricity is lost for various reasons during transmission from the generation areas to the different consumption areas through power lines. Power losses can mainly be divided into two types: technical losses and non-technical losses. Technical losses refer to the loss of electrical energy caused by factors such as weak or deteriorated transmission lines, overheating of transformers and related equipment, excessive transmission distances, and voltage drops.
Non-technical losses refer to the loss of electricity caused by illegal activities such as theft and mistakes in meter readings. Electricity theft through improper means affects many members of the public, resulting in a daily loss of access to electricity for some users. In order to reduce such power losses, the government is replacing old transmission lines and transformers with new ones, upgrading the electricity distribution system, and inspecting, identifying, and taking legal action against illegal electricity usage and meter tampering.
The use of electricity, which is shared and distributed nationwide, through illegal means, and those who, in one way or another, encourage, assist, or support such practices are tantamount to insulting the public who are lawfully using electricity. Such individuals are also those who obstruct and disrupt all efforts for national development. As such, effective and strict legal action must be taken against them.
