“Want to Light Electricity” (Part-3)

              In order to distribute electricity from the National Grid throughout the nation, constant efforts are being implemented. Moreover, we are attempting as much as we can although we have no sufficient funds to implement around the country at the same time.

              MOEE is performing to access electricity in Buthidaung and Maungdaw, the Rakhine Northen border areas. 66 KV Ponnagyun-Rathidaung-Buthidaung-Maungdaw Transmission Line 64.86 miles and construction of 66/11 KV Sub-station in Rathidaung, Buthidaung and Maungdaw are the accessing electricity projects of MOEE in Rakhine State. Among these projects, 66 KV Ponnagyun-Rathidaung Transmission Line 22.2 miles and 66/11.5 MVA Sub-station in Rathidaung were completely finished. Therefore, the opening ceremonies of those projects were held on 1^st April, 2018 and electricity can be distributed from the National Grid in Rathidaung as well as in 26 villages and 5,918 households near Rathidaung.

              As MOEE is running non-stop even in rainy season, the projects such as 66 KV Rathidaung-Buthidaung-Maungdaw Transmission Line and sub-station will be completed before 2018 and MOEE can distribute electricity to Buthidaung and Maungdaw through National Grid. In addition, around 4,000 households can access electricity, regional people can get more job opportunities and their living standards are going to rise because small industrial enterprises will be promoted.

              Rakhine State has total area 14,200.08 square miles wide and population of 3,188,807 shown by 2014 Census. There are 459,772 households in Rakhine State and 81,554 households are using electricity until the end of July, 2018. So, Rakhine State is a state that only 17.74 per cent of households can access electricity. Although the National Grid has arrived to Rakhine State four years ago, improvements in accessing electricity today are significant there. Among twenty-six cities in Rakhine State, eighteen get electricity. Therefore, I would like to inform the public how to make efforts for arriving National Grid to Rakhine State across the Rakhine Yoma.

              Although the respective departments want to perform in parallel to access electricity in Regions and States where the National Grid does not arrive, they have to implement the projects under limited National Budget and international loans. In 2011, loans of US $ 64.07 million from India and donation of US $ 10 million from China were accepted to implement the projects for getting electricity in Rakhine State and departmental heads made plans to implement these projects. In accord with the initial plan, five 239 kV Transmission Lines such as 230 kV Okeshitpin-Toungup (Single Circuit Transmission Lines 54.41 miles), 230 kV Toungup-Maei (Single Circuit Transmission Lines 46.78 miles), 230 kV Maei-Kyaukpyu (Double Circuit Transmission Lines 60.6 miles), 230 kV Mann-Ann (Single Circuit Transmission Lines 67 miles) and 230 kV Ann-MraukU-Ponnagyun (Single Circuit Transmission Lines 115.73 miles) were going to be implemented in the same time. As further implementation processes, 230 kV Maei-Ann (Single Circuit Transmission Lines 36.28 miles) was extended and four 230 kV Substations were constructed in parallel.

              Towers for transmission lines, conductor cables and accessories, transformers for substations, electrical appliances and other necessaries were purchased by loans from India and construction costs were managed by national budget. To start projects, survey task was performed in 2011-2012. But, unexpected unrest was occurred in Rakhine State at that time. So, the projects were suspended and they could be re-implemented after the end of 2012.

              The responsible parties have faced difficulties when they constructed 230 kV Okeshitpin-Toungup and 230 kV Mann-Ann because these two projects across the Rakhine Yoma where the height of more than 3,000 feet (4,000 feet in some cases) from South to North and the width of about 80 miles in the East and West. When the places for towers were selected, MOEE has many hindrances because Rakhine Yoma is not a Highland and has many mountains. Therefore, various kinds of places were selected to install towers, some towers at hilltop, some on the mountainside and some in the canyon and so on. In addition, operations of tower foundation, tower erection, transmission lines setting up and carrying materials were conducted using  pully, people and buffalos, in different ways to pass their hindrances.

