There are almost 200 large dams in Myanmar.[1] [2] Myanmar (Burma) has a large hydroelectric power potential of, although the economical exploitable potential is about . Between 1990 and 2002, the country tripled its installed capacity of hydro plants, increasing from to .[3] Total installed capacity in 2010 is at least MW, 6% of potential. Several large dams are planned to increase future hydro utilization.[4]
Although Myanmar is underdeveloped in terms of its hydro-power potential it is not for lack of effort. While chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, Sr-Gen Than Shwe prioritized the building of dams. A native of the Kyaukse region through which the Zawgyi River flows, Shwe was widely rumored to believe himself to be a reincarnation of King Anawrahta (r. 1044-1077). During his reign King Anawrahta was a prolific dam- and canal-builder, especially along the Zawgyi river. He viewed his hydro projects as atonement for killing his foster-brother Sokkate.
The total electricity generated by Myanmar in 2002 was, consisting of oil (612 GWh, 9%); gas (3770 GWh, 57%); and hydro (2232 GWh, 34%).[3]
Myanmar's hydro power development activities and plans include five-year short-term plans and a 30-year strategic plan. This involves generating power for domestic use and exporting to neighboring countries, especially China, Thailand and India. Total planned hydro power development in Myanmar is 14,600 MW.[5]
Though the twelve large planned hydroelectric dams generating more than 1,000 MW gain much media attention, there are at least another twelve in the 100 - 1000 MW range and at least 27 smaller microhydroprojects less than 100 MW. The rest of the dams are generally lower-height irrigation structures.
At least 45 Chinese multinational corporations have been involved in approximately 63 hydropower projects in Myanmar, including several related substation and transmission line projects. The country's State Peace and Development Council Chairman Than Shwe met with Chinese representatives at the Shweli I Dam.[1]
| 19 | Panlaung river | 56 | 1985 | |||
| Selu | 20 | .024 | Shan State | |||
| Malikyun (Palaw) | 21 | .192 | Tanintharyi Region | |||
| Matupi (Namlaung) | 22 | .2 | Chin State | |||
| Maing Lar | 23 | .06 | Shan State | |||
| Baluchaung I [6] | 24 | 28 | Karenni State | |||
| Ching Hkran Dam | 25 | 2.52 | Kachin State | |||
| Laiva Dam | 26 | 0.96 - 0.6 | Chin State | |||
| Nam Wop Dam | 27 | 3 | Shan State | |||
| Nammyao (Lashio) Dam | 28 | 4 | Shan State | |||
| Chinshwehaw (Extension) Dam | 29 | .2 | Shan State | |||
| Kunlon Dam | 30 | Salween River | 0.5 | Shan State | ||
| Zi Chaung Dam | 31 | 1.26 | Sagaing Region | |||
| Nam Hkam Hka Dam (Mogaung) | 32 | 5 | Kachin State (22.2833°N 97.6667°W) | |||
| Nam Suang Ngaung (Kyaukme) | 33 | 4 | Shan State | |||
| Lahe | 34 | .05 | Sagaing Region | |||
| Tui swang (Tonzang) | 35 | .2 | Chin State | |||
| Che Chaung (Mindat) | 36 | .2 | ||||
| Thapanseik Dam | 37 | 30 | 2002-6 | |||
