Myanmar - Energy and power

Myanmar's petroleum industry was completely nationalized in 1963–64, and the Petroleum and Mineral Development Corp. was formed by the amalgamation of the Mineral Resources Development Corp., the Mines and Explosives Department, and the Burma Geological Development Corp. Petroleum and natural gas deposits were found in 1963 in the Irrawaddy basin and delta. Myanmar has been self-sufficient in oil since 1977; petroleum reserves were estimated at 51.3 million barrels in 1991. Most natural gas comes from the field at Prome. Exploitation of the natural gas discovery in the Gulf of Martaban, Natmi, and Payagon was expected to significantly raise Myanmar's energy reserves. Oil production was estimated at 11,000 barrels per day in 1998. In 1995, natural gas production totaled 51,044 million cu ft (1,446 million cu m). Pipelines in Myanmar include 1,343 km (835 mi) for crude petroleum and 330 km (205 mi) for natural gas, although some of these lines are believed to be in disrepair. Coal resources in Myanmar are of relatively low thermal value. The two principal mines are an underground mine south of Kalewa and an opencast mine at Namma, south of Lashio. About 32,191 tons of coal came from the two mines in 1995.

Production of electricity in 2000 totaled 49,310 million kWh, of which thermal plants provided about 83% and hydroelectric power roughly 17%. Electric power capacity rose to 1,458 MW in 2001, but power supply remained inadequate to meet the country's needs and shortages were on the rise across the country.