Myanmar Restarts LNG Imports After 4-Year Hiatus; First Cargo Powers 150 MW Grid Injection

Myanmar has officially re-entered the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market following the successful discharge of a cargo in late November, signaling the end of a four-year fuel disruption that severely impacted the nation’s power grid. The delivery marks the country’s first LNG inflow since August 2021 and has already enabled the reactivation of dormant power plants near Yangon.

According to vessel tracking data and ministry reports, the small-scale LNG carrier Dapeng Princess delivered the shipment from Malaysia’s Bintulu terminal to a Floating Storage Unit (FSU) moored near Thilawa on November 19, 2025. Following the regasification process, the Ministry of Electric Power confirmed on December 17 that the facilities initiated an initial output of 150 megawatts (MW), providing immediate relief to the commercial capital. On December 20, Union Minister U Tin Aung San inspected the Thilawa facilities, verifying that generation has successfully scaled from an initial 40 MW to the current 150 MW level.

Targeting 500 MW for 2026

The restart is managed by a consortium including CNTIC VPower (a joint venture between China National Technical Import and Export Corporation and VPower Group) and local partner Everest Energy Solution.

The immediate goal is to ramp up operations at two primary LNG-to-power facilities—the 200-MW Thanlyin plant and the 300-MW Thaketa plant. Once fully operational in 2026, this combined 500 MW output will be critical for stabilizing a national grid that has struggled with generation deficits of nearly 50% during the peak hot season. Market estimates project Myanmar could import approximately 0.4 million tonnes of LNG in 2026 to sustain these operations.

Overcoming Logistical & Financial Hurdles

The successful docking of the Dapeng Princess is a technical milestone. The Yangon River’s shallow draft prevents standard large-scale LNG carriers from entering. The project relies on a complex “shuttle” system where smaller, specialized vessels deliver fuel to the FSU.

While Myanmar first entered the LNG market in mid-2020, the trade collapsed in 2021 due to political upheaval and severe foreign exchange shortages. The resumption suggests that the new consortium has established a viable payment and logistics framework, likely backed by regional technical support and a pivot toward smaller, more frequent shipments to manage financial risk.

Summary

Myanmar has resumed LNG imports after a four-year pause, with the first cargo delivered in November 2025 via the Dapeng Princess. The fuel has reactivated the Thanlyin and Thaketa power plants, which are currently generating 150 MW with a target to reach 500 MW in 2026. Managed by CNTIC VPower and Everest Energy, the project aims to import 0.4 million tonnes of LNG next year to mitigate chronic power blackouts, utilizing a specialized river-sea logistics chain.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Why is this LNG delivery significant for Myanmar? 

It marks the country’s first LNG import since August 2021, ending a long disruption caused by political instability and currency shortages. It signals a technical and financial readiness to stabilize the power grid, which has suffered from severe blackouts.

Q2: Which companies are managing the project? 

The project is operated by a consortium comprising the Chinese-backed CNTIC VPower Group (which built the original plants) and a local partner, Everest Energy Solution, which facilitated the restart.

Q3: How much power is currently being generated? 

As of late December 2025, the plants are producing 150 MW. The operational target is to ramp up the Thanlyin and Thaketa plants to their full combined capacity of 500 MW in 2026.

Q4: Why was the Dapeng Princess used for this delivery? 

The Dapeng Princess is a specialized shallow-draft LNG carrier. It is uniquely suited for Myanmar’s logistics because standard large-scale carriers cannot navigate the shallow Yangon River to reach the Thilawa terminal.