CNI News

13 Dec 2022

Frequent blackouts in the entire country including Yangon Region sometimes last four to five hours in some places and hamper small and medium enterprises which have to rely on electricity.

As generators have to be used when electricity is cut off, production costs have increased for fuel and operations have been delayed, Ko Hla Khaing, the owner of a steel-door workshop in Tamwe Township in Yangon Region, told the CNI.

He said, "When electricity is cut off, we have to use generators. If electricity is supplied regularly, we just need to pay the bill. It costs relaltive low to use electricity supplied by authorities. When we have to use generators, we have to buy fuel oil. Some workshops that do not have generators have to buy ones. If they cannot afford generators, they will have to wait until electricity comes back. So, their operations are delayed and labour costs are higher. As we cannot buy big generators, we had to buy small ones. So, only one worker can use it and we missed deadlines. We have to apologize to our customers. If electricity is supplied regularly, all workers can do their work."

A candle is lit during a blackout.

Small and medium enterprises suffered losses during the outbreak of COVID-19 and have just resumed their operations when long blackouts hamper them, according to entrepreneurs.

He had to raise prices when his generator is used for photocopying, a photocopying shop owner told the CNI.

He said, "We cannot serve our customers when electricity is cut off. So, we have to use generators. We charge them higher prices when we have to use generators."

Electricity is being rationed in townships in Yangon Region. Electricity is cut off for three to four hours a day in Yangon Region but blackouts last as many as eight hours a day in some townships.
Myanmar has faced electricity shortages due to low electricity output from Hydropower dams, maintenance of gas-fired power stations and saving water in dams for power generation in the upcoming summer.

As a result, electricity is being rationed in the entire country, according to a statement of Yangon Electricity Supply Board.