The World Bank has approved a $140 million interest-free loan for the modernisation of a key gas turbine plant in Myanmar, as part of its bid to aid the country’s crippled energy sector. With the upgrades, the plant would produce more than three times the amount of electricity with the same amount of gas. The ageing gas turbines at the plant, located in the southern Mon state, will be replaced by new modern units. Known as the Thaton gas turbine station, the plant that provides electricity to both the national and local grids will be able to meet 5 per cent of the total electricity demand in Myanmar and 50 per cent of the demand in the Mon state.
