Myanmar energy mix & electricity
Power plants in Myanmar produced 21.7 TWh of electricity in 2024. Natural gas is the largest source at 46.1%, ahead of hydropower (46.1%) and coal (5.5%).
Electricity generation by source in 2024
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | 10 | 46.1% | +11.5 |
| Hydro | 10 | 46.1% | −15.3 |
| Coal | 1.2 | 5.5% | +3.5 |
| Bioenergy | 0.27 | 1.2% | −0.3 |
| Oil | 0.12 | 0.6% | +0.1 |
| Solar | 0.12 | 0.6% | +0.5 |
| Total | 21.71 | 100% |
Myanmar: electricity in context
Power plants in Myanmar produced 21.7 TWh of electricity in 2024. That is similar to Tunisia. Natural gas is the largest source at 46.1%, ahead of hydropower (46.1%) and coal (5.5%).
The renewable share stood at 47.9%, placing Myanmar 64th of 158 ranked countries. This puts it 14 points above the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for Asia (27.3%). Each kilowatt-hour emitted on average 503 g CO₂e, against a world average of 458 g. The grid is more carbon-intensive than the world average. On carbon intensity, Myanmar ranks 99th of 158 from the cleanest.
Over the past decade natural gas added more generation than any other source (+5 TWh since 2014, plus 11.5 percentage points of share). The net effect: renewables lost 15.1 percentage points of share since 2014. Total generation grew by 7.3 TWh over the same period. Carbon intensity, however, rose from 366 to 503 g/kWh (+37%).
Against the global trend, coal’s share has risen by 3.5 percentage points in ten years, to 5.5%. In absolute terms, coal generation peaked in 2020 at 2.5 TWh and has since fallen 51%.
Wind and solar remain marginal in Myanmar, together supplying under 1% of electricity.
Myanmar generates 398 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 10% of the global average. Cross-border trade is roughly balanced.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Myanmar against the world and Asia averages.
Total energy: beyond electricity
Primary energy covers transport, heating and industry too. Per person, that is 2,457 kWh a year (world: 21,654).
Domestic extraction of coal, gas and oil, in energy terms.
Power plants in Myanmar
The WRI Global Power Plant Database lists 35 utility-scale plants in Myanmar with a combined capacity of 4 GW. Hydro plants account for the largest slice (68% of listed capacity). The biggest single plant is Yeywa (790 MW, Hydro). The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.
Largest power plants
| # | Plant | Fuel | Capacity MW | Commissioned | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yeywa | Hydro | 790 | 2010 | — |
| 2 | Shweli (1) | Hydro | 600 | 2008 | — |
| 3 | Paunglaung | Hydro | 280 | 2005 | — |
| 4 | Tarpein-1 | Hydro | 240 | 2011 | — |
| 5 | Ngam Tae | Gas | 230 | 2017 | Myanmar Lighting |
| 6 | Baluchaung BHP (2) | Hydro | 168 | 1974 | Myanmar Electric Power Enterprise (MEPE) |
| 7 | Ahlone | Gas | 154 | — | Myanmar Electric Power Enterprise (MEPE) |
| 8 | Hlawga | Gas | 154 | — | — |
| 9 | Tigyit | Coal | 120 | 2005 | — |
| 10 | Kyaukse | Gas | 102 | 2015 | Myanmar Electric Power Enterprise (MEPE) |
| 11 | Thakayta | Gas | 92 | 1990 | — |
| 12 | Shwegyin | Hydro | 75 | 2011 | — |
| 13 | Mone | Hydro | 75 | 2004 | — |
| 14 | Kyee ON Kyee Wa | Hydro | 74 | 2012 | — |
| 15 | Ywama | Gas | 70 | — | — |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 35 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: Myanmar
70 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 324 MW of solar and 210 MW of wind operating, plus 567 MW under construction or planned.
How does Myanmar compare?
Myanmar next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myanmar | 47.9% | 47.9% | 52.1% | 503 | 398 | 21.7 | — | |
| China | 37% | 41.7% | 58.3% | 525 | 7,474 | 10,583 | Compare | |
| India | 24.1% | 26.7% | 73.3% | 670 | 1,422 | 2,082 | Compare | |
| Thailand | 16.6% | 16.6% | 83.4% | 546 | 2,628 | 188 | Compare | |
| Bangladesh | 2.1% | 2.1% | 97.9% | 696 | 589 | 103 | Compare | |
| Laos | 76.7% | 76.7% | 23.3% | 232 | 6,733 | 52.3 | Compare | |
| Bhutan | 100% | 100% | 0% | 24 | 13,897 | 11 | Compare | |
| Asia average | 27.3% | 32.1% | 67.9% | 573 | 3,749 | 18,015 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Myanmar
Myanmar energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Myanmar is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Myanmar?
How clean is the electricity in Myanmar?
Does Myanmar have nuclear power?
How much electricity does Myanmar use per person?
How much solar power does Myanmar produce?
Does Myanmar import electricity?
More countries in Asia
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2024. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.