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PREPARED FOR THE

GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF BURMA

VOLUME II

AUGUST 1953

KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT MCCARTHY ENGINEERS

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

PIERCE MANAGEMENT, INC.

AND

ROBERT R. NATHAN ASSOCIATES, INC.

ECONOMIC AND ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT OF BURMA

COMPREHENSIVE REPORT


PREPARED FOR THE

GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF BURMA

VOLUME II

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

POWER

INDUSTRY

AUGUST 1953

KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT McCARTHY

ENGINEERS

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

PIERCE MANAGEMENT, INC.

AND

ROBERT R. NATHAN ASSOCIATES, INC.

PRINTED AND BOUND IN GREAT BRITAIN BY

HAZELL, WATSON & VINEY, LTD.

AYLESBURY & I ONDON

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Letter of Transmittal Foreword

II

viii

Page

VOLUME I

PARTI

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER I. RESOURCES FOR BURMA'S DEVELOPMENT

A. Introduction B. Physical Geography C. Agriculture D. Forests E. Minerals

F. Water Resources G. Transportation

H. Capital Resources I. Human Resources

CHAPTER II. THE TASK AHEAD

A. Economic Problem and Opportunity B. Development Goals C. Achieving Maximum Output D. Criteria for the Selection of Projects E. Reaching the Goal: Planning and Execution

PART II

ECONOMICS AND ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER III. FINANCING THE PROGRAM

A. The Nature of the Problem

B. Financing Foreign Exchange Payments C. Financing Development Expenditures within

Burma D. Conclusions

CHAPTER IV. CENTRAL ECONOMIC POLICIES FOR THE PROGRAM

3 3

5 8

11 11 14

15 15

19 20

28 31 34

39

41

49 57

Page

E. The Structure of the Revenue System 62 F. Banking Pohcy 67 G. Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Pohcy 72 H. Summary of Recommendations 74

CHAPTER V. ORGANIZATION FOR COORDINATING THE PROGRAM

A. The Four Major Steps in Coordinating Economic Activity

B. Organization for Planning C. Organization for Programming

D. Staff for Planning and Programming E. Organization and Procedure for Imple¬

mentation of Economic and Functional Pohcies

F. Organization for Progress Reporting and Expediting

G. Economic and Social Board Staff H. Summary

A. Introduction 58

B. Improvement in Fiscal Information 58

C. Fiscal Policy: The Level of Current Expen¬ ditures 61

CHAPTER VL ADMINISTERING THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

A. The Ministries B. The Development Corporations C. Other Government Corporations and Boards

D. Problems of Planning, Reporting and Ex¬ pediting

E. Other General Problems

F. The Private and Mixed Sectors of the Economy

G. Summary of Recommendations

CHAPTER VII. MANNING THE PROGRAM

A. The Problem of Specialized Manpower B. Meeting the Problem of Skill and Knowledge C. Meeting the General Problems of Increasing

Labor Productivity on the Job D. The Need for Able Management—A Special

Problem

E. Possible Solutions to the Management Problem

F. Summary of Recommendations

76

77

78

78

80

81

82

82

83

84

86

86

87

89

92

94

99

107

111

115

120

VI ECONOMIC AND ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT OF BURMA

PART III PuKc

AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

CHAPTER VIII. AGRlCULTURf

A. Objectives 125 B. Present Agricultural Development 125 C. National Agricultural Programs 135 D. Increase of Agricultural Production 151 E. Agricultural Aims and Suggested Goals 187 F. Conclusions and Recommendations 188

CHAPTER IX. IRRIGATION

A. Over-all Irrigation Program 195 B. Specific Projects 210 C. Estimate of Costs and Benefits 240 D. Recommendations 241

CHAPTER XIV. OCEAN SHIPPING

A. Coastal Steamship Services in Prewar and Postwar Periods

B. Investigation of Needs for Steamer Services

C. Union of Burma Shipping Board D. Conclusion

CHAPTER XV. PORTS AND WATERWAYS CONSERVANCY

A. Introduction B. Conservancy for Seaports C. Conservancy for Waterways D. The Conservancy Problem E. Conclusions

Page

350

350 351 351

352

352 352 354

355

PART IV

TRANSPORTATION

CHAPTER X. TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

A. Present Situation 251 B. Interrelations 251 C. Operating Requirements 252 D. Review of Recommendations 255

CHAPTER XI. BURMA RAILWAYS

A. Introduction 256 B. History 256 C. Existing System 257 D. Current Operations 261 E. Requirements for Further Improvement 267 F. Conclusion 278

CHAPTER XII. SEAPORTS OF BURMA

A. Introduction 281 B. Port of Rangoon 281 C. Port of Akyab 319 D. Port of Bassein 324 E. Port of Moulmein 327 F. Port of Tavoy 330 G. Port of Mergui 332

CHAPTER XIII. INLAND WATERWAYS

A. Introduction 336 B. Existing Facilities and Operations 336 C. Operation of Inland Water Transport 338 D. New Industry Requirements 342 E. Personnel Training Program 348 F. Conclusions 348 G. Estimated Required Expenditures 348

CHAPTER XVI. HIGHWAYS

A. Introduction 356 B. Classification 357 C. Existing Highway System 361 D. Traffic 379 E. Comparisons with Other Highway Systems 394 F. Design Requirements 402 G. Construction Methods 408 H. Construction and Material Costs 420 I. Maintenance 425 J. Materials and Testing Laboratory, Shops 426 K. Planning and Surveys 426 L. Highway Administration 427 M. Highway Financing 428 N. Highway Code 431 0. Commercial Transport 446 P. Transport Commission 446 Q. Recommended Changes in Geometries

and Location 447 R. General Recommendations 456

CHAPTER XVII. AIRWAYS

A. Introduction 465 B. International Service 466 C. Domestic Service 470 D. Personnel 471 E. Air Safety, Aircraft and Workshop 475 F. Airports, Facilities and Terminals 478 G. Flight Control and Signal Communi¬

cation 482 H. Accounting and Statistics 483 1. Future Developments 483 J. Conclusions and Recommendations 489

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Pa"e

VOLUME II PARTY

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

CHAPTER XVIII. TELECOMMUNICATIONS

A. Introduction 495

B. Historical 495

C. The Insurrection 497

D. The Present Situation 497

E. Telecommunications Operations, Plans and Problems 500

PART VI

POWER

CHAPTER XIX. ELECTRIC POWER

A. Early Hydroelectric Investigations 557

B. Prewar Power System 561

C. Existing Power Development 561

D. Initial Diesel Plants at 36 Towns 561

E. Three Large Power Plants for Immediate Development 565

F. Kalewa Mine Power Project 626

G. Other Hydroelectric Projects for Future Development 628

H. Proposed Expansion of Basic Transmission System 639

I. Diesel Plants for Outlying Towns 640

J. Large Hydroelectric Sites for Future Study 640

K. Stream Flow Measurement 640 L. Summary and Recommendations 640

PART VII

INDUSTRY

CHAPTER XX. INTERRELATION OF INDUSTRIES

A. Range of Industries 645

B. Common Economic Factors 645

C. Common Requirements 645

Pii'ê CHAPTER XXI. MINERAL INDLSTRllS

A. General Gcolog> 647

B. Economic Geology 647

C. Established Mineral Production Operations 648

D. Field Examinations, Studies and Investiga¬ tions 649

E. Future Mineral Development 652

F. Conclusions and Recommendations 683

CHAPTER XXII. MANUFACTURING

A. Review of Existing National Industry 685

B. A Survey of Industrial PossibiUtics for Burma 685 C. An Industrial Development Program for

Burma 693

D. Recommendations 802

E. Implementation Procedure 804

CHAPTER XXIII. THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRY

A. Importance of Small-scale Industry in thie Burmese Economy 808

B. Policies for Development of Small-scale Industry 810

C. Implementation of Policies for Development of Small-scale Industry 813

D. Summary of Recommendations 814

CHAPTER XXIV. FORESTRY AND OTHER INDUSTRIES

A. Forestry 815

B. Other Industries 818

CHAPTER XXV. THE COORDINATED PLAN

A. Supporting Functions 822

B. The Combined Program 832

PART V

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

ji.B. n—1

CHAPTER XVIII

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

A. INTRODUCTION 1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The object of this report is to record and evaluate the findings of a general survey of the functions of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Transport and Communications, and to recommend expanded, supplementary or new services, within the framework of the people's needs and purchasing power.

2. SOURCES OF INFORMATION Data have been gathered from any and all sources

believed to afford factual information. Such records as are available of pre-independence operations have been discussed with departmental officials. District as well as headquarters workings and organization have been observed, and personnel have been interviewed throughout Burma. All of this has involved some 1,800 miles of travel by rail, 1,200 miles by air, and 350 miles by highway beyond Rangoon and its environs. FaciUties presently in operation and planned have been analyzed from the standpoints of efficiency and economy. When pertinent, facilities of neighbouring countries have also been studied.

B. HISTORICAL

L DEVELOPMENT AND PREWAR STATUS a. Telegraph

The development of communications services in Burma has been closely Unked with that of India for about a century. First came the military telegraph which expanded gradually until general pubhc service was opened in 1895. By the beginning of World War II, Burma had an extensive network of telegraph lines involving some 33,000 miles of wire connecting 656 telegraph offices, including two landlines to India, one via Akyab and Chittagong (now in East Pakistan), and one via Tamu and Manipur. Lines from Bhamo into China, and through Moulmein into Siam were abandoned as uneconomic because of their light traffic and the difficulty of maintenance.

b. Telephone It is recorded that telephone installation in Burma

began in 1888, although it was only after 1937 that the smaller communities received such facilities. The

tempo of expansion increased until, just before the invasion, the populated areas of Burma enjoyed ade¬ quate local and long-distance telephone service. Vacuum-tube repeaters had been introduced in 1922 to improve trunk operation. In 1940, carrier operation was begun on the Rangoon-Prome route so that one line could provide several speech and/or telegraph circuits. All telephone services were operated by the Government's Posts and Telegraphs Department with the exception of the Rangoon and Moulmein ex¬ changes. Plans were being made to take these over when Burma was invaded by the Japanese. Connec¬ tion to the international radiotelephone network was provided by a link between Rangoon and Madras.

c. Radio

Wireless (radio) was utiUzed in Burma, as in other nations, for shipping, aeronautical, meteorological, broadcasting and international services. The Posts and Telegraphs Department was responsible for these expanding services and for such hcensing and en¬ forcement of national and international regulations as was necessary. Over a half-million messages in various categories were handled by the radio services in the fiscal year 1939-40. It is recalled that the relay through India to the rest of the world was not as efficient as was desired, and message delays caused considerable grumbling. A broadcasting service was inaugurated in 1938, and modern equipment was in¬ stalled in 1940. Over 6,000 receiver licenses were issued on an annual renewal basis.

2. WAR DAMAGES It is not essential to this Report that a detailed re¬

cord of war damage be included, other than to ob¬ serve that telecommunications facilities were almost completely destroyed either by denial or enemy action. Most of the personnel escaped to India and served brilliantly in the Allied armies, while others were caught by the invaders and forced to work on local projects. If there is any solace at all in this picture of near total destruction of facihties, it is in the fact that the bulk of trained personnel returned to the Depart¬ ment at the end of hostiUties.

3. REHABILITATION Restoration after World War II was speeded

through the joint efforts of the British Army Signal 495

496 ECONOMIC AND ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT OF BURMA

Corps, the Civil Affairs Service (Burma), and the returning civil Government. Equipment from mili¬ tary stocks, some civil-type equipment which had been ordered by the Government-in-exile (Simla), supplemented by such remnants as remained in Burma, were combined to rehabilitate the most im¬ portant services to prewar eflectiveness.

a. Telegraph By the end of 1947, the telegraph network was

largely restored, although certain fines, in particular the one from Prome to Akyab connecting with the line to Chittagong (Pakistan), were abandoned for economic reasons. The more modern practices of using teleprinter and superimposed voice-frequency signals on telephone carrier channels were adopted on a limited scale during this period. It is recorded that up to early 1948, a total of 1,355 miles of earth return telegraph circuit, 5,255 miles of phantom tele¬ graph circuit, and 889 miles of voice-frequency tele¬ graph traffic channels has been put into operation. Inland telegraph traffic was averaging about 190,000 messages for a total of Rs. 10 lakhs per annum.

b. Telephone The demand for telephone service caused consider¬

able improvisation because of equipment shortages in the years following the war. A more extensive and better trunk (long distance) line system than before, including fines correctly transposed for carrier opera¬ tion, fiad been installed by the military. Enough ter¬ minal and repeater equipment had been obtained to meet all requirements. Technicians were trained in the necessary installation and operating techniques to round out the new carrier program. It should be noted that by the end of 1946, test calls were put tfirough to New Delhi from Rangoon on an all-car¬ rier circuit. Line construction was slowed in the Delta area by difficult river crossings and marshy terrain, so that the idea of utilizing v.h.f. radio began to re¬ ceive consideration. However, exchanges and local outside plant were not so well estabfished. Seventy telephone exchanges served about 3,000 subscribers in the towns and cities of Burma, principally with ex- military equipment. The poorest equipment was in use in the city of Rangoon where the program for telephone rehabilitation fared very badly because of engineering and equipment inadequacies. It is to be noted that during the war period the private company which had originally operated this system had been taken over by the Government. At that time, also, radio was being suggested for the Arakan because of both the initial expense of new lines and the difficulty of construction in the face of continuing dacoit attacks.

