Monday, 08 March 2010 20:31 Min Thet
Rangoon (Mizzima) - As of early this month, some townships in Rangoon Division are receiving more electricity supply at night.
Some townships in Rangoon Division including Tamwe, Yankin, Bahan and South Okkalapa townships have had their power supply quota bettered at night, residents said in unanimity.
"We are getting more electricity recently. Earlier there used to be power cuts the whole night. Now the cuts are intermittent. The reason for increased supply seems to be the ensuing 10th Grade (Matriculation) exams," a local resident from Tamwe said.
"There are groups earmarked for power distribution for Bahan, Goodliffe and Yankin. We are in B group. The Electric Power Corporation told us that we would get power for six hours at a time in turn in December 2009 but power was not available. But it is available as per their schedule now," another local resident said.
Last monsoon, Rangoon residents got regular power supply. Then since last December, the power was rationed again for six hours a day with power cuts at night. Now the situation is better only in some townships with three more hours of electricity starting from 11 p.m.
A senior official of the Electric Power Corporation supplying electricity in Rangoon said that they were distributing power to important areas round the clock and distributing it in three groups -- A, B and C to remaining areas in a rationed manner.
"The group category is printed on the electricity bills of consumers. They can also check in which group they are at our township offices. Power will be available for six hours at a time alternatively as our alternative distribution system," he said.
The current rationed system in groups for load shedding is 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 5 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Lt. Gen Myint Swe from the Defence Services said at the 16th annual general meeting of the 'Myanmar Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry' (MFCCI) on March 6 at its head office in Landmadaw Township that he had directed the department concerned to distribute electricity to townships in Rangoon fully at night.
All 44 townships in Rangoon Division except Coco Island are scheduled for distribution of power from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. The first turbine of the newly built Ye Ywa hydropower plant has been running, so power availability in Rangoon became better, he said.
Demand for electricity for Rangoon is 500 MW and the current availability is only 300 MW, an official from the Corporation said on condition of anonymity.
"Everyone knows Ye Ywa hydropower plant has four turbines and now only one turbine can run and generate below 200 MW. Even so, all 200 MW are not distributed to Rangoon alone. So the demand will not be met by the new turbine. It can only make the situation a little better. At night, we cannot distribute electricity to all these townships," he said.
The matriculation exam will be from March 10 to 19 and candidates need to study now.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
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