| Lawpita Dam | 39 | 192 | 1992 | Karenni state | ||
| Monechaung | 40 | 75 | 2004 | Magway Region (20.4786°N 94.254°W) | ||
| 41 | 75 | 2011 | Bago Region | |||
| Total | 40 | Hydro plants | 3,048.5 MW | commission | All Myanmar |
| Myitsone Dam | 1 | 6000 | 2017 est. | 25.6897°N 97.5178°W | ||
| Chibwe Dam | 2 | 3400 | 25.8933°N 98.1303°W | |||
| Pashe Dam | 3 | N'Mai River | 1600 | 26.4833°N 98.3164°W | ||
| Lakin Dam | 4 | N'Mai River | 1400 | Lakin26.5958°N 98.4061°W | ||
| Phizaw Dam | 5 | N'Mai River | 1500 | |||
| Kaunglanphu Dam | 6 | N'Mai River | 1700 | |||
| Laiza Dam | 7 | 1560 | 26.5364°N 97.7428°W | |||
| Chibwe Creek Dam | 8 | N'Mai River (Chibwe Creek) | 99 | 25.8944°N 98.1444°W | ||
| Shwe Kyin Dam | 10 | Shwe Kyin Chaung (Stream) | 75 | 17.9733°N 96.9375°W | ||
| Tarpein I [7] Tarpien I[8] | 13 | 240 | ||||
| Tarpein II Dam | 14 | Tarpein River | 168 | |||
| Nam Myaw Dam | 16 | 4 | ||||
| Shweli II Dam | 17 | Shweli River | 460 | |||
| Shweli III Dam | 18 | Shweli River | 360 | |||
| 19 | Salween River | 2400 | 23.5317°N 98.6111°W | |||
| Mepan (Meipan) Dam | 22 | 1.26 | ||||
| Kunhein (Kunheng) Dam | 23 | 0.15 | ||||
| Kyaing Ton (Kengtung) Dam | 24 | 0.48 | ||||
| 26 | 7110 | 20.4564°N 98.65°W | ||||
| Kengtawng Dam | 27 | 54 | ||||
| Kyaukme Dam | 30 | 4 | ||||
| Watwon Dam | 31 | 0.5 | ||||
| Dattawgyaing Dam | 33 | 36 | ||||
| Kyeeon Kyeewa Dam | 39 | 75 | ||||
| Buywa Dam | 40 | 60 | ||||
| Nancho Dam | 41 | 40 | ||||
| Paung Laung Dam | 44 | 280 | ||||
| Thaukyegat I Dam | 45 | 150 | Kayin State | |||
| Thaukyegat II Dam | 46 | 120 | Kayin State | |||
| Kapaung Dam | 47 | 30 | Bago Region | |||
| Kunchaung Dam | 48 | 60 | Bago Region | |||
| Yenwe Dam | 49 | 25 | Bago Region | |||
| Kyauk Naga Dam | 51 | 75 | ||||
| Hatgyi Dam[9] | 52 | Salween River | 1360 | |||
| Dagwin dam[10] | 53 | Salween River | 792 | |||
| Tamanthi[11] | 54 | 1200 | ||||
| Weigyi[12] | 56 | Salween River | 4540 | 18.6297°N 97.3608°W | ||
| Mobye Dam | 57 | 168 | ||||
| Datawcha Dam | 58 | Balu Chaung River | 28 | |||
| Tha Htay Chaung[13] | 59 | 111 | Thandwe Township | |||
| Ann Chaung | 60 | Ann River | 10 | Ann Township | ||
| Sai Din Dam[14] | 61 | Sai Din Waterfall | 76.5 | 2014 est. | Buthidaung | |
| Laymro Dam | 62 | 500 | ||||
| Shwesayay Dam[15] | 63 | Chindwin River | 600 | |||
| Taninthayi[16] | 65 | 600 | ||||
| Htamanthi[17] | 66 | 1200 | ||||
| Tajan[18] | 67 | |||||
| Nam Kok | 68 | 42,100 to 150 | ||||
| Bilin | 85 | 280 | Mon State | |||
| Phyu | 87 | 65 | Bago Region | |||
| Bawgata | 88 | 160 | Kayin State | |||
| Ywathit Dam | 89 | 600 to 4,500 | Kayah State |
| 1 | irrigation | Aung Lan Township, Magway Division | Chaungmagyi Dam | 1 | 3000acres | ||
| Kataik Dam | 2 | irrigation | |||||
| 3 | irrigation &<br /> industrial water | Pyinmana Township | |||||
| Yezin Dam | 4 | irrigation | 19.865°N 96.2831°W |
In addition there were at least 10 major irrigation dams completed during the period between 1962 and 1988.[19]