Trunk operations revenue was obtained as a lump sum in the rental of all telephones having access to the trunk network. This made the average telephone rental a very high figure. There seems to have been no well-organized telephone accounts office to set rates or handle the revenue, which amounted to Rs. 16 lakhs annuafiy.

c. Radio (1) Foreign Circuits

The tremendous application of radio during the war gave Telecommunications personnel further training in this, the youngest and most versatile of communications media. The prewar arrangement for handling foreign telegraph traffic via the India radio circuit was slow and cumbersome. Consequently, when the British Army Signal Corps established a direct circuit to Colombo from Rangoon, the way was paved for a commercial circuit over the same route. Telecommurucations absorbed this high-speed (auto¬ matic Morse) operation in mid-1946, and by early 1948 was handling 175,000 messages annually for almost Rs. 6 lakhs in revenue. The Rangoon-Madras radiotelegraph circuit handled Burma's India-Paki¬ stan traffic, although high-speed operation was not utifized because of deficiencies at the India terminal. The traffic volume on this circuit reached about 275,000 messages per year, netting Burma over Rs. 3 lakhs of revenue.

(2) Domestic Circuits Because of the inaccessibiUty of some conamunities

to landline facilities, radio stations had been installed to furnish telegraphic contact with the rest of the country. About 30 of these utilized former military equipment. The scarcity of trained personnel, power sources and spare parts so necessary ifor this operation hampered the program. The fact that it expanded at all speaks well for the abiUty and courage of the "wire¬ less staff."

(3) Marine Station The marine radio station at Monkey Point went on

the air January 21, 1946, and has operated continu¬ ously since then. During the reconstruction period, a new transmitter and antenna system were installed to give the Port of Rangoon a service modern in every respect. Several thousand messages are handled annually with ships at sea.

(4) Police, Aeronautical and Broadcast A v.h.f. radiotelephone system for the Rangoon

Police was installed in 1946, to include ten mobile, 25 fixed, and one headquarters station. The maintenance

TELECOM MUNICATION S 497 of this equipment was later assumed by the Police. The broadcasting services were absorbed by the Ministry of Information, and aeronautical radio operation by the Department of Civil Aviation.

From the foregoing picture of telecommunications activities during the rehabifitation period and up to the time of independence, it is obvious that with few exceptions communications facilities were as good as or superior to those destroyed by the war.

4. STATUS AFTER INDEPENDENCE

a. New Department Prior to independence (January 4, 1948), the tele¬

communications were directed by the Chief Engineer, Telecommunications, under the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. Because of the close integration of the postal and telegraph services, many towns had combined offices presided over by the local post¬ masters. The same employees handled both mail and telegrams, and provided reliable and economical ser¬ vice. Effective with independence, however, the two branches were separated, and the telecommunica¬ tions affairs were put into an independent depart¬ ment whose Director reported to the Deputy Secretary of the parent ministry.

b. Responsibilities The responsibifities of this new department re¬

mained unchanged, and included: (1) The engineering, construction, operation and

maintenance of aU domestic and foreign civil telecom¬ munications services, telephone, telegraph and radio.

(2) The maintenance and operation of a maritime radio station at Rangoon to work with ocean ship¬ ping.

(3) The installation and maintenance of fines or systems required by other civil branches of the Govermnent.

(4) The Hcensing of private communications sys¬ tems, broadcast receivers, amateur radio stations and radio operators.

(5) The handfing of Burma's affairs at inter¬ national telecommunications conventions, and the enforcement of treaty regulations in domestic radio operations.

C. THE INSURRECTION L GENERAL

When independence was achieved, there was a flurry of staff changes based on a poficy of employing only Burma nationals in goverimient posts. Since Telecommunications had been staffed largely with non-nationals, the release of these trained men had a most depressing effect on the various services. Con¬

currently with the introduction of this policy there occurred the insurrection with its tremendous de¬ struction and loss of facilities of aU categories.

2. TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH LINES

Telecommunications docs not have an accurate record of the losses suffered by the trunk telephone and telegraph lines systems. The loss is known to be large and widespread, and has effectively ended most long-distance telephone and landline telegraphy. Some equipment has been captured and put to use by the insurgent groups.

3. RADIO With wire facilities made useless, the responsibiUty

for internal communications became a matter for the Wireless Division of the Department. This emphasis on radiotelegraph communications has strained the resources of the department. Training classes were added to afieviate the shortage of operators, but the whole program appears to have been born of expedi¬ ency rather than adequate planning. Fortunately, the foreign circuits and the shipping service were beyond the reach of the insurgents, and have continued nor¬ mal operations.

4. RESULTS

Insurgent damage to landfine communications ser¬ vices has been nearly as devastating, at least from the curtailment of operations, as was World War II. Lack of security in many areas has precluded any re¬ liable survey of the extent of the damage and has de¬ layed planning for expanded or new services. Atten¬ tion to a rehabilitation program is developing slowly. Since the Wireless Division has rallied to handle the bulk of the inland traffic, new thought is being given to efiminating landlines altogether. This latter move, however, is considered uneconomical and unwar¬ ranted.

D. THE PRESENT SITUATION

L LANDLINE FACILITIES

a. Telegraph Burma Telecommunications has commercial tele¬

graph services over the following circuits:

From To Via

Rangoon Prome Tharrawaddy Mandalay Lashio Maymyo

Nyaungkio Kyaukme Hsipaw

Prome Paungde Thegon

498

From To Via

Mandalay Thazi Kyaukse Meiktila

Rangoon Nyaunglebin Pegu Pyuntaza Daiku

Prome* Shwedaung Rangoon CTO* University Col¬

lege (Ran¬ goon)

Rangoon* Mingaladon Rangoon* Insein Ahlone

Kamayut Rangoon Pyapon Twante

Maubin Kyaiklat

Rangoon Yandoon Maubin Chauk Sagu Singu

Salin


There is, as yet, no radiotelephone connection from Burma to other parts of the world. This is re¬ garded as a serious deficiency in the communications system, and is one of the problems confronting the Department for early solution. A project report, "An International Radiotelephone Connection for Burma," has been submitted.

(2) Rangoon and Mandalay Exchanges WhUe all of Burma's telephone exchanges are

essential, the most important, from the standpoints of size and service rendered, are those of Mandalay and Rangoon. Mandalay, within the past few months, has installed a new 400-line magneto switchboard, and considerable underground cable. With a popula¬ tion of 182,000 this gives a very low saturation figure, even if aU of the lines were in use. Once trunk opera¬ tion to Rangoon is re-estabfished, the demand wiU increase tremendously.

Rangoon's system is a "hodge podge" of ex-miUtary boards never intended for "big city" operation. Their small capacity necessitates a great deal of transfer operation. This wastes time, reduces the quafity of the connection, and increases the possibility of pre¬ mature cutoff at any of the exchanges involved in the caU. There are five exchanges containing 2,618 fines in the system proper, and 97 private branch exchanges (PBX) using 192 junction lines to serve a total of 1,134 telephones.

Disintegration of outside plant, both underground and aerial, has outstripped Telecommuiucations' maintenance efforts to the extent that satisfactory telephone service is no longer available. This situation is a serious threat to the optimum performance of the new manual auto-ringing boards, and is irreconcilable with full automatic operation.

The public has complained about the telephone service, and high annual rate of K600. Plans for conversion to an automatic system have been dis¬ cussed for years. However, because of the time re¬ quired for engineering, manufacturing, and instalfing, it was decided in 1950 that new manual boards should be ordered to alleviate the danger of a creeping para¬ lysis of the exchange system. Units of 1,000 fines which can be broken down into 500, 300, and 200-fine sections for future use in the districts, were selected. Two of the three units ordered have already arrived in Rangoon from UK, and installation has begun in the 40th Street Telephone Building. If present plans are realized, these boards should be rendering service within a few months. Further exchange facilities are provided by a 400-fine PBX board which has recently been installed in the Secretariat.

Two surveys from which details of an automatic ex¬ change are to be developed have been made in Ran-

* Local circuit operation.

These circuits include 800 miles of fine, and 37 tele¬ graph offices. The Burma Railways are not yet accept¬ ing prepaid telegrams at telegraph offices in railway stations.

b. Telephone (1) Trunk Operation

There are 75 telephone exchanges of various sizes, accommodating some 4,500 subscribers. Trunk operation is limited to the following circuits:

From To Via

Rangoon Tharrawaddy and Prome

Taikkyi

Rangoon Maubin Twante Rangoon Nyaunglebin Pegu Mandalay Maymyo (direct) Mandalay Sagaing (direct) Mandalay Myitnge (direct) Mandalay Meiktila Kyaukse

Thazi

No repeaters are used in these circuits, and ser¬ vices are of less than commercial quality. Most of the exchanges are isolated and furnish only local service (see Plate 1).

An experimental low-power radio fink connects the Rangoon and Moulmein exchanges for limited (primarily government) service. A v.h.f. single chan¬ nel link, planned several years ago, is now being in¬ stalled to connect Rangoon, Maubin, Wakema and Bassein. The appfication of radio to commercial tele¬ phony will be covered in some detail under "Burma's Domestic Communications," Section E-2.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS 499

goon. The first was concluded two years ago by BPO, London, under contract with GUB, but final speci¬ fications have not been submitted. The second survey was recently concluded by engineers of the L. M. Ericsson Co., Stockholm, at no cost to Government. Specifications have been proposed by this firm and a price quoted to the Ministry. This latter survey is based on the recommendation by the authors of this Report that the modern crossbar system be con¬ sidered before committing Rangoon to the much older Strowger system recommended by BPO. A pro¬ ject report entitled, "An Automatic Telephone System for Rangoon," and embodying these recommenda¬ tions has been submitted. It is planned to house the selected exchange in a functional building located to the West of Sule Pagoda Road, between Dalhousie and Eraser Streets.

Maintenance for the present system leaves much to be desired. Lack of adherence to standards, plan¬ ning, spare parts and materials, tools and facilities is critical. Records and maps are incomplete and de¬ ficient in test data. The greatest need, however, has been for a technically and adnunistratively trained organization whose sole function is to manage and operate the Rangoon telephone system. On the re¬ commendation of the authors, this need was recog¬ nized and a divisional engineer appointed.

2. RADIO

The inland telegraph service is almost completely a radio service. At the moment, 66 stations are con¬ nected to Rangoon, or to each other in several nets so that traffic can move from one end to the other of Burma by relay. Plate I indicates the stations now in operation, and includes those now planned for instal¬ lation this year. The message service is generally con¬ sidered slow. The pubfic, as well as Government, has complained about the time required for telegrams to reach their destinations via this radio system. For example, messages relayed but once, at Mandalay, required 26 hours to reach Kalewa from Rangoon. These shortcomings inherent in a high-frequency radio net have been pointed out previously (see Interim Report, page 248).

Two circuits handle Burma's communications with the outside world. The Rangoon-Madras link clears traffic to and from India and Pakistan, whfie the Rangoon-Colombo circuit handles the rest. All Ran¬ goon transmitters, foreign and domestic circuits, are located in a rented bungalow at the 6^- Mile, Prome Road, and the receivers are housed on the second floor of the 40th Street Telephone Building. Keying and order circuits are carried over telephone lines from the Central Telegraph Office. By no stretch of the imagination are these facilities even moderately

satisfactory. The crowning deficiency is the lack of space for the essential directional antennas.

By existing commercial standards, Burma's trans¬ mitters cannot be classified as "high-powered." For the primary foreign circuits, three 1-2-kW, Standard Telephone, Ltd., units are available. For secondary foreign and divisional headquarters circuits, three 300-watt RCA transmitters are utilized. To operate over shorter distances to district stations ten 50-watt transmitters of both modern and former mifitary types are provided. Effective radiated power is reduced througfi interaction and absorption between the crowded antennas. Several Marconi 300-watt trans¬ mitters were ordered recently for use in Rangoon and district headquarter stations.

The receiving facilities by commercial standards are less satisfactory than those for transmitting. No diver¬ sity grouping is possible, and the antennas are limited to simple vertical "whips." In all, there are 18 re¬ ceivers, old mifitary or ancient commercial units. Expansion plans for seven more are being imple¬ mented.

The use of substandard equipment and systems has a most derogatory influence on the service. However, foreign traffic fares much better in this respect than does local inland traffic.

3. ORGANIZATION

The Director of Telecommunications is the Chief Executive of the Department, and reports directly to the Deputy Secretary of the Ministry. To assist him, the Director has a Deputy and two Personal Assis¬ tants, one for Engineering and one for Traffic. The Department is divided into five main divisions:

(a) The Burma Wireless (Radio) Division under the Divisional Engineer, Wireless, at Rangoon, with responsibility for all the Department's radio matters in Burma.

(b) The South Burma Division (Telegraphs) under the Divisional Engineer,Telegraphs, at Rangoon, deal¬ ing with engineering, traffic, telegraph and telephone (except the Rangoon telephone system) matters in lower Burma.

(c) The North Burma Division (Telegraphs) under the direction of the Divisional Engineer, Telegraphs, at Maymyo, with similar responsibilities in Upper Burma.

(d) The Independent Arakan Division, under the direction of the Officer in Charge, Telecommunica¬ tions, Akyab, with similar responsibilities in that area.

(e) The Rangoon Telephone Division under the Divisional Engineer, Telephones (Rangoon) deals with engineering, management and operation of the Rangoon telephone system.

The Director also has reporting directly to him the


Superintendent of each of the following important posts:

Telecommunications Stores, Rangoon. Central Telegraph Office, Rangoon. Central Telegraph Office, Mandalay.

Further details are shown in the Organization Chart.

E. TELECOMMUNICATIONS OPERATIONS, PLANS AND PROBLEMS

L BURMA'S FOREIGN COMMUNICATIONS CIRCUITS

a. General Planiung new and improving existing foreign cir¬

cuits involves both radiotelephone and radiotele¬ graph activities. Because they will supplement each other in Burma's communications pattern, and will share housing and operating facilities, it is advan¬ tageous to treat them together. Since efficient depend¬ able foreign circuits are second only to dependable domestic communications for the welfare of the country, these matters must receive prompt con¬ sideration.

b. Present TrafiBc Situation (1) Routes

At the moment, two radiotelegraph circuits handle Burma's foreign traffic. One of these works between Rangoon and Madras with messages to and from India, Pakistan and Ceylon. The other circuit, be¬ tween Rangoon and Colombo, where it connects into the world network of Cable and Wireless, Ltd., handles all other foreign traffic.

