Some solar-equipped rice mills expected to start generating end of July
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Phyo/Saw (NP News)
U Ye Min Aung, chairman of the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF), told the Statesman Journal that some of the 28 rice mills to be equipped with solar power will be able to generate electricity by the end of July.
The MRF began preparing the system in 2023, and initial exploration and construction began in March this year.
According to the MRF, 28 rice mills will be equipped with solar power with a total capacity of 41.9 megawatts, and MOUs have been signed with 17 solar energy companies.
“Out of those 28 rice mills, one will open by the end of this month and start generating electricity. Construction is already well underway. Around four, five, or six of the 28 mills, the projects will be completed around the end of this month as well. Opening ceremonies will also be held,” he said.
The locations where solar panels will be installed in rice mills are 12 in Yangon Region, nine in Ayeyarwady Region, three in Bago Region, two in Mandalay Region, one in Naypyidaw, and one in Mon State.
“It’s already finished, they’ve already started producing electricity on a trial basis. It’s already starting to come out. When I asked them, they said they’re still doing the final work, so they’ll hold the opening ceremony around the first week of August. I’m not sure if it’s in Nyaung Don or Shwe Lin Ban, Yangon. Four, five, and six are almost finished. The main thing that we’re pushing for is that if the rice mills use less electricity from the grid, the rice mills here can operate. We can also do business. If the state uses less electricity, the people will get more electricity,” he continued.
According to the statement, the MRF is also working to export three million tons of rice in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
It is reported that, nationwide, about 15 million acres of monsoon paddy and 2.5 million acres of summer paddy are cultivated each year, totaling nearly 18 million acres, which produce around 15 million tons of rice annually. –