Chinese-Backed Solar Power, Northern Shan Border Trade, and More

Plans for China-backed solar power stations revived

Myanmar’s first solar power plant in Minbu Township, Magwe Region / Power China

Plans are taking concrete shape at last for Chinese-backed solar power complexes that the blackout-prone regime hopes will ease some of the pressure on the grid.

On Monday, executives from Myanmar’s Galaxy Red Star and China’s GCL Green Energy Technology laid out the technical details for a 250-megawatt solar plant project, to be built in the famous beach resort of Ngwesaung in Ayeyarwady Region.

Already in August, Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings (MTSH) announced plans for a 200-MW solar power project with China’s GCL System Integration Technology. MTSH is in charge of the formerly Japan-backed Thilawa Special Economic Zone in Yangon.

Bids for the construction of 29 ground-mounted solar projects capable of generating a total of 1 gigawatt of power were invited as long ago as 2020 by the since-ousted government under a 20-year “build, operate and own” contract.

Chinese companies or consortia won the bids for 28 out of the 29, but everything ground to a halt when the miliary launched its coup in early 2021 and later canceled tenders. The regime then invited new bids for projects in Naypyitaw, Mandalay, Magwe, Bago and Shan.

According to regime media, Myanmar currently generates 3,400 MW from 32 hydropower plants, 24 natural gas-fired plants, two coal-fired plants, and 12 solar plants, with an additional 500 MWs being generated from LNG projects. At least nine more solar power plants remain under construction.