(2) Message Totals Spot checks reveal that weekly totals (in both

directions) average around 5,250 messages over the Rangoon-Madras circuit, and 8,200 over the Ran¬ goon-Colombo circuit. The Madras circuit at times requires up to three Rangoon transmitters, one auto¬ matic Morse, and two manual circiuts. The Colombo circuit usually clears its traffic with one automatic Morse circuit, but when necessary another can be added. By Western standards, these circuits cannot be considered either fast or heavily loaded, but there are many complaints from the distant terminals about the quality of the Burma signals which at times are un¬ readable. The difficulties under which they operate are substantial, but not insurmountable.

c. Improvement Possible (1) Location

Any communications link utilizing the high-fre¬ quency spectrum is subject to various kinds of trans-

nussion difficulties. While these cannot be entirely avoided, their effects can be minimized by the applica¬ tion of certain radio-engineering principles. The fail¬ ure to locate the transmitting and receiving stations in surroundings sufficiently adaptable to directional antennas is responsible for a large measure of the present substandard operation. Until these locations have been corrected, optimum operation cannot be achieved.

(2) Frequency Shift Keying Keying a transmitter by shifting its frequency a

small amount offers an important advantage over the conventional on-off method. The effects of noise on the operation of frequency-shift keyed circuits are re¬ duced considerably. A signal-to-noise ratio of but six decibels permits satisfactory operation. This means that any given circuit will be "commercial" rather than "marginal" for a greater portion of the day. Obviously, Burma's transmitters can be made more efficient by adopting f.s.k.

(3) Diversity Reception For commercial operation, the principal circuit

requirement is that the received signal-to-noise ratio be above a certain minimum, even in deep fades. Because enormous power increases would be necessary to make a noticeable improvement, it is far more effective to apply every possible means for decreasing the fading range than to increase power. Since the gain in circuit performance due to diversity reception varies with the degree of reliability of the circuit, the improvement may be of the order of from 12 to as much as 30 decibels. To achieve this by increasing transmitter power would be a most unreaUstic ap¬ proach. Consequently, space diversity reception (not used heretofore by Telecommunications) should be utifized at both ends of the circuit.

(4) Teleprinter In discussing telegraph-traffic handfing, it must be

observed that automatic Morse operation has had its day, and is being supplanted by teleprinter at an ever-increasing rate. The adoption of teleprinter has always resulted in higher traffic volimies, faster ser¬ vice, lower rates and greater accuracy. Few tele¬ communications administrations feel that they can afford to ignore this modem trend.

(5) Possible Economies To summarize, if one of Telecommunications'

1-2-kW transmitters utifizing frequency shift keying (f.s.k.) were worked into a properly designed direc-

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND

COMMUNICATIONS. I ORGANIZATION CHART

DIRECTOR OF TELECOMS. 1 DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS X

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

P.A.(TFC.)

SUPT.C.T.O. MANDALAY.

SUPT.C.T.O. RANGOON.

T. M.

O.I/C.TELE. AKYAB.

P. A. ( E)

O.E. W. I BURMA. I

ASSTSUPT. I/R.I T. M. E.S.T.

T.L.S.

ASST. SUPtO/D.

T.L.S.

ASSTSUPT.O/D. A.E. W.

( A.O.W)

T

A.E.W.

MARINE

STATION

k .E.W. (TRANS¬ MITTING)

STATION

D . E . T. ~l ^BURMAJ

A.E.W. (RECEIV¬

ING)

STATION

T. M.S.

A.E.W,

AKYAB

A.E.W.

(MANOA

-LAY.)

T

1 A.E.W. (WORK¬

SHOP)

RANGOON

X \I±i [LLI ED EH EH Ei] ED

T. L. S,

S.D.O T MOULMEIN

S.D.O.T BASSEIN

A.E.E. RANGOON

S.D.O.T. RANGOON

QH^

A.E. (B.) RANGOON

E.S.T. 1 E.S.(B)

D.E.T NO. BURMA.

S.D.O.T. MANDALAY.

™I ] S D.O T.

M AGWE

EST. SHWEBO

D . E . P. RANGOON

O.l/C. L.a C.

S -T. S. RANGOON.

A.E.P. ( INT.)

E.S.(CABLE)

A . E. P. ( E X TJ

E . S. P. E.S.T. E.S.S.

S.D.O T. TOUNQOO

A.E. E. MANDALAY

S. D.O.T. MAYMYO.

EST. YENAN6YAUN0

E.S.T. TOUNGOO

E.S.T. MEIKTILA I ELECTRICAL! '^ ^ ^ I E .S .T

ABBREVIATED DESIGNATION.

T.M. Telegraph Masters. T.L.S. Telegraphists. I/R. Instrument Room. 0/D. On Duty. P. A. Personal Assistant D.E. Divisional Engineer. S.T.S. Supdt. Telecoms. Stores. A.E. Assistant Engineer. A.O. Attached Officer. E.S. Engineering Supervisor. S.D.O.T Sub-Divisional Officer Telecoms. W.S. Wireless Supervisor T Telegraphs. W. Wireless. EL. Electricol. P. Phones. (B) Buildings. TFC. Traffic. E. Engineering

CT 0 Central Telegraph Officer. 0 l/C. Off icer-ln-Charge. L.a c. Lines and Cables. S. Stores. (INT) Internal.


tional antenna on a frequency suitable for the distance and time of day, and the signal at the distant point was picked up by directional antennas and diversity re¬ ceivers, one efficiently handled teleprinter circuit could handle the Burma-India traffic. This is true also of the Colombo circuit. Telecommunications can therefore defer buying higher powered telegraph transmitters until the present units are worn out.

(6) Cost Estimate

Frequency shift keying can be added to the Madras and Colombo transmitter for a very modest sum. Conversion to teleprinter operation would add little more to the investment, and could release skilled man-power for other operating duties at the Central Telegraph Office.

No. Unit Cost Total Required Kyats {Foreign Exchange)

2 Frequency Shift Exciter 10,000 20,000 2 Frequency Shift Converter 7,000 14,000 2 Telegraph Converter 4,500 9,000 3 Teleprinter (No. 15 Send-Receive) 6,000 18,000

Total K66,000

However, this modest modernization scheme, re¬ gardless of its desirabifity, cannot be implemented in¬ to maximum effectiveness until the long-pending re¬ ceiver and transmitter centers are in operation.

d. New Circuits Desirable

Direct telegraphic connections to other neighboring countries are desirable, but full-time circuits cannot be justified from the direct revenue standpoints. To illustrate this point, the following table fists the num¬ ber of messages handled in an average week's opera¬ tions:

Burma UK USA Thailand Indonesia Phil. Rep.

Outgoing Mgs. Incoming Mgs.

797 746

138 175

61 47

67 18

5 3

It is qtiite possible to connect with various countries on a spfit-schedule for periods long enough to handle mutual traffic. However, until those arrangements are made and until the facflities are at hand for carrying them out, it is necessary to continue to work through Colombo at the higher rates and accepting the delays in the reqxiisite relay operations. Plate 2 shows several desirable radio routes in relation to Rangoon.

e. Revenue Telecommunications' financial records for 1951-52

foreign and domestic telegraph services are as follows:

Total Earned K38,53,671.42 Total Expenditure (Salaries and

Materials K9,52,953.73

f. International Radiotelephone Link

(1) General

Burma's telephone system was connected to India's telephone network by a radio hnk from 1936 xmtH the beginning of World War II. This faciUty has never been re-estabUshed in spite of the insistent demand for it. The Department of Telecommunications has arranged with Indian P. & T. to commence operations between Madras and Rangoon at some future date. The Radio Section of the Department planned the necessary technical facilities, and prepared a speci¬ fication for equipment to which tenders were sub¬ mitted late in 1952 by several European and American manufacturers. A project report covering this whole matter has been submitted.

(2) Selection of Equipment Early in their correspondence, Telecommunications

had been urged by India P. & T. to use equipment identical to that installed in their Madras station. Consequently, Telecommunications contacted West- inghouse, USA, for particulars and prices of their "MW" combination which features telegraph and telephone transmitters operating from a common power supply. This equipment meets the need of administrations requiring heavy traffic-handUng capacity, but does not represent the "best buy" for Burma in this case, inasmuch as a radiophone system only is required.

(3) Review of Planning (a) Amplitude modulation. Since an ampUtude

modulated (A3) system was originally planned, it is believed that Telecommunications is not evaluating correctly the advantages of the Single Sideband Suppressed Carrier (A3a) or Independent Sideband (A3b) operation as used by many overseas telephone services.

(b) Route and terminal. Incomplete planning is also evident in agreeing to the location of the Indian terminal at Madras which requires a carrier connec¬ tion across the sub-continent to Poona, for all relays beyond India. The standard telephone toll rate between Madras and Poona is Rs. 8-10 which will increase the total charge appreciably, without benefit to Burma. Wire transmission over that distance will


also degrade the signal, and is more subject to inter¬ ruptions. Calcutta is scheduled to have a direct radio¬ telephone connection with UK in the very near future (a Calcutta-London radiotelegraph circuit was opened in March 1953), certainly by the time Burma's overseas telephone can be put into operation. The transmission path between Rangoon and Calcutta is 450 miles (40 %) less than that between Rangoon and Madras. A cursory examination of Burma-India tele¬ grams over a period of a few days shows about equal distribution between the Madras area and the Cal¬ cutta area. Since radiotelephone calls might be ex¬ pected to follow the same pattern, there are good reasons for reconsidering the route of this proposed link.

(4) Single and Independent Sideband Operations (a) Advantages. In conventional amplitude modula¬

tion (AM), the transmitted carrier requires two thirds of the power, and yet serves no useful purpose after modulation. In Single Sideband Suppressed Carrier and Independent Sideband systems, the carrier is sup¬ pressed, and in SSSC one of the sidebands is dropped. There is therefore a material saving in transmitting power. Since the transmitted signal requires less spec¬ trum space, the receiver can be made more selective to provide a better signal-to-noise ratio. Consequently, interference is reduced. With the carrier generated in the receiver, selective fading is of little consequence, and the signal is further improved. When all of these advantages are integrated, the use of SSSC is equiva¬ lent to a nine-decibel increase (factor of eight) of transmitter power.

One or two telegraph (or teleprinter) channels can be transmitted simultaneously with the voice channel to provide a reliable combined service. When ISB is used, the power-consuming carrier is suppressed, and both sidebands are transmitted to carry separate in¬ telligence channels. In this arrangement, one trans¬ mitter can accommodate as many as four voice chan¬ nels, or an equivalent band-width combination of voice and telegraph channels.

(b) Disadvantages. Both ISB and SSSC equipment are more expensive than AM, and more difficult to adjust and maintain. When considered from stand¬ points of cost per channel, and greater reliabihty, how¬ ever, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages as attested by their increasing popularity on overseas circuits. Unfortunately, AM and SSSC equipment are incompatible for commercial operation.

(5) India's Equipment The Indian P. & T. has invested heavily in AM

equipment (Westinghouse, USA) for internal radio¬

telephone circuits, and expected (at last intimation) to use the same on the Burma-India link. It is possible that they will change their view (they already use SSSC on the Poona-London circuit) if Burma ap¬ proaches them with a plan showing the mutual ad¬ vantages of SSSC on the India-Burma link.

(6) Expansion of Overseas Telephone Service

Once the Burma-India link is in operation, pressure will be felt for connections with other countries. Indo¬ nesia, Japan, Malaya and the Philhpine RepubUc use SSSC in their overseas telephone services. It would be a simple matter, at least from the technical point of view, to "hook-up" with them if Burma possessed a similar equipment. This point is made because it is feasible to use the same equipment for working some, or all, of these countries on part-time schedules until growth requires full-time service. Plate 2, an outhne map of Burma and her neighbours, shows the route of this projected radiotelephone circuit as well as other desirable circuits.

(7) Other Essential Elements

The receivers and transmitters of this service would be located at the centers, and would be attended by the regular shift engineers. Connections to the tele¬ phone exchange would be through the same mediiun, v.h.f. radio or wire, as the telegraph circuits. Direc¬ tional antennas for day and night frequencies are necessary for optimum performance of overseas radio¬ telephone circuits. Connecting high-frequency radio circuits to landhne systems always raises problems. The instabihty of the radio hnk is responsible for most of the difficulty and makes it essential to employ rather elaborate equipment for a satisfactory junction. The radiotelephone terminal equipment has all of the facihties required to make the circuit operative in only one direction at any one instant. It also controls signal levels in both directions, filters out fine noises, and by the privacy system, renders speech tmintelligible to unauthorized listeners. It follows that a skilled oper¬ ator is required at the controls of this terminal equip¬ ment.

(8) Estimate of Costs

In compiling the following figures, cognizance has been taken of the fact that this service will share cer¬ tain Rangoon facilities with other communications services. Therefore against such items as land, build¬ ings, connections to the central office and auxiUary power supply, there will be shown only a propor¬ tionate amount as chargeable to the proposed project.

JAPAN OKYO

TO U.S.A.

