"Myanmar braces for further power disruptions as solar initiative stalls" 20 April 2022

The regime’s push for solar power to rescue Myanmar from massive blackouts has failed, and a new Chinese gas plant and hydropower provide controversial alternatives. 

Over the past 12 months, Marubeni of Japan and French EDF called off their joint hydropower proposal. Japanese energy firm Eneos, conglomerate Mitsubishi and Malaysian Petronas all withdrew from Myanmar’s Yetagun gas project, and global giants Total, Woodside and Chevron announced their exits from the country. [...]

This has had massive consequences for people living in Myanmar. Blackouts have become more frequent since the start of 2022, with some townships in Yangon receiving just four to six hours of power daily. Businesses have also been affected as they have to use expensive diesel generators to keep running their operations. [...]

In a March 24 statement, Shanghai-listed PowerChina said it expects construction to be completed on November 30. “Kyaukphyu is the most important fulcrum of the Belt and Road initiative in Myanmar, and an important construction area of ​​the China-Myanmar ‘herringbone’ economic corridor,” the company said, referring to President Xi Jinping’s flagship foreign policy initiative.

Meanwhile, coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has his eyes set on increased solar power production and promoted the use of solar power for electricity generation and agricultural purposes in a meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on March 31, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported. [...]