Rangoon (Mizzima) – All industrial zones in Rangoon have been instructed by the City Electric Power Supply Committee to direct factories to install the ‘capacitor bank’, a sort of transformer, at their own expense.
The factories are to install these capacitor banks if after the installation of transformers in the industrial zones does not solve the power crisis.
“We have received a lot of complaints about low voltage, which resulted in machines breaking down. Moreover unstable power supply can cause frequent short circuits and fire. The capacitor banks can step up the voltage and regulate it also. We have found similar capacitor banks in industrial zones in foreign countries during our study tours,” an official of the City Electric Supply Committee said.
A garment factory owner said that factories flouting instructions from the committee would have power supply cut off.
The deadline for the installation of the capacitor banks have not been set by the City Electric Supply Board but by the Industrial Zone Management Committee. They must report the deadline they set to the Electric Supply Board, it is learnt.
The cost of a domestically produced 120 KVA capacitor bank with Chinese parts is at least Kyat 3 million while imported machinery will cost Kyat 5 to 20 million, according to market sources.
Though for heavy industries the cost will not be prohibitive, it will be a big burden for small and medium units, especially at a time of global economic meltdown and under capacity operations, an owner of a battery factory in South Okkalapa Township said.
An owner of a value-added wood factory in South Dagon industrial zone said that though he had installed the capacitor bank in his factory, it could not resolve the power crisis as voltage to the industrial zone was very low.
Residential areas in Rangoon are also facing similar problems of frequent power cuts and low voltage. The industrial zones get power supply only between 9 and 16 hours a day in turn.
“We lodged a complaint regarding the problem of irregular electricity supply and low voltage at the industrial zone management committee meetings, attended by the Regional Command Commander and Bureau of Special Operation Commander Lt. Gen. Myint Swe. But there was no improvement. We received this instruction instead,” he said.
There are four big industrial zones and 20 smaller zones in Rangoon. These industrial zones were first set up in 1990, separating residential areas and industrial areas.
