Myanmar junta implements rotating power cuts amid widening energy crisis and Middle East oil shock

Mizzima

The Myanmar junta’s Ministry of Electric Power has officially announced that rotating power outages will be implemented across Myanmar starting 18 March and will last through at least June.

While the ministry characterizes this as a routine measure to manage high summer demand, the current crisis is being significantly exacerbated by a “global oil shock” following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East.

“The power is still on this morning, but we don’t know when it will go out,” a woman living in Thingangyun Township told Mizzima on 18 March.

According to the ministry, the new electricity distribution plan will begin on 18 March and continue through June. However, it did not specify which areas will be affected or how the schedule will be organized.

The ministry added that electricity generated by liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plants supplying industrial zones will continue to be provided without interruption.

“The power supply had improved about a week before the election. It was only cut for three or four hours per week. Now that the election is over, parliament has resumed, and 10th-grade exams have finished, outages are starting again. It feels like the usual summer blackouts,” said a resident of Mandalay.

Myanmar’s daily electricity demand is 4,664 megawatts, but the Ministry of Electricity said it is currently only able to generate and distribute around 3,600 megawatts.

The rotating outages are intended to balance the load and control increased electricity consumption during the hot season.

A Yangon resident addressed that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has contributed to global fuel shortages, which could worsen the situation in Myanmar, especially as the military authorities have urged fuel conservation.

“I think this year’s outages will be worse than in previous years. In the past, households and small businesses with generators could manage. Now, it’s uncertain because fuel isn’t always available when we need it,” he said.

He added that demand for solar panels and solar-powered equipment is likely to rise, which could drive up prices.

During the summer of 2025, the military authorities implemented scheduled power rationing across Myanmar, including Yangon. At that time, power surges and load imbalances frequently caused fires when electricity was restored.