A private company, South East Asia Energy and Electricity Company, has submitted a proposal to Taninthayi regional government to supply 60 megawatts of electricity generated from hydropower, solar power and fuel oil (FO), with an investment of more than US$60 million in Myeik district, sources said.
The company intends to supply electricity generated from hydropower in Palauk sub-township and to supply electricity from solar power and fuel oil in Myeik.
Local people and civic organizations asked about environmental issues and other items relating to the project.
“We will generate electricity from Palauk which will have about 15 megawatts or 20 megawatts of electricity. We will invest about US$20 million for the hydropower project. The US$15 million solar power project will be developed in Tawhtwatgyi and we will have 25 megawatts of electricity. We will supply electricity in Myeik using FO fuel. It will cost about US$20 million and will generate 25 megawatts of electricity. We will invest about US$4 million to replace power cables in Myeik. We will distribute electricity to Myeik first then we will negotiate with the regional government to supply electricity in nearby Myeik,” managing director Maung Maung Myint said.
Many companies are trying to invest in the energy sector and investors from Thailand are interested in coal-fired power projects.
Locals are against the coal-fired power projects and hydropower projects which require building dams in the Taninthayi River.
“We can generate 20 megawatts of electricity from hydropower project only in the rainy season. Electricity generated from solar power will be during the summer. Electric bills will be between approximately Ks250 and Ks300 per unit as we are supplying electricity using FO fuel. If solar power is generated, the bill will be under Ks250 per unit. If hydropower is generated, the bill will be under Ks160 per unit. The electric bill will be about Ks230 per unit if all three energy sources are used to generate electricity.
“The most important thing is to have approval from the regional government. Now the agreement is only in the MoU stage and we need approval from the regional government. Then it will be submitted to Myanmar Investment Commission. If we has permission from the MIC, we will implement the project,” he said.
Source: Eleven Myanmar
