Energy Efficiency,
Conservation & Sustainability
1. Introduction
Energy utilization in Myanmar
mainly depends upon traditional energy such as Fuelwood,
Charcoal and Biomass. During 2009-2010, 28 percent
of the total energy consumption is contributed by
commercial energy such as oil, natural gas, coal
and hydropower. The balance utilization of different
energy types have all along been emphasized and
increased production of commercial energy has been
prioritized in order to replace traditional energy
types and at the same time to meet the requirement
of industrial development programme.
Myanmar has abundant renewable energy sources such
as Hydropower, Wind, Solar, Geothermal, Biomass
and other types of renewable energy sources. Renewable
Energy , i.e., Hydroelectricity and Biomass contributed
82 percent of total energy consumption. Biomass
in the form of Fuelwood, Charcoal, Agriculture waste
and animal dung are predominantly used.
To liberalize the trade and to open up private sector
investment opportunities, Myanmar has established
a new economic system based on market oriented economy.
Thus, the Government promulgated Union of Myanmar
Foreign Investment Law and its related procedure
in 1988.
As the outcome of the new economic policy, new investments
in all sectors of economy and also construction
and infrastructure developments are growing at a
faster pace, and the energy demand growth has been
increasing to fill the gap that occurred due to
change from supply oriented to demand oriented.
The total energy consumption during 2000-2001 was
21916 (KTOE) and increased to 26882 (KTOE) during 2009-2010. The
average growth rate of total energy consumption
is in the order of 2.64 percent. For petroleum product,
the consumption compared from 1648.4 KTOE in 2000-2001
to 1245.26 KBOE in 2009-2010. Natural Gas consumption increased
from 381.33 KTOE in 2000-2001 to 641.68 KTOE in 2009-2010
with an average growth rate of 4 percent. Hydroelectricity
increased from 254.62 KTOE in 2000-2001 to 389.52 KTOE
in 2009-2010 with an average growth rate of 35%. Coal consumption increased from 84.67 KTOE in 2000-2001 to 246.74 KTOE in 2009-2010. Biomass increased from 723.45 in 2000-2001 to 9665.1 in 2009-2010.
In order to meet the challenges of the energy demand
growth in the 21st Century, energy policy guidelines
had been laid and pursued. The policy guidelines
for energy sector are :-
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To maintain the the status of energy
independence. |
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To promote wider use of New and Renewable Sources of Energy. |
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To promote Energy Efficiency and Conservation. |
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To promote use of Alternative Fuels in household. |
2. Energy Efficiency and Conservation
In accordance with the guidance
of the Government, Ministry of Energy has laid down
Energy Policy and Strategy. The main objective of
the Policy is to utilize optimum amount of energy
efficiently and to save non renewable energy sources.
The Energy Strategy emphasized on the development
of all available energy resources of the country
and to increase the production level of existing
energy sources and at the same time to update the
unsuppressed energy demand.
Due to population growth and change in the economic
system, the demand for energy has increased. Thus
energy conservation measures and improvement of
efficiency of equipment are becoming essential.
Ministry of Energy in cooperation with New Energy
and Industrial Technology Development Organization
("NEDO") of Japan is planning to hold Energy Conservation
Seminar to a wide range of people related in energy
conservation, policy making and promotion. It aims
to provide practical training in the use of NEDO-DB.
Energy Planning Department ("EPD") of the Ministry
of Energy is forecasting energy demands by computer
energy modeling. In the database management of energy
demand and in the sectoral energy demand studies,
Database Administration Variable Output Input Data
("DBAVOID") computer software was used. For long
term final energy demand simulation system, Energy
Demand Evaluation Model ("MEDEE-S") was used.
Also, under the cooperation program between NEDO
and Foreign Economic Relation Department ("FERD")
of the Ministry of National Planning, Feasibilty
Study for Energy Conservation Model Project ("ECMP")
was launched. After completion of Feasibility Study,
energy conservation measures will be implemented
to selected plants and factories.
