World · Myanmar Bureau
Myanmar junta says reliable electricity supply still two decades away
Myanmar's military government has acknowledged that citizens will need to wait approximately 20 years for stable power supply as the country depends on completion of major energy infrastructure projects, including a Russian nuclear facility.
LSN Myanmar ·
The Myanmar junta has set a lengthy timeline for achieving reliable electricity across the nation, telling residents that two decades will likely pass before consistent 24-hour power becomes available nationwide. The admission underscores the country's significant energy infrastructure challenges and dependence on large-scale projects currently under development.
Among the major initiatives cited is a Russian-backed nuclear power project that has already extended over a decade in development. Officials have indicated that completion of this facility, along with other energy generation schemes, forms the backbone of the country's plan to meet growing electricity demand.
The timeline highlights Myanmar's struggle to modernize its power generation and distribution systems following years of underinvestment and the disruptions caused by the military coup in 2021. Chronic power shortages have affected both urban and rural areas, impacting households and businesses throughout the country.
The junta's acknowledgment that reliable electricity remains a distant prospect suggests limited near-term relief for Myanmar's population, which continues to face frequent outages and unstable supply. Experts have noted that the country's energy sector requires substantial investment and technical expertise to meet contemporary demand levels.