:'»QUETTA

.K<^*^ DELHI

COLOMB^ ^\ CEYLON

%- '•^^

/ A/ D / A N

Proposed Radiotelephone Link

Alternate Radiotelephone Proposal

Active Radiotelegraph Circuit Desirable Future Radiotelephone^

And/Or Radiotelegroph Links J Connecting Radiotelephone And Radiotelegraph Circuits }

MINISTRY OF NATIONAL PLANNING

RADIOTELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH ROUTES

KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO. NEW YORjC-T. RANGOON DR. BY./<?^(^ DATE CK. BY. '>^ MAY S3

PLATE NO.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS 503 (a) Capital investment

Item Ufe (years)

Foreign Exchange

(kyats)

Local (kyats)

1. Transmitter 2. Receivers 3. Terminal and Privacy Equipment 4. Connections to Exchange 5. Emergency Power Supply 6. Transmitting Antennas 7. Receiving Antennas 8. Housing (Radio and Power) 9. Sites for Bmldings and Antennas

15 15 15 15 15

5 5

25

1,50,000 70,000 45,000 65,000 16,000 10,000 5,000

8,000 4,000

30,000 40,000

Engineering and Contingency (10 %) 3,61,000

36,100 82,000 8,200

3,97,100 90,200

It is reasonable to expect items 1-5 to render service for 15 years or possibly longer, if operated and main¬ tained properly. An antenna life (items 6-7) of five years appears to be a low estimate, but was so chosen to permit the changes that are often necessary for ex¬ panding transmitting and receiving center operations.

(b) Annual costs. The annual cost of this service is comprised of (i) the annual investment charge of interest and amortization, (ii) maintenance and opera¬ tion costs and (iii) administration costs.

(i) Annual Investment Charge Amount Rate Annual Investment Charge

Items (kyats) (%) (kyats) 1-5 3,46,000 9-634 33,333.64

6 and 7 15,000 23-098 3,464.70 6 and 7 12,000 22-463 2,695.56

8 30,000 6-401 1,920.30 /ii A^l\ ''0

(ii) Maintenance and Operation Costs Amount Rate Maintenance and Operation

Items (kyats) (%) (kyats) 1-5 3,46,000 10-00 34,600

6 and 7 27,000 5-00 1,350 8 30,000 5-00 1,500

37 /ISO 00

(iii) Administration Costs Amount Rate Administration

Items (kyats) (%) (kyats) 1-9 4,87,300 5-00 24,365

'''1 ifi') on

Total Annual Costs Kl,03,229.20

The administration charge may appear to be low. However, this project will be a small operation among the many activities of Telecommunications, and should carry only its proportionate percentage of the department's overhead.

(9) Service Charge to the Public Besides indicating the order of yearly expenditure

required to operate this radiophone system, the above estimate permits an approximate unit service charge to be computed. For example, it is beUeved that the maximtim number of calls that the system could handle might reach 200, over an 18-hour day. This figure takes into consideration the time required for "person-to-person" arrangements as required bymost overseas calls. However, it is unUkely that the satura¬ tion point of the system would be reached for several years. The local expense is the same for all calls re¬ gardless of destination; so a direct compilation of Burma's minimum fee can be made for various daily totals.

Calls per day

20 50

100

Burmds local charge per call

K14.10 K5.65 K2.85

In computing the cost of a trans-ocean call, it is necessary to add the local charges (as shown above) and appUcable taxes to those of the foreign agencies. When agreements are made between telecommunica¬ tions agencies of the various countries, flat rates are usually assigned to ordinary types of service. This facihtates the rapid and accurate compilation of costs on the standard "three-minute plus overtime" basis.

(10) Using the International Radiotelephone Service In operation, the overseas telephone is little different

from an ordinary long-distance landUne system. A typical call would be handled in the following manner: a Rangoon subscriber wishing to converse with an associate in India, would simply call the telephone exchange and ask for the overseas operator. When connected, the operator records the particulars for reaching the desired party, and the caller disconnects. When the overseas operator has reached the desired individual over the radio Unk and foreign telephone system, she calls the subscriber back through the local exchange. The conversation then proceeds in the normal manner. During the Wlking period, the over¬ seas operator has an opportunity to fill out the neces¬ sary toll ticket so that an accurate bilUng can be made. It is, of course, possible to have arrangements for several calls to proceed at the same time. Operators, vdth practice, become very proficient in handling these circuits.

Trans-oceanic radiotelephone services have been in operation all over the world for many years. Excellent relaying and interconnecting agreements permit calls to be made between most countries today, and at charges becoming increasingly reasonable as facihties are added and modernized.


g. Landlines to Other Countries Because of the low traffic totals involved and the

expense of maintenance through difficult border country, landlines between Burma and her neighbors cannot be justified in the foreseeable future. High- frequency radio can provide the traffic capacity and the required reliability at a fraction of line costs, once Telecommunications puts its radio operations on a modern commercial basis.

h. Rangoon Radio-station Centers (1) General

In sizable radiotelegraph and radiotelephone opera¬ tions, it is standard commercial practice to concentrate all activities in speciahzed areas. These are known as the Transmitter Center (TC), Receiving Center (RC), and Central Telegraph Office (CTO), respectively. Great efficiency in the utilization of manpower and machines is possible if these centers are correctly de¬ signed and adequately equipped. The Telecommuni¬ cations Department has not achieved much in these respects because of the small, badly located areas avail¬ able for receiver and transmitter centres.

(a) Antennas, Directional antennas are essential for optimum h.f. performance (both transmitting and re¬ ceiving), but unfortunately require considerable land area. Receiving is further complicated by the multiple (two or three) well-spaced antennas required for diversity working. However, provided that the fre¬ quency and direction of the array is appropriate, several receivers may operate from one antenna. An¬ tennas located some distance from the equipment are connected by untuned transmission lines of the correct impedance for optimum energy transfer. The layout of both types of centers deserves first-class engineering.

(b) Other requirements. Engineers, operators and technicians are usually employed on rotating shifts so that the advantages of working during certain hours can accrue to all hands in turn. Quarters, at least for key personnel, within the immediate neighborhood are highly desirable. Electricity, water and sanitation facilities are necessary for quarters as well as for the station proper.

(2) Planning (a) Layout. On a large-scale map of the plot, anten¬

nas and station can be laid out to meet the present and future requirements for foreign and domestic circuits and equipment. From this information, clearing, level¬ ing and road and powerline construction can be ac¬ curately laid out, and provisions made for water and sanitation. High-frequency operation does not require the low-resistance ground connection so essential to low-frequency equipment.

(b) Transmission lines. It should be kept in mind

that untuned transmission fines are to be used, and arrangements made for all transmitters (and receivers) to work into the same value of impedance. Only in this way can the maximum flexibility be achieved. Because of negligibleradiation of properly constructed and terminated lines, small, well-shielded transmitters can be stacked without harmful interaction.

(c) Buildings. The station buildings required at the transmitting and receiving sites do not have to be unduly large, but they must be extremely functional. A small shop for limited maintenance, calibration and adjustment is essential, as well as adequate storage facilities for the most essential spares. Since the amount of clerical routine handled by the engineer in charge is negligible, a small office will suffice. A locker room with the usual facilities must be provided for staff" convenience.

(d) Emergency power. The highest importance must be attached to the abihty of these centers to function at all times. Consequently, emergency power supphes in the form of diesel-driven three-phase alternators must be ready at a moment's notice to take over the station load of lights and power from the commercial mains. Adequate housing for these machines as well as transmission and switch-over facilities must be included at each site.

(e) Center control board. At the receiver center, all signals must pass through the control board to the CTO by cable or radio. Since the order circuit between the two points also terminates at this board, any com¬ plaint involving signal level or quality can be re¬ solved without delay or inconvenience. At the trans¬ mitting center, the keyed impulses from the CTO are distributed to the transmitters through a similar board which includes patching, ordering and moni¬ toring facilities. For possible emergency operation, it is advisable to provide separate order and trafl&c- handhng circuits.

(3) Connection to Central Telegraph OflBce Plate 3 illustrates the physical relationship of the

desired radio-stationcenters and the Central Telegraph Office. The distance from the CTO is not of much importance provided that it does not exceed eight to ten miles, but the transmitting and receiving centers should be as widely separated (three to five miles) as possible to attenuate interference. For connecting these areas to the CTO, there are two possibilities: telephone cable or v.h.f. radio. The trend in most countries is to utilize radio since it has considerable channel expansion properties, and facilitates connect¬ ing to the CTO without the hardships associated with laying and maintaining cable. In this particular in¬ stance, the first cost, convenience and reliability are slightly in favor of radio.

MINISTRY OF NATIONAL PLANNING 1

RANGOON AREA

TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING CENTERS

KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO NEW YORK^ RANGOON

DR. BY/7/ CK. BY.'t-^

DATE MAY 53

PLATE NO.


(4) Cost Estimate These centers, as mentioned previously, will be the

Rangoon terminals of foreign and domestic radio¬ telegraph and radiotelephone circtiits. Their cost, maintenance and operation will be absorbed in these operations. However, it is necessary to estimate these figures to determine the order of expenditure required.

(a) Capital cost

Item* Life (years)

Foreign Exchange

(kyats) Local (kyats)

1. Transmitters 2. Receivers 3. UHF/VHF Traffic and Order

Circuits 4. Antennas, Masts and Lines 5. Emergency Power Supplies 6. Housing (Stations and Quarters) 7. Roads 8. Sites

15 15

15 15 15 30 30

50,000 2,15,000

2,50,000 1,25,000 1,00,000

1,00,000

6,00,000 60,000

4,00,000

Engineering and Contingency (10 %) 7,40,000

74,000 11,60,000 1,16,000

8,14,000 12,76,000

* Does not include equipment for International Radiotelephone Link, nor any expansion of present radiotelegraph program, but replaces some outmoded military gear.

(b) Annual cost. The annual cost is comprised of: (i) the annual investment charge of interest amor¬ tization; (ii) maintenance and operating costs; and (iii) administration costs.

(i) Annual Investment Charges Amount Rate Charge

Item (kyats) (%) (kyats)

1-5 8,14,000 9-634 i^Mo.ie 4 1,10,000 8-994 9,893.40

6,7 11,66,000 5-783 67,429.78 1 5': nA'i QA

(ii) Maintenance arul Operating Costs Amount Rate Charge


1-3 5,66,500 10-0 56,650

(iii) Administration Costs Amount Rate Charge


1-8 20,90,000 10-0 2,09,000 2,09,000.00

Total Annual Costs K4,97,568.94

(5) Difficulty in Obtaining Sites At this writing the transmitter center site is said to

have been obtained, but the receiving site has become an item to be settled between the Ministries of Trans¬ port and Commtmications, and Agriculture and Forests. Since 1948 Telecommunications has been selecting and requesting various sites but always has had to yield to prior claim. The point has now been reached where service must be curtailed unless land for commercially acceptable centers is forthcoming. Owkig to the location of the new Burma Broadcasting Service high-frequency transmitters, very httle latitude for compromise in the location of a receiving center site remains.

i. Recommendations (1) Radiotelephone and Telegraph

In connection with facihties discussed in this sec¬ tion, Burma's Foreign Communications Circuits, it is recommended that:

(fl) Telecommunications arrange to operate the foreign radiotelegraph circuits with frequency-shift keying and teleprinter.

{b) Modern diversity receivers be used on these circuits.

(c) The Telecommunications administrations of nei^boring countries, other than Ceylon and India, be contacted in the matter of spht-schedule operation for handling mutual traffic to provide better relay facihties than now exist.

{d) Burma reopen immediately telecommunications matters with India, and arrange a high-level confer¬ ence for an "across the table" exploration of the mutual advantage of the following:

(i) Adopting Single Sideband Suppressed Carrier (A3a) or Independent Sideband (A3b) for radio¬ telephone operation, and eventually a combined telephone-telegraph service. The use of ISB operation with two active telephone channels, one for Indian calls and the other for relayed calls, should be considered.

(ii) Allocating definite frequencies to this Burma- India telephone service so that they can be quoted in any further discussions, specifications or plans.

(iii) Improved high-speed (automatic Morse) opera¬ tion at both ends of the present radiotelegraph circuit imtil (fl) can be implemented.

(iv) Possible use of Calcutta as a telephone and/or telegraph terminal for working with Burma.

(v) EstabUshing flat rates for telephone landlines when used for mutual overseas calls.

(vi) Operation of the proposed radiotelephone ser¬ vice over an 18-hour day (minimmn) to permit relays to Europe, Africa, and the western hemisphere reaching their destinations at a reasonable time of day.

(e) Telecommunications draft a complete specifica-


tion of a modern, adequate AM radiotelephone trans¬ mitter, receiver and terminal to operate over the Ran¬ goon-Madras Circuit, for distribution to manufac¬ turers in the event that India will not go to SSSC. This is preferable to attempting a selection from the appa¬ ratus suggested in response to the previous request.

(/) Recognition be given to the fact that adequate radiotelephone and radiotelegraph equipment for foreign and domestic services will be required for the foreseeable future. Since the absolute necessity for proper sites has gone unrecognized too long and at the expense of the radio services of Burma, it is recommended that:

(i) The chosen receiving site^^near Insein, be turned over to Telecommunications at once.

(ii) That Telecommunications proceed with plans for the centers and implementation thereof, as out¬ lined in this report.

(iii) That u.h.f. radio circuits be used for traffic channels between the centers and the CTO, and v.h.f. be used for order circuits.

2. BURMA'S DOMESTIC COMMUNICATIONS

a. General It is apparent that Burma's greatest single com¬

munications need is for better interior coverage utilizing all three media, telephone, telegraph and radio, to maintain a reasonable balance between need, service and costs. This was the partially realized objective of reconstruction after World War II, when the insurrection brought new problems with disas¬ trous effects on the internal communications services.

Provisions must now be made for an adequate trunk-circuit pattern of interconnected community telephone exchanges and for essential telegraph facili¬ ties throughout the country. How and when this can be achieved may have far-reaching implications.

b. High-frequency Radio Scheme (1) DetaOs of the Plan

To meet the emergency brought about by the dis¬ ruption of landhne operation. Telecommunications developed a plan for telegraphic service utilizing high- frequency radio. This scheme required that the division headquarters stations should relay to Ran¬ goon from a network of district stations. These, in turn, would work to and from their respective town¬ ships and villages. In all, some 250 radio stations were considered necessary under this plan. When the plans was made (1949-50), several stations were already working in a limited network. For essential government and public telegrams, the service was satisfactory and expansion along the same lines appeared feasible. In this connection, it may be stated that h.f. radio has no peer for medium-long distances.

especially where the terrain is difficult, or the popula¬ tion hostile. There will therefore continue to be a well- defined, if decreasing, need for this medium in Burma.