A continuous energy efficiency programme is being
implemented including DSM strategies involving energy
related groups, financial sector and institutes
of higher learning.
3. Future Programme
In order to implement future
plan for energy efficiency, conservation and sustainability,
the following keys issues are addressed and are
taken into account in drawing up a comprehensive
energy development programme:-
Each sector of energy has its own key issues which
are to be taken into account for implementation
of future development programme.
In the Petroleum sector, in order to meet
the increasing demand growth, the Government has
relaxed the policy on import of crude oil and petroleum
products. Also, joint venture operation with foreign
oil companies has realized improvement in the production
of petroleum, both in terms of crude oil and natural
gas, with major discoveries of natural gas reserves
in offshore area. Key issues in the petroleum sector
are as follows:-
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To reduce the gap between demand and
supply |
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To have more input in terms of financial
resources, equipment, machineries and facilities |
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To improve technology and management
systems |
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To promote private participation |
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To have more conducive terms and conditions
to attract more foreign direct investment |
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To formulate appropriate pricing mechanism |
In the Hydroelectricity sector,
it is estimated that the present hydropower installed
capacity of 1171.8 MW will increased to 2672.5 MW
in Year 2005 - 2006. In order to meet increasing
demand in electricity consumption, mini and medium
scale hydropower projects are to be implemented
in addition to major hydropower projects for domestic
supply that are currently under construction. Also,
some hydropower projects are earmarked and planned
to be constructed for export to neighboring countries,
such as Thailand and India. Key issues in the hydropower
sector are as follows:-
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To reduce the gap between demand and
supply |
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To have more input in terms of financial
resources, equipment, machineries and facilities |
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To improve technology and management
systems |
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To promote private participation |
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To have more conducive terms and conditions
to attract more foreign direct investment |
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To formulate appropriate pricing mechanism |
In the Coal sector, consumption
of coal has also increased and it is expected to
increase from 106,423 ton during the year 1999 -
2000 to 150,000 ton in the year 2000 - 2001 and
will eventually jump to nearly 400,000 ton per year
after the Development of Kalewa Coal Mine Development
Project. As Myanmar recently became a member of
ASEAN Forum on Coal, it has opened up opportunity
for investment in the coal sector. It has also opened
means to promote rural electrification by application
of Coal Technology and to implement power generation
in locations wherever feasible. Key issues in coal
sector are as follows:-
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To carry out extensive exploration works
to identify more proven coal reserves |
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To invite foreign direct investment
and technologies to utilize coal in power
generation as well as in industries |
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To promote private participation to
utilize coal in both power as well as non-power
generations |
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To introduce Clean Coal Technology for
protection of environmental degradation |
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To formulate appropriate pricing to
compete with other types of energy sources |
In the Renewable Energy sector,
Myanmar has abundant renewable energy sources such
as Wind, Solar, Geothermal, Nuclear and Biomass.
However, they are at the very initial stages and
presently studies, research and experimental works
can be performed except biomass which is the traditional
source of energy of the country. As most of the
population resides in rural areas, it depends heavily
on biomass, in the form of fuelwood, charcoal, agriculture
waste and animal residue. More development works
together with appropriate technologies are required
to be made in order to utilize Wind, Solar, Geothermal
and Nuclear Energy as future source of energy of
the country. Key issues in the renewable energy
sector are as follows:-
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To have adequate information on each
and every type of renewable energy sources
of the country |
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To encourage more inter-Ministries and
inter-departmental interaction and cooperation
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To promote private participation in
the development programme |
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To define and specify energy policy
incorporating renewable energy. |
In the Energy Efficiency and
Conservation (EEC), Myanmar is in the awareness
state due to lower cost of energy compared to other
countries. Thus, Myanmar has no specific EEC policy
at present, but as the energy consumption increased,
specific EEC policy will have to be formulated.
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