The Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MOEE) fears that power supply will not meet demand in the upcoming dry season. It warned of potential blackouts as it regulates hydroelectric dams to conserve water.

Hydroelectric dams produce more than half of Myanmar’s electricity, but Myanmar’s dams are under-performing as the dry season approaches. “The dams are not full, unlike in previous years, so we have to cut hydropower plant operations,” the Myanmar Times quoted U Soe Myint, MOEE Deputy Permanent Secretary, as saying. This regulation involves limiting the flow of water through the dams in order to conserve enough water for generating power throughout the dry season.

“The demand for electricity exceeds 1,000 megawatts in summer. [Liquid natural gas] plants are being built to meet the demand,” U Soe Myint continued. The 2019 dry season, too, saw rolling blackouts in Yangon as demand for power outstripped supply. Nevertheless, it is possible that a recent dramatic rise in electricity tariffs may limit the amount of electricity people are using.

In any case, the government is preparing for the worst. It recently awarded five emergency power tenders, four of which went to Hong Kong-listed VPower Group. Those tenders call for 900 megawatts of new, liquid natural gas-based power.