8 December, 2018

            To have fully access to electricity for public and industries, MOEE is building power plants, transmission lines and sub-stations. Nowadays, 42% of households gain access to electricity generated from these sources and MOEE is implementing to electrify 50% of Myanmar’s households in 2020-2021. In doing so, MOEE performs two main projects. One is to electrify from the National Grid and another one is to dispatch electricity in remote areas far from the National Grid applying solar energy, diesel engines and mini-hydropower plants. These two projects are moving forward in parallel.

            Among the electrical projects in remote areas far from the National Grid, dispatching electricity by using solar energy in Munaung Township, Kyaukpyu District, Rakhine State is one project.

            To distribute more electricity in Munaung Township, Kyaukpyu District, Rakhine State, MOEE, Rakhine Government and POSCO Daewoo Corporation join hands to implement a solar power plant in Munaung Township. So, stake driving ceremony for the project was held at above-mentioned place on 8 December at 12:00 am.

            At the ceremony, U Win Khaing, Union Minister for MOEE, Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu, Deputy Minister Dr. Tun Naing, Chairman of Pyithu Hluttaw Electricity and Energy Development Committee U Kyi Moe Naing, the Ministers of Rakhine State Government, Permanent Secretary of MOEE, U Tin Maung Oo, Representative of Munaung Pyithu Hluttaw, U Tin Nu (or)U Tin Nu Aung, U Thein Maung and U Phoe Nwet, Munaung Township State Hluttaw representatives for No.(1) and No.(2), Mr. Dong Woo Yang, Economic Attache' of Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Myanmar, Mr. Young Sang Kim, POSCO Daewoo Corporation’s CEO, members, local peoples and invited guests were presented.

            First of all, Union Minister revealed that there are five wards, 36 village traps and 137 villages in Munaung Township, Rakhine State. As 1,002 households of five wards and Konetann Villages are currently getting electricity by two diesel engines 6 hours per day but it is making plans to distribute round the clock. In implementing these plans, it would be too costly to distribute by extending cables from national grid because Munaung is an island. Because of these difficulties, ways of distributing electricity are explored like other towns in Rakhine State getting power from national grid.

            And then, H.E. delivered that to distribute electricity more and more in Munaung, survey measures are been taken in 2017-2018 budget year by cooperation of MOEE, Rakhine State Government and POSCO Daewoo Corporation. In accordance with researches, the suitable way is Hybrid System-Energy Storage System (the way of generating power at night using solar energy that is stored in daytime). It’s the best way and the very first project for Myanmar.

            To fulfill above project, MOEE made plans in three phrases. As Phase 1, to ensure 24-hour power distribution for the current electricity consumption of 1,002 households, PV 0.5 MW will be implemented from November, 2018 to May, 2019. The project cost US $ 2.5 million will be provided from CSR fund of POSCO Daewoo Corporation which is cooperating with MOGE in Shwe Offshore project. In Phase 2, MOEE will carry out the process of getting loans to get 24-hour electricity for 4,938 households of 57 villages. It will continue to set up PV 2.5 MW when the loans are permitted. For these reasons, 11 kV Line (30.9 miles), 400 V Line (41.12 miles), 47 100 kVA Transformers and two 200 kVA Transformers, total 51 Transformers in 48 villages by 3,599.998 million of State Budget in fiscal year 2016-2017, 11 kV Line (3.5 miles), 400 V Line (2.5 miles), a 100 kVA Transformer and a 160 kVA Transformer, total two Transformers in 5 villages by 283.25 million of State Budget in fiscal year 2017-2018 and 11 kV Line (4.3 miles), 400 V Line (3.5 miles) and three 100 kVA Transformers in 3 villages by 340.09 million of State Budget in fiscal year 2018-2019 have been already set up. After Phase 2 is being finished, the rest 7,850 households of 80 villages will be continued to implement as Phase 3.

            Then, Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu expressed honoring speech and POSCO Daewoo Corporation’s CEO Mr. Young Sang Kim explained the status of solar power plant. In addition, Representatives of Munaung Pyithu Hluttaw U Tin Nu and U Kyaw Mya and one of the local peoples said that they will collaborate for the project.

            Next, the attendees were shown a video clip of the CSR by POSCO Daewoo Corporation and Stake driving ceremony was held. At the ceremony, Union Minister U Win Khaing, Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu, Deputy Minister Dr. Tun Naing, Chairman of Pyithu Hluttaw Electricity and Energy Development Committee U Kyi Moe Naing, Representative of Munaung Pyithu Hluttaw U Tin Nu, Economic Attache' of Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Myanmar Mr. Dong Woo Yang, POSCO Daewoo Corporation’s CEO, Mr. Young Sang Kim and the local people U Kyaw Mya also drove stakes at 8 corners to launch the power plant project at auspicious time sharp and the party posed together for a photo.

          MOEE can distribute electricity using Hybrid System to Munaung Township, Kyaukphyu District, Rakhine State, one of the remote areas from National Grid. Therefore, the local people can access 24-hour electricity and their socio-economic lives, small and medium industries, job opportunities and per capital income will be improved. In accord with developing electricity, all sectors in Rakhine State such as economy, education, health and social are going to boost day after day.