(2) Disadvantages The serious disadvantages and drawbacks of plac¬

ing a nation's intercommunity communications into large scale h.f. operation should be evaluated in terms of a peace-time commercial communications service. At best, each h.f. circuit can carry but one telephone and one telegraph channel without unrealistic ex¬ penditure. Also the portion of the radio frequency spectrum from 3,000 to 30,000 KC (classified as h.f.) is best stiited to long-distance communications, and has been reserved for that purpose (Chapter III, Article 7 of the ITU Code) by the International Tele¬ communications Union, of which Burma is a member. With all nations clamoring for more h.f. channel authorization, and with a sizable block of countries refusing to honor international allocations, the band is extremely crowded. Random or consistent inter¬ ference and fading hinders operations which are also subject to deterioration during heavy atmospherics, especially those prevalent at the beginning and end of the monsoon season. There are no inexpensive means of insuring secrecy on these circuits. As presently operated, any station within range (which may be a considerable distance under favorable conditions) can tune in and copy. Monitoring or jamming by un¬ friendly elements is simple. No nation in modem, comjnunications history has ever limited its civil facfiities by committing itself to large scale h.f. opera¬ tion for its primary internal communications net.

With h.f. radiotelegraph (W/T) stations manually operated on discontinuous schedules and working in small nets, several relays (and delays) may be neces¬ sary before a message is delivered. As the number of stations increases these situations multiply. Conse¬ quently, the service cannot be regarded as fast, nor entirely dependable. It is also extremely expensive.

(3) Estimated Cost (per station) (a) Capital costs

Item Life (years)

Foreign Exchange

(kyats)

Local (kyats)

1. Transmitters and Receivers 2. Power Supplies 3. Antennas, Tools and Incidentals 4. Accomodations (site, station,

quarters)

15 15 15

30

15,000 5,000 1,000

80,000

21,000 80,000


(b) Annual costs (per station). The annual costs in¬ clude (i) the interest and amortization on the invest¬ ment, (ii) maintenance and operating costs and (iii) admMstration costs.

(i) Annual Investment Charges

Item Amount Rate Charge (kyats) (%) (kyats)

1-3 4

21,000 9-634 2,023.14 80,000 5-783 4,626.40

(ii) Maintenance and Operating Costs


6,649.54

18,700.00

(iii) Administration Costs

Amount Rate Charge (kyats)

10,100 Item (kyats) (%)

1-* 1,01,000 10-00

Annual Costs (per station)

10,100.00

K35,449.54

(c) Conclusions. The estabUshment and operation of a radiotelegraph station as Telecommtmications has planned is an expensive venture. The impact of the "Accomodations" figure (item 4) on the expenditure can be softened considerably by continuing the pohcy of renting station and quarters, but at the expense of risk to equipment, staff discontent and half-hearted appfication to the job at hand. Under "Administra¬ tion" are included central engineering and office over¬ head.

According to this estimate, it will cost Burma about K88 lakhs per year to operate a system of 250 radio stations in a telegraph network on the scale which Telecommunications has suggested. It is estimated further that, if telephone facihties for working through local exchanges were added to this network, the cost would be at least doubled. The poor results obtained on an experimental radiotelephone circuit between Rangoon and Moulmein during the past few months are considered indicative of what can be expected of a low-power h.f. radiotelephone program.

(4) Manpower Requirements For a system of 250 radio stations, the manpower

needs are imposing, especially the number of trained technicians required.

Title

Manpower Requirements

Per Station For 250 Stations

Supervisor Operator Engine-driver Peon Durwan Sweeper

1 2 1 1 1 1

250 500 250 250 250 250

To meet the vacancies occurring through natural turnover, leaves, retirements and other causes, it is essential that a minimum reserve of two hundred men be available for the several categories. The personnel problems inherent in a staff" of this size, far-flung in location, are diverse and must be handled with skill and consideration. Adequate housing for staff and station will eliminate most major complaints.

(5) Domestic Telegraph Revenue In round figures, the inland telegraph system earned

K9 lakhs in 1950-51, and somewhat more in 1951-52, but not enough to cover operating expenses. It is pos¬ sible to forecast with reasonable accuracy that the domestic telegraph deficit will increase because the larger municipahties, which are the most lucrative sources of business and which have been radio- equipped for some time, are already included in the revenue returns. Smaller district stations cannot pay their way even with drastic compromises in service, quarters and staff.

(6) Service to be Expected Because of the basic sociological and economic im¬

portance of a rehable communications system, a reasonable operating deficit can be written off, es¬ pecially if the service is entirely satisfactory. In this instance the service cannot be expected to become wholly satisfactory. Instances are frequent of messages requiring 24 to 72 hours to reach their destinations in towns having radiotelegraphic services in this relatively small system of 60-odd stations. As the number of stations is increased there is reason to beheve that service will deteriorate further. Relaying from net to net is closely akin to the transfer operation currently found so objectionable in the Rangoon telephone system. Operation on the basis of a continuous watch permitting direct traffic handling on demand (as in the maritime services) would not be feasible because of the equipment, manpower and frequency require¬ ments. The conclusion is inescapable that if high- frequency radio has a place in Burma's telecommuni-


cations pattern that place is limited to long-haul circuits to isolated outposts.

c. VHF and UHF (Microwave) (1) General

Since their initial application in the early thirties u.h.f. and v.h.f. (ultra high frequency and very high frequency) have enjoyed increasing popularity among telecommunications administrations. Although these radio circuits are not in every case the best choice, there are enough situations in which one or the other is preferable to other media to warrant a careful study of their application to Burma's needs.

(2) VHF and UHF Described The term Very High Frequency is apphed to any

radio system utilizing frequencies between the limits of 30 and 300 megacycles. As the frequency increases from the lower limit, the transmission characteristic of Heaviside layer reflection, good for long distance if somewhat inconsistent operation, changes rather abruptly to unreflected, quasi line-of-sight, and very consistent operation. The term Ultra High Frequency is apphed to operation between 300 and 3,000 mega¬ cycles. The term Super High Frequency (s.h.f.) is applied to frequencies between 3,000 and 30,000mega- cycles. The frequencies above 900 megacycles are re¬ ferred to broadly as being in the microwave region. As the frequency increases the transmission charac¬ teristics more nearly approach those of the trans¬ mission of Ught. The signals can be concentrated with a simple antenna in much the same manner that a strong beam of hght can be produced with a polished reflector. Intervening objects, such as buildings, hills, trees, etc., cast a shadow; that is, block the signal.

(3) Basic Differences, and Advantages over HF The basic differences between the various categories

are therefore matters of frequency and behavior, u.h.f. and s.h.f. requiring a line-of-sight path between stations, while v.h.f. is shghtly more tolerant in this respect. These differences have a great bearing on the practical application of these radio systems. The higher the transmission frequency, the more channels it can accommodate. This offsets the disadvantage of shorter working distances. The greatest advantages of v.h.f., u.h.f. and s.h.f. over simple h.f. are the con¬ sistent, static-free signals, and the large number of channels (telephone or telegraph) that can be accom¬ modated by one wide-band transmitter. Of course, the need for transmission lines or cables between stations is eliminated.

The situations under which advantages accrue, how¬ ever, are quite inflexible and well defined—v.h.f., u.h.f. and s.h.f. are advantageous where:

{a) There is heavy, continuous traffic over long-haul circuits.

{b) Many telephone or telegraph channels are re¬ quired.

((?) Continuous power can be assured at stations and repeaters.

(d) Highly competent technicians are available. {e) Landline costs compare unfavorably; and land-

line maintenance is difficult. (/) New operations are about to begin, or consider¬

able expansion is accurately forecast. (g) Private point-to-point connections are required

for metering, signaling and special services. {h) Landlines are insecure from sabotage and theft.

(4) Disadvantages The disadvantages he in the necessity for repeater

stations at 20-30-mile intervals, and in the rather complex and expensive array of equipment required in each station, especially where one or more channels are dropped or introduced. This considerably narrows the apphcability of these systems. To operate the equipment, a most reliable source of power with standby service for emergency is required. In the United States, where systems have been engineered to a high degree of reliabihty, most repeater stations are completely automatic and unattended. The adjust¬ ment and maintenance of this equipment is highly specialized and requires very competent technicians. In many parts of the world, these conditions are diffi¬ cult to meet. Failures can be very costly.

(5) Considerations Affecting Burma's Needs for VHF and UHF

The population distribution in Burma is shown by the map. Population and Population Distribution, in Chapter I. Since a significant shift in the foreseeable future is quite unlikely, it is not difficult to decide where principal communications channels must be established. Because several of these areas are already served by the h.f. radiotelegraph system, it is possible to forecast somewhat accurately the order of ultimate telegraph traffic totals.The following spot checks arein- cluded to indicate the loading of these main circuits into Rangoon, the center of Burma's communications system:

Weekly Mes- Average Circuit sages Sent Received

Rangoon-Delta 872 962 Rangoon-Moulmein and

Tenasserim 760 969 Rangoon-Prome and Tharra¬

waddy 315 381 Rangoon-Akyab 375 774 Rangoon-Mandalay and

N. Burma 2,483 2,710


It is estimated that, if trunk telephone service were widely available to compete for this business, these totals might be lower. For this reason they can be accepted for the present as saturation figures. None of these ckcuits can be considered heavily loaded, nor very remunerative. Consequently, telegraph facihties should be combined with those of other services to derive all economies possible. A telegraph channel can be operated on a telephone channel without diffi¬ culty. While there is not heavy continuous traffic, several channels (telephone and telegraph) are never¬ theless required.

Outside of Rangoon, commercial power is not generally available on a 24-hour basis, but may be within the next few years. Generating power on a small scale for repeater stations is very expensive from the standpoints of fuel consumption, maintenance and supervision. Competent microwave technicians are not available in Burma, but there are some able h.f. trained personnel who can be upgraded in a short period of time. Line costs on the main traffic channels where existing right-of-way can be foUowed are not prohibitive in Burma. Maintenance in the face of sabotage and theft is extremely difficult, but could be improved immeasurably by sterner measures. Other elements of maintenance can be made less expensive and less annoying by improved methods to be dis¬ cussed in paragraph E-2-d-(6)-(a).

The first phase of the internal communications rehabfiitation program should be concerned with restor¬ ing prewar-postwar parity. New and expanded services belong properly in a later phase. Certain organizations could profitably use private or shared fines between Rangoon and other areas, and these needs should be determined and incorporated in future planning. The wide-band transmission potentiafities of microwave systems can provide as many channels as Tele¬ communications can possibly need.

(6) Rangoon-Mandalay Circuit Possibilities

(a) Routes and "hops." There are two possible routes for commumcations between Burma's two largest cities. One foUows the Pegu, Toungoo, Pyinmana, Thazi, Kyaukse main rail and highway route into Mandalay, while the other goes through Tharrawaddy, Prome and Chauk to Myingyan and thence to Mandalay. Local communications should be provided along these routes, and trunk channels picked up or dropped where necessary. On this basis a cost estimate for a multi-channel microwave system between Rangoon and Mandalay has been prepared. To insure that as many repeaters and stations as possible are located within towns for security and utility reasons, 22 "hops" are considered necessary.

R.B. n—2

(b) Capital cost

Item Life (years)

Foreign Exchange

(kyats) Local (kyats)

1. Radio and Terminal Equipment 2. Testing Equipment 3. Power Source 4. Antenna Towers 5. Accomodations (Sites, Stations,

Quarters)

15 15 15 15

30

21,00,000 1,00,000 3,50,000 1,80,000

17,85,000

Engmeering and Contingency (10%) 27,30,000 2,73,000

17,85,000 1,78,500

30,03,000 19,63,500

(c) Annual costs. The annual costs include (i) the annual investment charges, (ii) maintenance and operating costs, and (in) administration costs.



1-4 30,03,000 9-634 2,89,309 5 19,63,500 5-783 1,13,450

4,02,759

(ii) Maintenance and Operating Costs Amount Rate Charge


1-4 30,03,000 10-0 3,00,300 5 19,63,500 5-0 98,175

3,98,475



1-5 49,66,500 10-0 4,96,650

Total Annual Cost

4,96,650

K12,97,884

To serve the two main routes, as previously described, another circuit similar in design and cost would be necessary. Thus the estimated aimual cost for the Rangoon-Mandalay and intermediate trunk channels is K26 lakhs, or roughly K3,250 per system mile. If ten channels were used, this would cost K32.50 per channel rmle.

(7) Rangoon-Delta Possibilities (a) General. The terrain of this area seems ex¬

tremely well suited to the appfication of u.h.f. for


trunk circuits. Not only are "blocking" hills con¬ spicuously absent, but the large number of cable river- crossings to be eliminated makes the whole idea addi¬ tionally attractive. Also, populated centers occur at strategic points for relay stations.

(b) Present utilization. During the reconstruction period after World War II, Telecommunications decided to try out v.h.f. in this difficult (for landhnes) area. As a consequence, a circuit to connect Bassein and Rangoon via Wakema and Maubin was designed, and the equipment contract was placed with General Electric Company. Simultaneously, an order was placed for Rangoon-Moulmein "single-hop" circuit equipment.

tion over this 90-mile circuit. During certain times of the day, for brief periods of the year, satisfactory operation may be possible. At other times, the circuit will be unreliable. It therefore offers fittle or no im¬ provement over the present h.f. circuit.

(4) Cost

The total figure will probably exceed K5 lakhs, not including housing. A rough computation of the annual costs (Rangoon-Bassein circuit), based on this figure, follows:

Category Rate

(1) Circuit Details

(a) Channel facilities. At the time these circuits were planned, 1949, although combination telephone- telegraph multiple-channel operation may have been considered, single-channel working between Rangoon and Bassein was specified. Later, drop-off facihties for Wakema and Maubin were ordered. In brief, the circuit can handle but one conversation at a time (equivalent to a pair of wires), with terminations in each of the four centers.

