Myanmar: World Bank’s US$100 Million Credit to Myanmar Continues Hydroelectric Infrastructure Development in Irrawaddy River Basin

Feb 26, 2015 | Gregory B. Poindexter, Hydro World
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Some of the 20 planned hydropower plants for Myanmar (formerly Burma), which is located in South East Asia, will be constructed within the Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady in Burmese) River Basin, according to the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Ministry of Electric Power (MOEP).

Myanmar has numerous hydroelectric projects in development, but last December it received a US$100 million credit from the World Bank’s International Development Association after forming administrative apparatus in the public, private and scientific sectors to manage and develop the Irrawaddy River Basin.

The country's hydroelectric sector accounts for 74% of overall power generation and part of the credit will be used for feasibility studies on hydroelectric infrastructure.

Irrawaddy is Myanmar’s largest river and most important commercial waterway. It originates from the confluence of the N'mai and Mali rivers in north central Myanmar. It flows from north to south in a relatively straight direction for about 2,170 km (1,348 miles) before emptying through the Irrawaddy Delta into the Andaman Sea.