Rangoon still lacks proper electricity

by Mizzima News
Friday, 12 June 2009 18:28

Rangoon – Despite of promised by authorities to provide round-the-clock electricity supply in Rangoon, an official from Ministry of Electrical Power in Naypyitaw said, it is almost impossible until next month.

Rangoon Electricity Board Secretary, Lt. Col. Maung Maung Latt, in a recent briefing to journalists said, Rangoon would get all round-the-clock electricity in July. However, the officer from the concerned Ministry said it was unlikely.

Despite getting regular rainfall, it will take some time for the water to reach the required level in the reservoirs of hydroelectric power stations, because of extreme heat during this year and high vapourization.

Rangoon, Burma’s former capital, normally receives regular power supply from July to November, during the monsoon period, but the electricity supply is given in a rotation-wise to various townships during the dry season of November to March.

During this dry season, water level in the reservoirs falls down leaving a low pressure that reduces the electricity generation capacity.

However, local residents said the situation is worse than the previous years, despite regular rainfall. Even the alternate transmission of power in their townships, is not available this year.

“The electricity situation is so terrible this year. We got electricity for only 1-2 hours per day in March and April. Even during the alternate transmission of power, we could not get it on time. We usually get in daytime schedules, but most of the time we failed to get electricity during the night time schedules of power rotation,” a local resident from Rangoon told Mizzima.

While the entire country, including Rangoon, gets electricity only alternately, the junta makes sure that their new jungle capital Naypyitaw, in central Burma, receives regular supply.