(b) Equipment details. Frequencies between 66 and 86 megacycles were selected for this operation. The phase-modulated transmitters can deliver ten watts into three-element directional antennas. The receivers are of the conventional superheterodyne, limiter-dis- criminator type. This equipment is capable of high- quality voice-circuit operation.

(c) Antenna masts. The equipment arrived in Ran¬ goon in mid-1951, and reposed in the stores' godown until early 1953, when installation was begun. The failure to order appropriate antenna masts with the equipment contributed to this long delay. The masts are much larger and heavier than necessary for this application, but can carry other antennas besides those for v.h.f. working.

(2) Installation and Operation.

The Rangoon-Maubin leg has begun two-way operation, but the circuit is not yet on a commercial basis. There is no reason to believe that the system wiU be other than satisfactory. However, the extent of degradation in the speech circuit from noise in the repeaters is not yet known. The lack of 24-hour commercial electricity outside of Rangoon handicaps the operation of all electronic equipment.

(3) Rangoon-Moulmein Circuit

The choice of 32 and 35-5 MC frequencies would seem to preclude commercial quality 24-hour opera-

investment (15-year life) 9-634 Operation and Maintenance 12'5 Administration 10-0

Total Annual Cost

Charge

48,170 62,500 50,000

K 1,60,670

or 1,60,670/98 - Kl,640 per circuit mile.

(c) UHF study

(1) General

As the Delta is the most promising area in aU Burma for v.h.f./u.h.f. trunk-circuit application, it was decided to determine the approximate cost of a modern microwave multi-channel system. With tele¬ graph and telephone channels from each toll center to Rangoon, and with intervening local circuits, the economic picture becomes much brighter than that of the v.h.f. system.

(2) Communities Served

To provide maximum service, and to maintain short reliable hops, Myaungmya and Twante were added to the Bassein Rangoon path. One relay sta¬ tion is deemed necessary midway between Wakema and Maubin. Ah hops are less than 20 miles so that reflector tower heights are kept within modest limhs. Exclusive of Rangoon, the total population (five towns) served directly would be more than 150,000. Tributary lines (landline and v.h.f.) connecting several towns to the toll centers would increase this figure considerably.

(a) Channels required. Cursory checks indicate that while there is some traffic between these commuifities, most traffic would be to and from Rangoon. There¬ fore one through telephone and one through tele¬ graph circuit are considered adequate for each cen¬ ter's needs. In addition, local working between adjacent points is also included. One spare telephone circuit could be maintained from Bassein to Rangoon. In all, seven telephone and seven telegraph channels would be provided initially.


(3) Cost Estimate (a) Capital investment

'Item Life (years]

1. Radio and Terminal Equipment 2. Test Equipment 3. Power Source 4. Antenna Towers 5. Accomodations (Sites, Station

Buildings, Quarters)

Engineering and Contingency (10 %)

Total

15 15 15 15

30

Foreign Exchange

(kyats)

7,00,000 35,000

1,10,000 60,000

9,05,000 90,500

9,95,500

Local (kyats)

6,00,000

6,00,000 60,000

6,60,000

K16,55,500

(b) Annual costs



1-4 5

9,95,500 9-634 95,816.47 6,60,000 5-783 38,167.80

1 "^"^ 0R4 ''I



5 9,95,500 10-0 99,550 6,60,000 5-0 33,000

1 '^'> ■s<;n no



1-5 16,55,500 10-0 1,65,550 1 6^ '\<,c\ on

(6) Security. An interruption at any point kiUs the through circuits. Consequently the small building and modest tower instaUations must be amply pro¬ tected in any such scheme.

(c) Power. Since rehable commercial power is not available outside of Rangoon, diesel-driven generators are required in duplicate at each location. Reserve capacity wiU supply fighting for the station and quar¬ ters.

{d) Quarters. Modest quarters are necessary to house the key technical staff near the station on an "on-call" basis.

(d) VHF tributary links

(1) General

When the multi-channel u.h.f. system outlined above replaces the Rangoon-Bassein single-channel v.h.f. circuit, the displaced equipment (three complete finks) can be used to advantage on tributary circuits where river crossings complicate the maintenance of landUnes.

(2) Most Urgent Need

As indicated on Plate 4, if a connection were pro¬ vided between Henzada and Tharrawaddy, the landline system between Henzada and Bassein could work into the Rangoon-Prome landUne trunk.

(a) Equipment available. Telecommunications has a complete two-way v.h.f. system which was pur¬ chased for experimental telephone service finks. This equipment is designed for 12-volt operation on fre¬ quencies of 73 and 85 megacycles. It is suggested that these units could be instaUed to provide the Henzada- Tharrawaddy Unk described above. There is no power- supply problem because petrol-operated battery chargers are available locaUy. Antenna masts for this operation should be 75 to 100 feet high. The equip¬ ment already has telephone-exchange connection facilities.

The estimated annual cost is approximately K4,300 per system-mile or rdiighly K300 per channel-mile for aU telephone and telegraph trunk operation.

(4) System operation requirements (a) General. The estimate has been based on very

high quafity equipment to provide continuous reh¬ able service. Competent maintenance personnel must be available. Operation of 6,000 MC equipment is not difficult, but is exacting. Complete standby equip¬ ment is furnished to eUminate lengthy circuit inter¬ ruptions.

(3) Other Links

(a) Einme-Wakema-Moulmeingyun, To put these circuits into operation will merely involve moving Bassein's v.h.f. equipment to Mouhneingyun and the proper receiver-transmitter to Einme from Maubin.

(b) Myaungmya-Labutta. It is proposed that this circuit will utilize the v.h.f. equipment no longer needed on the Maubin-Rangoon fink.

(e) Conclusions. Microwave radio can provide very economical communications fadfities where the channel demand is great enough. Experience with the


v.h.f. limited trunk system in the Delta will be of great value in determining how widely this plan should be developed. Its installation in the Delta should be pushed. Elsewhere in Burma the landline situation must be assessed.

d. Trunk Landlines (1) General

The greatest share of the world's trunk circuit operation is, and probably will continue to be handled over landlines. Easy to maintain, especially in climates without snow, ice and disastrous winds, a line properly constructed and cared for has an ex¬ tremely long life, and is capable of very reliable ser¬ vice. The advent of vacuum-tube repeaters has per¬ mitted a substantial reduction in the size of conduc¬ tors, and improved metallurgical techniques have provided stronger wires for longer spans. Conse¬ quently, greater economies than ever before are now possible in line construction.

(2) Multi-channel Operation

(a) Carrier current system. Since the carrier princi¬ ple was first demonstrated, the trend has been to¬ wards the reduction of the number of lines required while still increasing the number of working channels. A carrier system can provide hundreds of channels, or can be used to superimpose but one channel on a tele¬ phone or telegraph line. There are many similarities between carrier-current systems and radio systems, the major differences being the frequencies normally used and the fact that the carrier-current signals are confined to metallic wire circuits instead of being radiated into space.

(b) Carrier requirements. Because of the increased electromagnetic and electrostatic coupling effects at carrier frequencies, special precautions must be taken in the design of carrier lines to prevent undesirable interaction between lines. Frequent transposition of each wire pair and rigid tolerances in support, tension and insulation of each conductor are required. Where but one carrier pair is a part of any alignment, con¬ siderable latitude may be taken in all matters except insulation. Well trained technicians are required for operation and maintenance of the terminal and re¬ peater units, and a reliable source of power is neces¬ sary at these points.

(c) Radio v. landhne carrier. Each has its advan¬ tages; so a choice must be dictated by the facts of the individual case. More channels can be accommodated on a u.h.f. radio circuit, a great advantage if the traffic warrants. The landline carrier has the advantage (by a ratio of 8 or 10 to 1) in the allowable distance

between repeaters. Ordinary local operation between towns can be carried on over carrier lines without interaction. Simplex connections can also be utilized for an additional telegraph circuit.

(3) Landline Carrier in Burma

(a) Previous use. Landline carrier working is not new to Burma. Several carrier circuits proved their worth on the Rangoon-Prome and the Rangoon- Mandalay routes before World War 11.

(b) Present equipment and facihties. Some of the Telecommunications engineering and operating staff have had experience with carrier working, and can serve as a nucleus for future activity of this nature. Recommendations have been made (Interim Report, page 279) that the present stock of new and used carrier equipment be inventoried and put through an operational check. This work has not progressed be¬ yond the inventory stage. Presently, equipment is stored in Rangoon, Toungoo and Mandalay.

(c) Planning. Had a carrier program been engi¬ neered and pushed, rehabilitation could have begun two years ago wherever security permitted. The head¬ long rush into h.f. radio telegraphy as a communica¬ tions medium seems to have channeled responsible thinking away from the absolute necessity for a landline system for certain functions. While much valuable time has been lost, it is not too late to look into this whole matter.

(d) Trunk routes. As mentioned previously, the con¬ centration of population, industry and commerce favors several main telecommunications trunk routes. From toll centers, tributary primary and secondary fines can provide any degree of coverage desired, utilizing much of Burma's huge investment in line structures.

(1) Rangoon-Mandalay via Pegu, Toungoo and Thazi

This circuit needs to be repaired between Pyinmana and Yamethin to permit through working. It offers the earliest and easiest prospect for a carrier route between Burma's two largest cities.

(2) Rangoon Mandalay via Prome and Myingyan

This circuit is in operation as far as Prome. The line was not designed for carrier operation, but there is evidence it would serve for the interim.

(3) Rangoon-Moulmein via Pegu

This circuit is broken between Waw and Mokpalin, also between Martaban and Moulmein (Salween River).

(4) Rangoon-Delta

Lines are in operation to Maubin through Twante. Other more remote points have been connected in the tributary network. The possibihty of through opera¬ tion to Bassein seems remote, and for this rehance wiU probably be placed on the v.h.f. radio system now being installed. Because of the numerous and wide river crossings and the general inundation of the countryside for a portion of the year, landfine main¬ tenance is expensive and difficult. Consequently, u.h.f. radio on the scale described seems the best answer to the problem of trunk operation in the Delta.

(5) Mandalay-Lashio via Maymyo

This circuit has been in operation for a considerable period of time. Traffic does not warrant carrier work¬ ing at this time.

(6) Mandalay-Myitkyina This circuit requires considerable rehabifitation and

expansion. It is not likely that carrier working can be justified within the next few years.

(7) Conclusions The two Rangoon-Mandalay circuits are ideally

suited for carrier working. Much equipment and Une facihties are available with which to begin the re¬ habifitation work (see succeeding paragraphs). All new construction of trtmk-route fines (except in the Delta) should be to carrier standards against the time when such operation will be practical and necessary.

(4) Rangoon-Mandalay Circuit Estimates (a) General. Three-channel carrier terminals with

spares, in the original packings, are held in Tele¬ communications' stores. This equipment would per¬ mit three both-way circuits besides the normal voice and telegraph working, on one pair of wires. A smaU building to house the terminal equipment is required on the outskirts of Rangoon to eliminate the necessity of special overhead lines through the city to the trunk exchange. Unsatisfactory transmission of carrier fre¬ quencies over cable circtiits without special equipment makes this necessary. Conventional cable connections will suffice from the terminal equipment to the trunk exchange.

(b) Cost estimates. Because rehabfiitation of the carrier system has not been coordinated and kept current by frequent information from the districts, the accuracy of fine rehabifitation figures is low. They are adequate, however, for budgetary and preliminary planning. Both trunks are calculated on the basis of providing two intermediate toll centers.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

(1) Capital Investment

513

Item Life (years)

1. Terminal Equipment 2. Repeater ,, 3. Filter 4. Power Supplies 5. Line Rehabilitation 6. Buildings

Engineering and Contingency (10%)

Total Estimated Cost

15 15 15 15 30 30

Foreign Exchange

(kyats)

75,000 72,000 40,000 20,000

9,00,000

11,07,000 1,10,700

Local (kyats)

2,000 2,000 1,000

4,00,000 1,50,000

5,55,000 55,500

12,17,700 6,10,500

K18,28,200

(2) Annual Cost


Item (kyats) (%) (kyats) 1-4 2,27,700 9-634 21,936.62

5 9,90,000 6-505 64,399.50 l-A 5,500 4-994 274.67 5-6 6,05,000 5-783 34,987.15

1 11 SIS'!


Item (kyats) (%) (kyats) l-A 2,33,200 10-0 23,320.00 5 14,30,000 8-5 1,21,550.00

Item

1-6


Amount Rate Charge (kyats) (%) (kyats)

18,28,200 10-0 1,82,820.00 1,82,820.00

Total Estimated Annual Cost K5,31,787.94

From this figure, the annual cost per system mile is estunated at roughly K670, or less than K170 per telephone-channel-mile.

(c) Cost comparison. As indicated in paragraph E-2-c-(6)-(c) the annual cost for u.h.f. trunks over the same routes is estimated at K3,250 per system mile, or K2,580 higher than landfine carrier. If only one route was equipped with u.h.f., the balance would still favor landhne trunks by K955 per system-rmle. The larger potential channel expansion of u.h.f. is no advantage, in this case, because Burma's future requirements do not require it. A modest expansion of landfine carrier can meet all foreseeable future needs.


(5) Carrier Line Material Reclamation At the end of World War II, a carrier hne was con¬

structed from Tamu to Mandalay for military pur¬ poses. Because there is no longer a need for this type of line between these points, it has been suggested that the materials be removed and used for rehabilitating the Rangoon Mandalay carrier circuits. While re¬ liable information is meager, it is believed that enough material for at least a hundred miles of carrier line could be recovered. The matter merits close in¬ vestigation from the standpoints of possible future need for this line, removal cost and general con¬ dition of the material.

