Currently, electricity consumption in Myanmar is predominantly driven by fossil fuels, with fossil energy sources accounting for more than half of the total electricity generation, specifically around 61%. Among these, gas is the predominant source, contributing to about 51% of the total. On the cleaner side, low-carbon energy sources make up roughly 39% of the electricity mix, with hydropower playing a significant role by contributing almost 38%. Biofuels contribute close to none, with just over 1% in the energy mix. There's still a small but notable reliance on coal, making up about 10% of the electricity generation. This fossil-heavy energy landscape indicates a significant opportunity and necessity for Myanmar to further integrate low-carbon technologies to mitigate climate change and reduce air pollution.
Is Electricity Growing in Myanmar (Burma)?
Analyzing the trends in electricity usage reveals that Myanmar has experienced a slight decline in overall electricity consumption per person, recently decreasing to 468 kWh/person from the previous record of 475 kWh/person in 2023. This marks a small drop of about 7 kWh/person. Particularly concerning is the reduction in low-carbon electricity generation per person, which stands at 183 kWh/person, down from a high of 241 kWh/person in 2018, indicating a significant change of 57 kWh/person. These declines highlight the importance and urgency for Myanmar to revamp its electricity generation strategy to meet future demands and ensure sustainable growth, especially with the rising need for electrification and adoption of technologies like AI.
Suggestions
To bolster its low-carbon electricity generation, Myanmar can look towards successful countries that have significantly increased their dependence on clean energy options. Countries like France, Slovakia, and Ukraine stand out with their high reliance on nuclear power, producing 68%, 62%, and 55% respectively of their electricity from this source. Additionally, Denmark excels in wind power, producing 52% of its electricity from wind. Drawing from these examples, Myanmar should consider expanding its investment in both nuclear and solar energy. The adoption of advanced nuclear technologies, alongside solar installations capitalizing on Myanmar’s favorable sunlight conditions, would drastically improve the country's low-carbon electricity capacity and contribute to both domestic energy security and environmental goals.
History
Historically, Myanmar's low-carbon electricity landscape has predominantly been defined by hydropower. Significant advancements were noted from the early 2000s into the mid-2010s, with consistent annual increases ranging from 0.3 to 1.3 TWh. Major expansions occurred particularly in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017, and 2018 with increments exceeding 1 TWh each. However, recent years have seen volatility with notable declines in 2019 and 2020, each experiencing a reduction of 1.7 TWh. These fluctuations underscore the need for Myanmar to diversify its clean electricity portfolio by incorporating stable and sustainable energy sources like nuclear and solar, ensuring a robust and reliable power supply to support the nation’s growth trajectory.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.