Myanmar faces energy crossroads

Huge potential in the country’s energy sector faces equally sizeable challenges

Myanmar's government has announced new oil and gas tender plans just as green shoots are being sighted in Southeast Asian upstream investment. But the country's private sector has said tough fiscal measures must be carefully revised to entice international energy investment. The Ministry of Electricity and Energy plans to offer 18 onshore and 13 offshore blocks by the end of year, Daw Khin Htay, director of state-owned Myanmar Oil & Gas Enterprise (MOGE) told reporters on 13 July. She also revealed an added incentive that "it will no longer be mandatory to join with local firms", without giving further details. The tender is yet to generate the same intense interest seen in 2014, when