Myanmar, S.Korean companies to build gas-fired power plant

YANGON, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar electric power authorities have signed a memorandum of understanding with three South Korean companies on implementation of a gas-fired combined cycle power plant project in Yangon's Thakayta township, official media reported Saturday.

It is the sixth MoU of its kind signed with foreign companies to carry out similar project under build-operate-transfer system, said the New Light of Myanmar.

The three S.Korean companies are Busan Korea Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co.,Ltd and Hana Daetoo Securities Co.,Ltd..

The project would play a part in satisfying power demand in summer of 2014, the report said, adding that the project also aims to distribute electric power to Thilawa industrial zone and links to power network.

Meanwhile, Myanmar authorities also plans power plant that can generate 1,000 mw from Solar energy in Yangon and another 200 mw in Mandalay, the second largest city of Myanmar.

Myanmar produced up to 9.71 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2011-12 but the demand is still not met.

Under such status, the government is striving to produce electricity from natural gas, diesel, coal fire, solar power, wind power, biogas and waste fuel in addition to hydropower.