Press Release 2015

UOB finances new power plant in Yangon

Bank continues its support of long-term strategic investments in Myanmar

Singapore, 20 April 2015 - As part of its commitment to drive long-term strategic investments into Myanmar, United Overseas Bank (Singapore) Limited (UOB) today announced a financing agreement with Singapore-based company Royal GK Private Limited to help meet Myanmar's rising demand for energy.

Royal GK, an engineering procurement and construction company, was commissioned by the Myanmar Central Power Co (MCPC) to procure gas engines for the construction of a gas-fired electricity power plant in Hlawga, Yangon. MCPC has an agreement with the Ministry of Electric Power to own and operate the power plant.

The Myanmar government has identified investment in the power sector as a priority1 to meet the rising demand for reliable sources of energy for households and businesses. According to the Asian Development Bank, only a quarter of Myanmar's population of 51 million people currently has access to electricity.

Mr Ian Wong, Managing Director and Head, Group Strategy and International Management, UOB, said UOB's business approach for Myanmar is to partner its clients in investing in industries that the country deems necessary to support its long-term economic growth.

"As Myanmar has prioritised the provision of power in the creation of new industries and job opportunities for the country, we are keen to finance companies such as Royal GK to help support the infrastructural needs of the country's economic transformation," he said.

The power plant is expected to start producing 175,000 MWh of electricity per year when it is completed in June this year.

Mr Zeya Mon, Director, Royal GK, said, "We are delighted to expand our operations here in Myanmar and to help serve the country's increasing demand for electricity. This is a significant milestone for us and UOB has been instrumental to this project by supporting us with funding from Singapore."

The signing of the financing agreement with Royal GK is one of many companies that UOB has financed to provide electricity to Myanmar. Last year, UOB financed Singapore-based Asiatech Energy in building a combined cycle gas-fired power plant in Mon State, Myanmar. The Bank has also partnered US-based APR Energy, a global leader in power solutions, in their construction of a 100 MW power plant in the Mandalay region of Myanmar. The APR Energy contract was the first power generation agreement signed by a US-based company with the government of Myanmar since the lifting of sanctions in 2013.

UOB is one of nine foreign banks to receive a Foreign Bank License from the Central Bank of Myanmar in October last year.

.............................................................................................................................................................................

1 UOB has set up nine FDI Advisory Units across Asia over the last two years. They are located in mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
2 Source: Xinhua News Agency

 

Copyright © United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Bhd. (271809-K). All Rights Reserved.