The government will light another 4000 villages across the country in the second phase of its electrification plan, said U Thura Aung Ko, chief engineer and project manager of the Ministry of Electricity and Energy.
He added the agency has begun inviting tenders to supply equipment for the project.
“We are not yet inviting construction tenders,” U Thura Aung Ko said, adding the second phase is expected to be completed in September 2021.
Deputy Electricity and Energy Minister U Tun Naing said the second phase will supply electricity to villages up to three miles away from the main power line.
Under the first phase, which is due for completion in September 2020, some 4500 villages up to two miles from the power lines are being lighted.
U Thura Aung Ko said that 2281 villages have been electrified so far in the first phase, while the remaining 2203 villages lack of 400-kilovolt routing transmission lines, which is not included in the project funding.
“The cost of 400kV lines will be more than the 11kV lines and transformer combined,” said U Thura Aung Ko. “As a result, fewer villages will be included in the routing distances, which are set by the World Bank. More villages will be included if the people contribute.”
The National Electrification Plan (NEP) is being implemented by the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation with a loan of $400 million (K607.58 billion) from the World Bank.
Electrification of villages is being carried out with $310 million from the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, and $90 million from the Department of Rural Development. – Translated