              Besides, the working groups have to be cautious and ensure to safe in worksite during operation time because of bad weather like heavy rain in the rainy season and fog in the winter. At the early 2013, final survey measures were completed and foundation tasks were started rapidly by tower stub members from abroad. In doing constructions, operations of tower foundation and tower installation were carried out by departments and local companies such as 230 kV Okeshitpin-Toungup Transmission Lines 54.41 miles (7 teams of local company), 230 kV Toungup-Maei Transmission Lines 46.78 miles (9 teams of local company), 230 kV Maei-Ann Transmission Lines 36.28 miles (5 teams of local company), 230 kV Maei-Kyaukpyu Transmission Lines 60.6 miles (12 teams of local company) and 230 kV Ann-MyaukU-Ponnagyun Transmission Lines 115.73 miles (14 teams of local company). And power installation tasks were performed by the groups from the Offices of Project Manager’s and Transmission Lines.

              In order to supervise these constructions, Project Manager’s Offices (South/ North) were appointed. Therefore, Project Manager’s Office (South) were responsible to implement 230 kV Okeshitpin-Toungup Transmission Lines, 230 kV Toungup-Maei Transmission Lines, 230 kV Maei-Kyaukpyu Transmission  Lines, constructions of 230/66/11kV, 100 MVA Toungup(Baryay) Substation and 230/66/11 kV, 100 MVA Kyaukpyu(Gonechone) Substation, projects of 66 kV transmission lines and 66 kV substation related with 230 kV substations. Planning Manager’s Office (South) assigned to Project Manager’s Office No. (3) (Shwedaung) to closely manage those projects.

              In the other hand, Project  Manager’s Office (North) were responsible to implement 230 kV Maei-Ann Transmission Lines, 230 kV Ann-MyaukU-Ponnagyun Transmission Lines, 230 kV Mann-Ann Transmission Lines, constructions of 230/33/11 kV, 50 MVA Ann Substation and 230/33/11 kV, 50 MVA Mann Substation, projects of 66 kV transmission lines and 66 kV substation related with 230 kV substations. Project Manager’s Office (North) assigned to Project Manager’s Office No. (1) (Shwesayan) to closely manage those projects.

              In order to implement above operations smoothly, Project Manager’s Office No.(3) Shwedaung(South) carried out constructions by settling stations at Okeshitpin, Toungup and Kyaukpyu as well as Project Manager’s Office No.(1) Shwesayan(North) supervised their tasks by settling stations at Padan, Ann and Ponnagyun.

              As tower stub members and tower members were delivered separately from abroad, Project Manager’s Office No.(3) Shwedaung(South)(at Okeshitpin Station) and Project Manager’s Office No.(1) Shwesayan(North) (at Padan Station) checked their specifications according with the contract and approved them before these materials were transported to respective project areas. At that time, Project Manager’s Office No.(3) Shwedaung(South) issued necessary towers to project areas from Okeshitpin Station and Project Manager’s Office No.(1) Shwesayan(North) from Padan Station and the two offices took tower foundation activities.

              As special performance, tower members for 230 kV Maei-Kyaukpyu Transmission Lines (Double Circuit) were delivered by ship from Yangon to Kyaukpyu and collected them at station in Kyaukpyu Substaion compound. At the station, the officials concerned checked again these towers in case of  types and then handed over to the respective worksites.

              As responsible parties want to complete the projects rapidly, they accelerated rate of working in all seasons from early 2013. Therefore, tower erection were partially finished at the early 2014 and they prepared to take cable extension activities. In parallel, 230 kV Okeshitpin-Toungup Transmission Lines, Toungup-Maei Transmission Lines, Maei-Ann Transmission Lines, Ann-Ponnagyun Transmission Lines and Maei-Kyaukpyu Transmission Lines were firstly constructed. As first phase, MOEE has managed to distribute electricity  from 230 kV Okeshitpin Substation where electricity already arrived to 230 kV Toungup Substation and then 230 kV Ann Substation and Ponnagyun Substation as well as Kyaukpyu Substation via Maei. In second phase, Mann-Ann Transmission Lines and Mann Substation extension were implemented.

  (Author by Myo Chit Khin)