ACCORDING to the Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MOEE), routine maintenance is currently being performed on a rotational basis for the three turbines at the Chipwenge Hydropower Plant to ensure continuous electricity supply to the public in Kachin State and full operations during the rainy season.
The power plant is a run-of-river type facility, generating electricity based on flowing river water rather than utilizing a reservoir dam. It is equipped with three turbines, each with a capacity of 33 megawatts, for a total installed capacity of 99 megawatts.
Although the electricity generated was previously connected to the national grid via the Waingmaw substation, the connection has been severed since 9 July, 2025, due to issues with the 230 kV Ohntaw-Shwebo-Naba transmission line and local security conditions. However, the plant remains a vital facility for regional development and it is currently supplying power via an island system to Myitkyina, Mogaung, and Mohnyin in Kachin State.
To maximize power generation when water inflow improves during the rainy season, maintenance was completed on turbine 1 from 22 March to 14 May. It is still ongoing on turbine 3 from 15 May to 13 June, and will continue on turbine 2 from 14 June to 13 July.
The Chipwenge Hydropower Plant is built on the Chipwe Creek, approximately 6 miles southwest of Chipwe, Kachin State. — TWA/ZN
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