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Myanmar Gas-Fired Plant Shut Down Amid Civil Unrest

Civil unrest in Myanmar has led Singapore-based Sembcorp Industries to at least temporarily shut down operation of the 225-MW Sembcorp Myingyan natural gas-fired power plant in Mandalay.

Sembcorp, part of Singapore-based and government-owned Temasek, a global investment company, on August 12 said operations at the Sembcorp Myingyan Independent Power Plant would be suspended until further notice. The station is located in Myingyan township, an area that has seen protests against the Myanmar government.

“Sembcorp will look to resume operations at the Plant as soon as reasonably practicable once conditions are safe,” the company said in a statement, adding, “Sembcorp’s priority is to ensure the safety of its employees.”

Sembcorp said that security measures are in place to safeguard the plant.

Military-Led Government

Myanmar’s military government in July said it would extend the state of emergency in the region through the end of the year. Myanmar has seen anti-government protests, including an armed rebellion, as the country continues to experience economic and political upheaval.

The 225-MW gas-fired Sembcorp Myingyan Independent Power Plant in Mandalay, Myingyan township, in Myanmar has been shut down at least temporarily due to continued fighting among the military and other factions in that country. Source: Sembcorp Industries

Japan’s Unicharm Corp., which has helped financially support the power plant’s operation, recently announced it was ending any capital increase for the Myanmar facility. Unicharm said its decision was based on foreign currency remittance restrictions, along with what it considers challenging business conditions in Myanmar.

Myanmar’s military staged a coup in 2021, taking over the country and jailing many members of the country’s then-civilian leadership. The nation in Southeast Asia, also known as Burma, today is a battleground where insurgent groups, including pro-democracy forces and ethnic militias, are battling the military. Reports have said tens of thousands of people have been killed in the past few years.

Darrell Proctor is senior editor for POWER (@POWERmagazine).