In Myanmar in 2024, more than half of the electricity is generated from fossil fuels, with gas being the predominant source, contributing to around half of the total fossil electricity. Coal accounts for nearly a tenth, while low-carbon energy provides close to two-fifths of the country's electricity. Within this low-carbon segment, hydropower is the dominant source, delivering almost 38% of the total electricity consumption. Biofuels contribute a minimal share to the country's low-carbon electricity generation. The reliance on fossil fuels is concerning, given the negative impacts of fossil energy such as air pollution and climate change, and there is an evident need to increase the proportion of low-carbon electricity generation to ensure a cleaner, sustainable future.
Is Electricity Growing in Myanmar (Burma)?
The electricity consumption in Myanmar appears to be declining slightly, as the latest data indicates per capita consumption has dropped to 464 kWh from a previous record of 475 kWh in 2023. This decrease of 10 kWh per person suggests a potential stagnation or setback in the growth of electricity accessibility or use. What's more troubling is the significant decrease in low-carbon electricity generation, which has declined from a record 241 kWh per person in 2018 to 182 kWh per person in 2024, resulting in a marked reduction of 59 kWh. This decline highlights the urgent need for Myanmar to revitalize its clean energy generation efforts to meet increasing demand and support sustainable development.
Suggestions
For Myanmar to bolster its low-carbon electricity production, there is much to learn from other regions that have successfully harnessed various energy sources. For instance, countries like France and Slovakia have focused heavily on nuclear energy, with each generating over 60% of their electricity from this clean source. Similarly, embracing wind energy as seen in Iowa and South Dakota, where wind contributes 60% of power in each state, can serve as a model for Myanmar to diversify its energy mix. Additionally, leveraging solar energy like Lebanon and Nevada could also offer Myanmar significant opportunities, as solar is increasingly becoming a viable and scalable solution across the globe. Increasing the shares of nuclear and solar energy would be strategic moves for Myanmar to expand its low-carbon electricity generation efficiently and sustainably.
History
Historically, Myanmar's low-carbon electricity generation has seen various changes over the years, primarily driven by hydropower. In the early 2000s, the expansion of hydropower began to pick up, although with some fluctuations. This era saw an overall upward trajectory with notable increases around 2009 and 2011, when hydropower surged by 1.2 TWh and 1.3 TWh, respectively. The trend continued fairly positively until 2018 before experiencing significant declines of 1.7 TWh each in 2019 and 2020. The recent past, including the slight increase in 2021 and modest gains in 2023, suggests a recovery phase for hydropower. This history underscores the importance of not only maintaining but also expanding beyond hydropower by incorporating other clean energy sources to ensure robust growth in low-carbon electricity generation.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.