In 2024, fossil fuels supplied about 61% of electricity consumed in Myanmar (Burma), while low-carbon sources provided about 39%. Gas dominated the electricity mix at just over half, with coal contributing almost 10%. Hydropower supplied nearly 38% of electricity, accounting for almost all clean electricity generation, while biofuels contributed about 1%. Myanmar therefore remains heavily dependent on fossil electricity, with substantial scope to expand clean generation and reduce climate-changing emissions and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Myanmar (Burma)?

Electricity consumption per person is not currently growing: it fell to 464 kWh in 2024, about 10 kWh below the previous record of 475 kWh in 2023. Low-carbon electricity generation per person was also well below its historical peak, reaching 182 kWh compared with 270 kWh in 2018—a decline of 88 kWh, or roughly a third. These setbacks are concerning: Myanmar needs sustained growth in electricity supply, especially clean electricity, to support development, electrification and future demand, including from AI.

Suggestions

Myanmar can increase low-carbon electricity generation by prioritizing solar deployment and developing a long-term nuclear electricity program alongside its existing hydropower. Pakistan offers a useful regional example, generating about 24% of its electricity from solar and 13% from nuclear; Sri Lanka also demonstrates solar’s contribution, at around 15%. Myanmar could accelerate rooftop and utility-scale solar, strengthen electricity grids and add storage to support growing clean generation. For nuclear development, it could learn from Pakistan’s experience and from South Korea, where nuclear supplies a quarter of electricity, while building the institutions, skilled workforce and international partnerships needed for a successful program. Together, solar and nuclear could broaden Myanmar’s clean electricity mix and support higher electricity consumption.

History

Myanmar’s recorded low-carbon electricity history is dominated by hydropower. After a decline of 0.7 TWh in 1998, generation increased by 0.9 TWh in 2000 and rose repeatedly through the rest of the decade, including a 1.2 TWh gain in 2009. Expansion continued through much of the 2010s, with particularly strong increases of 2.4 TWh in 2011, 2.8 TWh in 2017 and 1.5 TWh in 2018. That progress then reversed sharply: hydropower generation fell by 3.6 TWh in 2019 and another 1.7 TWh in 2020. Subsequent changes were smaller and mixed, with gains of 0.7 TWh in 2021 and 0.4 TWh in 2023 interrupted by a 0.4 TWh decline in 2022. This uneven recent performance underscores the importance of restoring clean electricity growth and expanding solar and nuclear alongside hydropower.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade