fbpx
Wikipedia

Oil and gas industry in Myanmar

February 16, 2024

Myanmar, is a developing country and an important natural gas and petroleum producer in Asia. It is home to one of the world's oldest petroleum industries, with its first crude oil exports dating back to 1853.[1] Today, the country is one of the major natural gas producers in the Asian continent.[2] Decades of isolation, sanctions, a lack of technical capacity, opaque government policies and insufficient investment has impeded the country's efforts to develop an upstream hydrocarbon sector.[3] Recent but slow political reform has led the international community to ease sanctions on Burma, giving rise to hopes of greater investment and economic growth. In 2015-2016, the petroleum industry attracted the highest-ever amount (USD 4.8 billion) of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the history of Myanmar.[4]

Oil wells in Yenangyaung, 1910

History edit

Early British explorers in Burma discovered a flourishing oil extraction industry in the town of Yenangyaung in 1795.[5] The area had hundreds of hand-dug oil wells under the hereditary control of 24 Burmese families.

British Burma exported its first barrel of crude oil in 1853.[6] The London-based Burmah Oil Company (BOC) was established in 1871 and began production in the Yenangyaung field in 1887 and the Chauk field in 1902. BOC enjoyed a monopoly in the sector until 1901, when the American Standard Oil Company launched operations in Burma.[2] Oil supplies largely met the demand of British India. Prior to World War II and the Japanese invasion of Burma, oil production stood at 6.5 million barrels annually.[7] After independence in 1948, the oil wells had dried up after decades of British extraction.

In 1963, the socialist military government led by Ne Win nationalized the sector, causing decades of economic stagnation.[1]

After 1989, the military junta began opening up the country to more foreign investment. Shell discovered the Apyauk gas field 50 kilometres northwest of Yangon in 1991.[8]

Current status edit

Myanmar is today primarily a natural gas producer. As of 2015, Myanmar exports gas to Thailand and China.[3] Myanmar had proven gas reserves of 10 trillion cubic feet in 2012, with an annual production capacity of 416 BcF.[9] Oil reserves in 2013 numbered at 50 million barrels, with a production capacity of 21,000 bbl/d.[9] The Yenangyaung oil field continues to be in operation.

The country has classified 51 onshore blocks and 53 offshore blocks, including 26 deep water blocks, for oil and gas exploration.[7]

The National Energy Management Committee regulates the sector under the Ministry of Energy. The industry consists of three key state players:[2]

  • Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise, created in 1963; responsible for exploration, production and domestic gas transmission through a 1,200-mile onshore pipeline network.
  • Myanma Petrochemicals Enterprise, operates small refineries and fertilizer plants
  • Myanmar Petroleum Products Enterprise, responsible for retail and wholesale distribution of petroleum products

Major international oil companies (IOCs) engaged in Myanmar include TotalEnergies, the Essar Group, CNOOC, PTTEP, Petronas and Sinopec.[10] After some of the sanctions were lifted in 2012, many international investors such as for instance British Gas, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ENI, Oil India, Ophir, PetroVietnam, Shell, Statoil, and Woodside entered Myanmar's petroleum market.[11]

Local companies such as Parami Energy Group and MPRL are some who are leading players in this field. According to Kwong Weng Yap, Chief Operating Officer of Parami, he said in a speech to the ASEAN community that the Myanmar oil and gas industry requires a clean government and local inclusion for it to be sustainable in the near term.[12]

The downstream distribution network in Myanmar remains very under-developed with limited access to foreigners.

Conflict and Controversy edit

The natural gas on shore extraction sites have been areas of continued human rights violations against local ethnic groups. The modern oil and gas reforms entrenched historical wealth inequality built on a legacy of corruption, ethnic inequality, and systemic sexism promoted through the Tatmadaw’s State and Peace Development Council (1988-2010), which resulted in 20 families re-branding themselves as Urban Elites seeking foreign investment during market liberalisation efforts around 2013. The scramble to open up Burma for business has played a direct role in inflaming community tensions. One of the most prominent culprits is the Shwe Gas Project led by South Korean and Indian companies, to export natural gas via pipeline from Arakan state to China's Yunnan province. The 2,800 km overland pipeline is slated to become operational this year.

The project plans to produce 500 million cubic feet (mcfd) of gas per day for 30 years, supplying 400 mcfd to China, and the remaining 100 mcfd to factories owned by the Burmese government, military and associated business elites.[13]

The losers from this venture are the Burmese people and environment. An extensive report by the Shwe Gas Movement (SGM), a Burmese community-based human rights network, documented the destruction of local fishing and farming industries, including confiscation of thousands of acres of land to "clear areas for the pipeline and associated infrastructure", from 2010 to 2011. Tens of thousands have been left jobless, with little or no compensation or employment opportunities.[14]

In 2021, a coup d'état took place, removing Aung San Suu Kyi with a military junta. In 4 February 2021, French oil multinational TotalEnergies (known as Total S.A. at the time) announced it was reviewing the impact of the coup on its domestic operations and projects.[15] The company would later issue a statement on April that it would not withhold payments to the military junta and would not cease operations in its Yadana offshore gasfield.[16] On 22 January 2022, TotalEnergies and Chevron would later announce its departure from Myanmar in response to the human rights abuses from the military junta. TotalEnergies also calls for sanctions in response to such actions in Myanmar.[17]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b . Burma.total.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-15. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  2. ^ a b c https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/393763/UKTI_Burma_-_Oil_and_Gas_Report_-_Jan_2015.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  3. ^ a b "U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)". Eia.gov. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  4. ^ Vakulchuk, Roman; Kyaw Kyaw Hlaing; Edward Ziwa Naing; Indra Overland; Beni Suryadi and Sanjayan Velautham (2017). Myanmar’s Attractiveness for Investment in the Energy Sector. A Comparative International Perspective. Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies (MISIS) Report.
  5. ^ Longmuir, Marilyn V. "Oil in Burma: The Extraction of "Earth Oil" to 1914". Bangkok: White Lotus (2001) ISBN 974-7534-60-6 pp.329
  6. ^ khiggins (2014-02-01). "Journal of Petroleum Technology - Focus on Myanmar". Spe.org. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  7. ^ a b http://www.myanmar-oilgas.com/OilGas/media/Site_Images/Day-2-AM-1-EPD-Petroleum-Sector-Prospects.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  8. ^ http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDSContentServer/IW3P/IB/1995/06/20/000009265_3961019114742/Rendered/PDF/multi_page.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  9. ^ a b "International - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)".
  10. ^ "Factbox - Myanmar's oil and gas sector, one of world's oldest | Reuters". Uk.reuters.com. 2012-01-06. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  11. ^ Stokke, Kristian; Vakulchuk, Roman and Indra Overland (2018) Myanmar: A Political Economy Analysis. Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI). Report commissioned by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  12. ^ "Factbox - Myanmar's oil and gas industry; ASEAN Energy Business Forum". 2015-06-11. Retrieved 2015-11-06.
  13. ^ "Home". shwe.org.
  14. ^ "The dirty fossil fuel secret behind Burma's democratic fairytale | Nafeez Ahmed". The Guardian. 26 April 2013.
  15. ^ "Total assessing impact of Myanmar coup on its projects". Reuters. 4 February 2021. from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  16. ^ John Reed (4 April 2021). "Total rejects campaigners' pressure to freeze payments to Myanmar junta". Financial Times. from the original on 4 April 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  17. ^ "2 big energy firms exit Myanmar over human rights abuses by the military government". NPR. Associated Press. 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2022-01-21.

February 16, 2024
industry, myanmar, myanmar, developing, country, important, natural, petroleum, producer, asia, home, world, oldest, petroleum, industries, with, first, crude, exports, dating, back, 1853, today, country, major, natural, producers, asian, continent, decades, i. Myanmar is a developing country and an important natural gas and petroleum producer in Asia It is home to one of the world s oldest petroleum industries with its first crude oil exports dating back to 1853 1 Today the country is one of the major natural gas producers in the Asian continent 2 Decades of isolation sanctions a lack of technical capacity opaque government policies and insufficient investment has impeded the country s efforts to develop an upstream hydrocarbon sector 3 Recent but slow political reform has led the international community to ease sanctions on Burma giving rise to hopes of greater investment and economic growth In 2015 2016 the petroleum industry attracted the highest ever amount USD 4 8 billion of foreign direct investment FDI in the history of Myanmar 4 Oil wells in Yenangyaung 1910 Contents 1 History 2 Current status 3 Conflict and Controversy 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory editEarly British explorers in Burma discovered a flourishing oil extraction industry in the town of Yenangyaung in 1795 5 The area had hundreds of hand dug oil wells under the hereditary control of 24 Burmese families British Burma exported its first barrel of crude oil in 1853 6 The London based Burmah Oil Company BOC was established in 1871 and began production in the Yenangyaung field in 1887 and the Chauk field in 1902 BOC enjoyed a monopoly in the sector until 1901 when the American Standard Oil Company launched operations in Burma 2 Oil supplies largely met the demand of British India Prior to World War II and the Japanese invasion of Burma oil production stood at 6 5 million barrels annually 7 After independence in 1948 the oil wells had dried up after decades of British extraction In 1963 the socialist military government led by Ne Win nationalized the sector causing decades of economic stagnation 1 After 1989 the military junta began opening up the country to more foreign investment Shell discovered the Apyauk gas field 50 kilometres northwest of Yangon in 1991 8 Current status editMyanmar is today primarily a natural gas producer As of 2015 Myanmar exports gas to Thailand and China 3 Myanmar had proven gas reserves of 10 trillion cubic feet in 2012 with an annual production capacity of 416 BcF 9 Oil reserves in 2013 numbered at 50 million barrels with a production capacity of 21 000 bbl d 9 The Yenangyaung oil field continues to be in operation The country has classified 51 onshore blocks and 53 offshore blocks including 26 deep water blocks for oil and gas exploration 7 The National Energy Management Committee regulates the sector under the Ministry of Energy The industry consists of three key state players 2 Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise created in 1963 responsible for exploration production and domestic gas transmission through a 1 200 mile onshore pipeline network Myanma Petrochemicals Enterprise operates small refineries and fertilizer plants Myanmar Petroleum Products Enterprise responsible for retail and wholesale distribution of petroleum productsMajor international oil companies IOCs engaged in Myanmar include TotalEnergies the Essar Group CNOOC PTTEP Petronas and Sinopec 10 After some of the sanctions were lifted in 2012 many international investors such as for instance British Gas Chevron ConocoPhillips ENI Oil India Ophir PetroVietnam Shell Statoil and Woodside entered Myanmar s petroleum market 11 Local companies such as Parami Energy Group and MPRL are some who are leading players in this field According to Kwong Weng Yap Chief Operating Officer of Parami he said in a speech to the ASEAN community that the Myanmar oil and gas industry requires a clean government and local inclusion for it to be sustainable in the near term 12 The downstream distribution network in Myanmar remains very under developed with limited access to foreigners Conflict and Controversy editThe natural gas on shore extraction sites have been areas of continued human rights violations against local ethnic groups The modern oil and gas reforms entrenched historical wealth inequality built on a legacy of corruption ethnic inequality and systemic sexism promoted through the Tatmadaw s State and Peace Development Council 1988 2010 which resulted in 20 families re branding themselves as Urban Elites seeking foreign investment during market liberalisation efforts around 2013 The scramble to open up Burma for business has played a direct role in inflaming community tensions One of the most prominent culprits is the Shwe Gas Project led by South Korean and Indian companies to export natural gas via pipeline from Arakan state to China s Yunnan province The 2 800 km overland pipeline is slated to become operational this year The project plans to produce 500 million cubic feet mcfd of gas per day for 30 years supplying 400 mcfd to China and the remaining 100 mcfd to factories owned by the Burmese government military and associated business elites 13 The losers from this venture are the Burmese people and environment An extensive report by the Shwe Gas Movement SGM a Burmese community based human rights network documented the destruction of local fishing and farming industries including confiscation of thousands of acres of land to clear areas for the pipeline and associated infrastructure from 2010 to 2011 Tens of thousands have been left jobless with little or no compensation or employment opportunities 14 In 2021 a coup d etat took place removing Aung San Suu Kyi with a military junta In 4 February 2021 French oil multinational TotalEnergies known as Total S A at the time announced it was reviewing the impact of the coup on its domestic operations and projects 15 The company would later issue a statement on April that it would not withhold payments to the military junta and would not cease operations in its Yadana offshore gasfield 16 On 22 January 2022 TotalEnergies and Chevron would later announce its departure from Myanmar in response to the human rights abuses from the military junta TotalEnergies also calls for sanctions in response to such actions in Myanmar 17 See also editEconomy of Burma Solar power in BurmaReferences edit a b Total Myanmar Oil and Gas in Myanmar Burma total com Archived from the original on 2015 04 15 Retrieved 2015 04 17 a b c https www gov uk government uploads system uploads attachment data file 393763 UKTI Burma Oil and Gas Report Jan 2015 pdf bare URL PDF a b U S Energy Information Administration EIA Eia gov Retrieved 2015 04 17 Vakulchuk Roman Kyaw Kyaw Hlaing Edward Ziwa Naing Indra Overland Beni Suryadi and Sanjayan Velautham 2017 Myanmar s Attractiveness for Investment in the Energy Sector A Comparative International Perspective Norwegian Institute of International Affairs NUPI and Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies MISIS Report Longmuir Marilyn V Oil in Burma The Extraction of Earth Oil to 1914 Bangkok White Lotus 2001 ISBN 974 7534 60 6 pp 329 khiggins 2014 02 01 Journal of Petroleum Technology Focus on Myanmar Spe org Retrieved 2015 04 17 a b http www myanmar oilgas com OilGas media Site Images Day 2 AM 1 EPD Petroleum Sector Prospects pdf bare URL PDF http www wds worldbank org servlet WDSContentServer IW3P IB 1995 06 20 000009265 3961019114742 Rendered PDF multi page pdf bare URL PDF a b International U S Energy Information Administration EIA Factbox Myanmar s oil and gas sector one of world s oldest Reuters Uk reuters com 2012 01 06 Retrieved 2015 04 17 Stokke Kristian Vakulchuk Roman and Indra Overland 2018 Myanmar A Political Economy Analysis Norwegian Institute of International Affairs NUPI Report commissioned by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Factbox Myanmar s oil and gas industry ASEAN Energy Business Forum 2015 06 11 Retrieved 2015 11 06 Home shwe org The dirty fossil fuel secret behind Burma s democratic fairytale Nafeez Ahmed The Guardian 26 April 2013 Total assessing impact of Myanmar coup on its projects Reuters 4 February 2021 Archived from the original on 4 February 2021 Retrieved 7 February 2021 John Reed 4 April 2021 Total rejects campaigners pressure to freeze payments to Myanmar junta Financial Times Archived from the original on 4 April 2021 Retrieved 4 April 2021 2 big energy firms exit Myanmar over human rights abuses by the military government NPR Associated Press 2022 01 21 Retrieved 2022 01 21 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Oil and gas industry in Myanmar amp oldid 1184367979, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.