Myanmar suffers major electricity black out

18 February 2015
Myanmar suffers major electricity black out
Electric power pylon at Biluchaung Hydropower Station in Kayah State, Myanmar. Photo: Ye Min/Mizzima

Electric power to the whole country was cut at about 1:30 pm on February 17 due to a breakdown of the national power grid between Pyinmana and Paunglaung in upper Myanmar, U Saw Win Maung, deputy chief engineer of the Yangon City Electricity Supply Board, told Mizzima.
The breakdown occurred because a heavy object dropped onto the grid, but it was still unknown what the object was, according to U Saw Win Maung, speaking in the late afternoon of February 17.
A few hours after the breakdown, electricity returned to many areas, and by the end of the day full service had resumed, he said.
Daw Ei Phyu Aung, who live in Tarmway Township in Yangon Region and experienced the power cut, said: “We experienced power outage twice this afternoon. We received electricity again at around 4 pm. When a power cut occurs, we cannot run our water pump.”
Myanmar currently has a limited and largely antiquated national grid with only about 33 percent of households provided with electricity.