(6) Trunk Service to Outlying Areas (a) General. Once the primary trunks have been

established the major proportion of the population is served. But, many secondary trunks and tributary circuits are necessary to provide some communica¬ tions facilities for the remaining large areas. How extensive and appropriate the system becomes de¬ pends on the critical balance of cost, revenue and need. The accumulation of all the facts necessary for definite proposals in these areas is beyond the scope of the present survey. However, opinions based on personal visits to some of these areas and/or reliable information are expressed as conclusions in respect to meeting early requirements.

(b) Arakan. This area is now served by several radiotelegraph stations through Akyab to Rangoon. It is planned to add radiotelephone facihties so that trunk telephone operation between Akyab and Ran¬ goon is possible. As soon as security conditions per¬ mit, much of the previous landline system should be restored. This can be supplemented in difficult sec¬ tions with the most suitable type of radio.

(c) Chin Hills, Upper Chindwin and Naga Hills. Where deemed essential, landline facihties wiU be re¬ placed when security conditions permit. Improved radiotelegraph and radiotelephone operation will pro¬ vide a modicum of telecommunications service. Ex¬ pansion of the trunk and tributary system must await highway and/or railway construction which can be hastened by the demands of industry and agriculture.

(d) Kachin State. Trunk working between Myit- kyina and Mandalay must be restored as rapidly as possible by landlines along the railway. The post align¬ ment is in fair condition and should be restrung with copperweld wire, a portion of which is now in stock. Local telephone and telegraph working can be acom- modated on the same conductors. Until this can be carried out, high-frequency radio must continue to provide limited communications facilities. Because of difficult terrain, Putao is best served by radio through Myitkyina.

(e) Northern Shan States. The trunk circuit, Man¬ dalay to Lashio, can be maintained in good order. Carrier working should be added as required. The cir¬ cuit should be extended beyond Lashio as soon as security conditions permit. Tributary circuits will follow with similar action.

(f) Southern Shan States. Econonuc development and a return to settled conditions are essential for an extension of the communications lines beyond Taung¬ gyi. Spot communications circuits can be estabUshed by h.f. radio as required.

(g) Tenasserim. When conditions permit, the land¬ hnes should be extended from Moulmein southwards to Tavoy and Mergui. Adequate tributaries can be added as required. Until then h.f. circuits must be tolerated. Victoria Point, because of difficult terrain, must continue to be served by h.f. radio.

(h) Implementation (1) Estimate of expenditure

Without going over the ground, yard by yard, it is impossible to determine the exact cost of rehabifitating these secondary trunk hues. A fair estimate can be made, however, because the impfied project is large, and funds can be transferred as required from one division to another. It is estimated that K20 lakhs should be appropriated for this work.

(2) Planning and Engineering Immediate attention should be given to making the

essential detailed plans. Subdivisional officers must gather data on such points as exact conditions of the present alignment, estimates of materials required, and possible changes in location of the ahgnment for im¬ proving security and facilitating maintenance. When the actual work begins, modern techniques and con¬ struction equipment should be utilized.

(7) Landline Maintenance (a) Vegetation removal. In the tropics landlines

fare well with the elements but suffer from rapidly growing jungle. During the last few years, great strides have been made in the chemical (herbicide) control of weeds and brush. There is every reason to believe that these methods are applicable in Burma, and could result in considerable savings of both manpower and money.

(1) Methodology There are several methods of applying herbicides: (a) Fofiage spraying using water as a carrier. (6) Basal bark spraying (dormant season or year-

round) using oil as a vehicle. (c) Basal bark spraying with oil and water emul¬

sion as a vehicle.


(d) Cut-stump spraying with oil as a vehicle. Once vegetation is brought under control, only spot

treatment is necessary to maintain a clear fine right- of-way. Further details may be secured from the foUowing firms: Thompson Chemical Corp., St. Louis 3, Mo., USA; Dow Chemical Corp., Midland, Mich., USA; Amer. Chem. Paint Co., Ambler, Pa., USA.

(b) Equipment (1) General

The specialized tools, modern materials and equip¬ ment used elsewhere for fine construction and main¬ tenance are conspicuously absent in Burma. With the efficiency, productivity and work quality of the fine staJBf depending to a large extent on adequate equip¬ ment the best available on the world's markets should be procured.

(2) Transportation Without means for moving quickly from one

trouble spot to another, full maintenance productivity cannot be reaUzed, nor can optimimi service be ren¬ dered to the Department's customers. Utifity-body trucks can be purchased from many suppliers.

(3) Standards and training Much more emphasis must be placed on adherence

to accepted standards. Supervising engineers must be in a position, physically and technically, to show maintenance personnel all techiuques for doing the job at hand (see Traiiung, Section 5).

(8) Reconmiendations Based on the foregoing discussion, it is recom¬

mended that: (a) A determined program for the restoration of

the Rangoon-Mandalay carrier circuits be adopted under responsible direction. Engineering-planning could be carried out immediately so that imported equipment items might be ordered, and the Rangoon terminal constructed. Line rehabihtation should be¬ gin at the end of the present monsoon season.

(b) Microwave radio be utilized for the Delta trunk system and the equipment of the entirely in¬ adequate v.h.f. system be used for tributary circuits where single channels over longer hops are desirable.

(c) LandUne rehabifitation be pushed wherever possible using copperweld wire as an economy measure, and to discourage pilfering of line materials. Also, that Government take a sterner attitude to¬ wards all such acts of sabotage so that fine structures will be higfily respected.

(d) The h.f. radiotelegraph program be modified to prevent wasteful spending on a system both unsatis¬ factory and expensive. HF should be used only in

those places where telephone or telegraph landhnes cannot be economically maintained.

(e) Where a radiotelegraph station is retained for security reasons, its maintenance and operation should be met from the defense budget.

(/) Where radio and landUne telegraph facihties are available in a community, the same staff should handle both media. As presently arranged many radio operators do not handle a single message from one month's end to the next.

(g) Telecommunications make an all-out effort to restring commercial hues on the pole structures that have carried Railways' control hues for some time.

e. The Rangoon Telephone System (1) General

The telephone service in Burma's capital city leaves much to be desired. Most complaints fall into one or more of the foUowing categories:

(a) The system is too small. (b) The service is unsatisfactory. (c) The annual rental is much too high. Any thought given to rectifying one of the above

must involve the other two. For instance, there is Uttle virtue in enlarging the system without at the same time restoring it to an acceptable and less expensive operating standard.

The trend toward fuUy automatic exchange opera¬ tion has aheady extended to 70% of the world's tele¬ phones. It is inevitable that Rangoon's future system wfil be "dial operated." Regardless of the desirabiUty of the automatic system, however, the cost must be considered in the Ught of local purchasing power. Since recommendations will be influenced by exchange size and system of switching, as weU as by equipment and operating costs, each will be examined in some detaU.

(2) Subscriber Demand The determination of subscriber demand depends

upon the integration of numerous social and economic factors such as population density, standards of Uv- ing, number and extent of business estabUshments

Telephones

City Country Population (est.) I

1 Total Per Hundred

Tokyo Japan 6,300,000 297,000 4-7 Colombo Ceylon 400,000 14,000 3-5 Manila Phil. Rep. 1,093,000 15,500 1-42 Delhi-New Delhi India 1,191,000 , 15,000 1-26 Karachi Pakistan 1,300,000 j 14,000 1-08 Djakarta Indonesia 1,200,000 12,700 1-06


and the habits and desires of the people. Statistics based on these factors are usually collected by the local telephone administration to guide expansion programs. To supplement the meager data from Ran¬ goon, figures from a few capital cities have been collected to illustrate the Ukely trends.

PracticaUy every major city in this general area has a telephone expansion program planned, or already under construction. Colombo plans to have faciUties for 40,000 telephones by the end of 1959, while Delhi- New DeUu plans to have 30,000 by 1956-57.

(3) The Initial InstaUation When new systems are installed, a certain excess is

incorporated in the underground system and in the exchange itself to provide for the first five to ten years' demand growth without additional plant ex¬ penditure. It is befieved that Rangoon should antici¬ pate sUghtly more than one telephone per one hun¬ dred of population. This can be achieved by initiaUy equipping the exchanges as foUows:

Main 6,000 Unes North 2,000 Unes Insein 300 Unes

for a total of 8,300 lines. For the physical relationship of these offices, see Plate 5.

(4) Estunated Costs The foUowing "Capital Costs" table is predicated

on the assumption that Government wiU erect a bufiding for the main exchange more suitably located and designed than the 40th Street property. Centrally located housing must also be provided for the North and Insein exchanges. Sites for these buildings are understood to be in the process of procurement. Air conditioning is essential for maintaining a dust-free atmosphere of constant temperature and humidity to permit optimum functioning of the switching devices.

(a) Capital investment

Item Life

(years)

Foreign Exchange

(kyats)

Local (kyats)

1. Buildings, including Sites 2. Air Conditioning 3. Exchange Equipment 4. Outside Plant 5. Telephones and PBX Boards

30 30 30 30 30

1,00,000 80,000

28,00,000 52,00,000 9,25,000

8,00,000 20,000

2,00,000 28,00,000

75,000

Engineering and Contingency 91,05,000 9,10,500

38,95,000 3,89,500

1,00,15,500 42,84,500

(b) Annual costs. The annual costs are comprised of (i) annual investment charges of interest and amortization, (ii) maintenance and operating costs and (iu) administration costs.


Item Amount (kyats)

Rate (%)

Charge (kyats)

1-5 1-5

42,84,500 1,00,15,500

5-783 6-505

2,47,772.65 6,51,508.28

Q 00 '>Rn 0'^


Item Amount (kyats)

Rate (%)

Charge (kyats)



1-5 1,43,00,000 10-0 14,30,000 14,30,000.00

Total Annual Cost K26,65,780.93

(5) Subscribers' Annual Charge (a) Trend of charges. To compute the cost of auto¬

matic telephone service to the individual subscriber, it is only necessary to divide the annual cost by the total number of subscribers. From the estimated cost, the following figures illustrate the trend and magni¬ tude of subscriber charges to support a modem automatic telephone system in Rangoon.

ohones in Use Annual Cost Monthly Cost 4,000 K692 K58 5,000 K554 K47 6,000 K462 K39 7,000 K396 K33

Note: Imports are CIF Rangoon, exclusive of duty.

(b) Basis for calculating charges. Most telephone organizations render a monthly or bi-monthly bill to each subscriber. Either of two methods may be used to compute the amount. The first method operates on the flat-rate principle. A telephone is classified as either residential or business and the subscriber pays the appropriate fee regardless of the number of calls made. The second method makes a similar distinction in telephone usage, but charges a certain minimum fee plus a smaU amount for each caU. Subscribers' meters, to count the outgoing caUs on each Une, are

TELECOMMUNICATIONS 517 included in the automatic exchange equipment. The second method is more equitable but involves more clerical work. It is more suitable to automatic ex¬ change working.

(c) Protection against non-payment. From each subscriber, it is necessary to collect a deposit in addi¬ tion to the modest instafiation fee. This deposit is large enough to cover a month's operation, and pro¬ tect the telephone administration from the tardy re¬ mitter. The procedure, if prompt adjustment of the account is not forthcoming after adequate warning, is to suspend the service. There are no collection diffi¬ culties, such as those suffered by Telecommunications, where the telephone administration exercises this rule impartially.

(6) Operation and Maintenance (a) Preventive maintenance. Most of the duties in

an automatic exchange will be much more exacting and specialized than those found in a manual ex¬ change. Technicians will need many skills. The em¬ phasis, in this type of operation, is largely on preven¬ tive maintenance—taking the appropriate steps to re¬ move the causes of service interruptions before they can occur. This is a concept which must be learned and practiced diligently, or the automatic telephone system is doomed from the beginning.

(b) Staff estimates.The tables on the next page show a fair approximation of thenumber andkinds of special¬ ists required in an operation of this magnitude.

The number of people required (and the ultimate success of the scheme) depends largely on the aptitude and willingness of the employees to learn and practice the precise maintenance and operating procedures. It is to be noted that draftsmen, stock clerks and various office staff are provided for under "Adminis¬ tration."

(c) Transportation requirements. It must be re¬ membered that motorized maintenance is a corner¬ stone of satisfactory telephone system maintenance. Telecommunications' facilities, in this respect, have been most inadequate. Under the automatic system, Insein exchange will begin operations as an unattended unit. In case of breakdown, and for periodic inspec¬ tion, the services of a mechanic from "North" or "Main" must be available by motor transport. The cost estimates in the table include an allowance for all transport requirements and the minimum number of vehicles is indicated.

(7) Selection of a Switching System (a) The BPO Survey Report recommendations.

This survey, for which the Government contracted with the British Post Office, was to serve as a basis for recommendations and specifications for automatizing

the Rangoon telephone system. In general, the recom¬ mendations of the report are conventional and reason¬ able. Exceptions relating to exchange growth esti¬ mates, and to the type of switching system offered, are held.

(1) Future Needs. The BPO's suggestion that the 30-year Rangoon telephone-line saturation figure might he 6,888 is unrealistic. A review of the statistics in Section E 2-e-(2) indicates that this number of hnes in operation today would only put Rangoon on a par with other capital cities in this area. Thirty years of economic development should see Rangoon's tele¬ phone needs well into the five-figure category.

(2) Switching System. The recommendation of Strowger step-by-step is consistent with BPO policy since it standardized on this method some thirty years ago. No alternative was offered.

