The country consumed about 2,430 MW last summer, of which Yangon consumed 1,050 MW. Myanmar’s commercial city is expected to demand more electricity this year, the minister said at the opening ceremony of the Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) sub-power station in East Dagon Township on Sunday.

The ministry has set up power facilities in Ahlon, Hlaingthaya, Thaketa and East Dagon townships to satisfy Yangon’s increasing power demands due to rapid pace of urbanisation and industrialisation.

According to official statistics, out of the country’s 10 million households (51 million people), only 2.22 million had access to electricity in 2011. In the 2015-2016 fiscal year, 3.7 million households, or 34 per cent of the country’s households, have access to electricity, while about 6.8 million households still lack regular access.

The country’s total installed capacity is 5,235 MW. Hydropower is the generating source of over 60 per cent of electricity.