(b) Crossbar trend. The Strowger step-by-step is the most widely adopted system of automatic tele¬ phone switching. Invented in 1889, and achieving early success, it has demonstrated the practicability of automatic telephone exchanges. Strowger-type equipment is manufactured in many parts of the world; two countries in this area are currently equip¬ ping factories for its production. Conservative esti¬ mates indicate that there are more telephones in auto¬ matic operation through Strowger exchanges than the others combined. For many years, however, the inherent weaknesses of this sytem have been recog¬ nized, and engineers have developed diligently toward improved switching methodology. This search has not abated, although circuits using the ingenious Cross¬ bar switch are receiving increasing application. In the United States and Sweden, high ranking in telephone technology and leading the world in per capita tele¬ phone service, Crossbar systems have rapidly gained favour, being instaUed on an increasing scale. Other nations, including Finland, the Netherlands, Den¬ mark, Yugoslavia and Italy are turning to Crossbar switching in expansion and modernization schemes. First patented in the USA in the early 1900s, the Crossbar switch after considerable development was apphed to exchange switching in Sweden in 1926. The first exchange in the USA to be so equipped followed some years later. Exchange equipment em¬ bodying Crossbar switches is now manufactured in the USA, Sweden and France. At the present time, a constantly expanding total of several milhon ex¬ change lines of Crossbar switching are in use.

Even though the world's total of Strowger-exchange lines greatly exceeds that of the more modem Cross¬ bar, the recent trend in the face of the earher adoption of other systems must be recognized. It is befieved, therefore, that Burma's best interests would be served by a consideration of these latest developments.


PERSONNEL REQUIRED FOR OUTSIDE OPERATIONS

PERSONNEL REQUIRED IN EXCHANGES

MAIN 1 3 3 3 4 8 2 3 3

NORTH 1 — 1 3 — . — — 2 2

INSEIN UNAllENDED 3 — — — — 1


(8) Comparison of BPO Strowger and Ericsson's Crossbar

A report was prepared (November 22, 1952) to pro¬ vide the Department of Telecommunications with a comparison of important features of the BPO-recommended Strowger system and the modern Cross¬ bar system offered by L. M. Ericsson for automatizing the Rangoon system. Since both organizations have made detailed surveys, it is possible to examine their conclusions and claims in formulating a recommenda¬ tion. It is understood that these are the only systems imder active consideration by Government.

(a) Obsolescence risk. BPO's Strowger as recom¬ mended for Rangoon was developed over the years to 1936, when the 2,000-type selector was adopted; since then the design of the selector has been virtually stabilized. The Crossbar offered by Ericsson was de¬ veloped between 1935 and 1950, to incorporate facili¬ ties long demanded by the telephone industry. Since an automatic telephone exchange is considered to have a useful life of about thirty years, that period may be required to write off the cost. Therefore, the more logical choice from the minimum obsolescence- risk standpoint bearing in mind the previously men¬ tioned trend, would be the more modern system.

(b) First cost. Estimates on both exchange systems meeting the BPO's five-year figure of 4,184 lines (this figure is befieved to be unreafistically low) indi¬ cates that there is httle difference in first cost. As the exchange-side exceeds 4,800 fines, BPO's proposed introduction of the fifth digit, thus requiring addi¬ tional selectors, will cause the Strowger system to be¬ come less competitive. It is beheved that Ericsson's Crossbar provides several economies that are not apparent from comparing price tags, as will be pointed out in subsequent paragraphs.

(c) Space requirement. From the space require¬ ment figures submitted, it appears that Crossbar re¬ quires a maximum floor space of one-half square foot per Une, while Strowger requires one square foot per Une. The rack height of the Crossbar equipment is 9 ft. 6 in., while 10 ft. 6 in. is required by the Strowger (unless modified from the standard BPO dimension). In both cases, a free space above the rack of at least one foot is required for cable supports. These differ¬ ences in rack height and floor space requirements are significant from the standpoints of building construc¬ tion and air-conditioning costs.

(d) Floor loading. Under similar conditions of in- staUation, the Crossbar imposes a floor load of 125 pounds per square foot, as opposed to 180 pounds per square foot specified for the BPO Strowger.

(e) Power consumption. The electric power required by a medium-size automatic exchange is not large, but it is an item of operating expense. The Ericsson

Crossbar system offered for Rangoon uses roughly 15 watt-hours per subscriber per day, while the BPO Strowger (basing the calculation on the fact that bat¬ teries are usually provided with sufficient capacity to meet the 24-hour load at the 10-year period) consumes considerably more, assuming the same traffic condi¬ tion in each case. Since a considerable portion of the power is converted into heat, it can have a significant bearing on the air-conditioiung plant. The BPO Strowger requires an additional battery for sub¬ scriber metering, thus adding to the first cost and maintenance problems.

(f) Outside Plant. It is axiomatic with telephone engineers that every economy made in the outside plant is twice as important as an economy made in the central office, or in the subscriber's station equip¬ ment. Consequently an exchange system which per¬ mits outside plant economies is most desirable. It must be pointed out, therefore, that the Ericsson Crossbar peradts a line-loop resistance of up to 1,200-1,500 ohms (exclusive of the instrument), whereas the BPO Strowger has specified not more than 650 ohms for dependable signahng. This differ¬ ence may not seem important until considered in terms of the gauge (and cost) of the conductors in the cable plant. In the final analysis, this tolerance of LME's Crossbar could result in a copper saving of up to fifty per cent. A potential economy of this magnitude should not be disregarded by a telephone administration faced with purchasing much new cable.

(g) Junction lines between exchanges. The BPO Report's reference to "private wires" in estimating the junction-fine requirements is confusing. Since their final design data have not yet reached Rangoon, the point remains unclear. The fact remains, however, that the more favourable grouping offered by Erics¬ son's Crossbar permits a junction-cable economy of some magnitude. The conductor gauge of the junc¬ tions is the same for both systems.

(h) Dial speed. It is generally understood that the impulses produced by the subscriber-instrument's dial guide the automatic exchange eqiupment in estabhshing the desired ringing and talking circuits. What is not so well known perhaps, is the important influ¬ ence of dial speed, make-and-break ratio, and pulse shape upon the performance of an automatic switch¬ ing system. The Ericsson Crossbar system permits dial-speeds from 8 to 22 impulses per second, whereas the BPO Strowger dials must be maintained within a narrower range of from 7 to 12 (optimum 10) impulses per second. It is well known that faster operating equipment which will eventually incorporate faster dials is receiving attention on many automatic- exchange design fronts.

It is further noted that for an exchange of 3,314


lines, such as the BPO suggests for "Main," 800 selectors, on various levels, must operate from sub¬ scriber-dial pulses. In an equivalent Ericsson Cross¬ bar system, the dial pulses are received by only 30 registers whose relays are designed solely for receiv¬ ing and storing these impulses. It is much easier to maintain this small number of impulse-receiving relays than to maintain the 800 selector-relays which govern directly the numerical stepping function of an equal number of Strowger switches.

(i) National dialing. In the interest of future expan¬ sion of the automatic telephone system in Burma, it is pointed out that many features desirable in a country-wide dialing scheme are already embodied in Ericsson's Crossbar. To provide these facilities with the BPO Strowger would require expensive modifications.

(j) Maintenance. One of the outstanding advan¬ tages of the Crossbar switch are its modest mainten¬ ance requirements. L. M. Ericsson claim that ex¬ changes using their equipment report that not more than one-haff hour's maintenance per subscriber per year need be anticipated. The BPO Report esti¬ mates (basing the calculation on the number of main¬ tenance men specified) approximately two hours maintenance per subscriber per year. Figures ob¬ tained from Pakistan and India, however, indicate that maintenance of BPO-type Strowger may re¬ quire as much as seven hours per subscriber per year.

It is somewhat difficult to assess the value of re¬ duced maintenance, but a saving of labor means lower operating costs, and less out-of-order time means better service to the telephone public. It is of interest to note that the general refiabiUty and low mainten¬ ance requirements of Crossbar-exchange compon¬ ents are contributing factors to its selection by many administrations for rural automatic exchanges which must operate totally unattended.

(k) Spare parts consumption. It must be expected that any automatic telephone exchange will require certain replacement parts during a given period of operation. In the best of equipment a relay coil may open or a condenser may develop a short circuit, for such is the nature of delicate electrical apparatus. However, there has been great progress in component design, and with new materials, telephone-design engineers are striving continually towards fault-free equipment. Many feel that the closest approach, to date, has been made with circuitry based on relays and Crossbar switches. In comparing the two systems offered for Rangoon, it is logical to assume, since relay contact wear is proportional to selector-circuit current, that the BPO Strowger wiU require more frequent renewals. This matter is relegated to a lesser place in the spare-parts consumption picture, how¬ ever, by the replacement rate of selector wipers and

cords. Figures from neighboring countries indicate that the annual rate can be as high as three wipers per subscriber Une. This represents an operating cost of considerable proportions which is not applicable to a Crossbar system. There are other parts which require frequent replacement in the Strowger selector. This handicap, together with the fact that selector mechanisms require precise adjustment and lubrica¬ tion tends to offset the advantages of the simpler circuitry of the BPO system.

(I) Character of operation. As previously men¬ tioned, exchanges have been designed around the Crossbar switch to eliminate certain faults of earher systems. The adoption of noble-metal contacts has improved the quality of the talking circuit over that permitted by the base-metal bank contacts of the Strowger selector. Besides this contact improve¬ ment, the Crossbar switch has increased connection speed, and at the same time eliminates the mechanic¬ al chatter and vibration inherent to the selector. As a result, the Crossbar central office is quieter. All of this, while perhaps difficult to evaluate in exact terms, contributes to the greater overall satisfaction with the automatic telephone system.

(m) Automatic-area numbering. In the survey report of the BPO, it is indicated that a maximum of 7,000 exchange lines can be connected to the auto¬ matic area before adding the fifth digit. However, according to the numbering scheme outlined, a mixed 4 and 5-digit system will be utilized at the 4,800-line figure. By contrast, the LME Crossbar will permit the operation of 9,000 automatic fines. Therefore as offered for Rangoon, the Crossbar system can ac¬ commodate almost 50 per cent more subscribers than the BPO-planned Strowger before resorting to the ex¬ pense of another group-selector stage. This is a most important point for telephone administrators to keep in mind when planning a new system where consider¬ able expansion must be anticipated. One of the factors contributing to LME Crossbar's much more favor¬ able number utilization is the full employment of the "1" level. BPO, as do certain other administrations, discards the "1" level for full subscriber use because of the risk of malfunction due to spurious irutial single impulses. LME apparently does not consider the risk important enough to warrant this curtailment, and as a consequence provides a substantial saving.

(9) Recommendations The facts and figures presented in this report are

the result of a general study of the Rangoon telephone system. During the course of this survey, over a period of many months, suggestions have been made to and discussed with Telecommunications and Ministry officials. Consequently, some of the following items


may aheady be under active consideration. Based on conclusions reached in this survey, it is recommended that:

(a) Prompt consideration be taken of the most pressing need for an administration within Tele¬ communications which is techrucally and organiza¬ tionally designed to manage the affairs of the Ran¬ goon telephone system. This must take precedence over any serious move towards automatization. It is further urged that the newly appointed divisional engineer be given the latitude and assistance he will need, over an adequate period of time, to straighten out and modernize the operations of this expanding system.

(b) The program for automatization be pushed so that the new manual exchange need not expand be¬ yond 2,000 Unes. It is reasonable to expect South exchange (1,000 lines), bolstered with a few replace¬ ment parts, to serve for another two or three years without excessive breakdown. With 3,000 Unes in operation, the cost of installing the third 1,000-Une board as well as the cost of the additional power supply could be saved. This new 1,000-line board could be sent to Mandalay where it will be needed to meet the anticipated demand when trunk working is re-established and the program for industrialization begins to take shape (see Section E^2 f-(8)).

(c) Telecommunications procure a site within the specified area (Mogul, Eraser, Dalhousie, Sule Pag¬ oda), and erect thereon a functional automatic ex¬ change building. This will bring about housing and plant economies by locating the exchange in the future center of maximum telephone density.

(d) The modern LME Crossbar exchange system be adopted in preference to the BPO Strowger for reasons outlined within this report. Because of Ran¬ goon's importance, present and potential, as the capi¬ tal city of Burma, it is further urged that provisions be made for 6,000 lines in "Main," 2,000 in "North" and 300 in "Insein" (including the Mingaladon area). Incorporated should be pubfic telephone faciUties in public buildings, cinema vestibules, and 24-hour establishments such as police and fire brigade head¬ quarters, BRR station and the air terminal.

(e) Telecommunications establish well-planned training classes for all grades of telephone technicians as one of the first steps in improving and standardizing operations as outlined in Section E-5. Also, that selected technicians be sent to the United States or Sweden for training in modern telephony practices.

(/) Stern measures be apphed to the collection of un¬ paid telephone bills, and the departmental regulations, in this respect, be more vigorously enforced without preferment for subscribers who are members of the Government unless authorized by law or regulations.

(g) Telecommunications standardize, by specifica¬ tion and drawings, the apparatus and materials needed in the operation of the telephone system. Enough laboratory facilities must be provided to permit essential electrical measurements. Sufficient equip¬ ment performance data should be recorded to serve as a basis for future purchasing.

(h) Improved practices in outside plant construc¬ tion and maintenance, notably distribution point and drop wiring, be adopted. Adequate motor transport is also long overdue.

(/) Large-scale city maps showing outside plant installations be maintained accurately, and kept current.

(j) Complete and accurate cable-test data be se¬ cured to permit trouble location with instruments. In the absence of this information it is impossible to decide which cables can be used for automatic ringing (new C-B boards) or full automatic exchange opera¬ tion. Wet-weather cable faults are difficult to find without this information.

(k) Adequate accounting facilities be established so that an accurate compilation of operating and capital costs can be quickly obtained.

f. Telephone Exchanges Outside Rangoon

(1) General Today, the telephone is recognized as an economical

and social necessity, yet not one of the 53 communities in Burma of over 10,000 population enjoys optimum telephone service. This is the basis for the contention that once the trunk-line system is re-established, ex¬ pansion and rehabilitation of the various telephone exchanges will be Telecommunications' biggest re¬ sponsibility for some time to come. Only early and aggressive attention to engineering, planning and procurement will enable the Department to meet the demand with competence, speed and thoroughness. The really difficult problem in this respect is keeping a balance between service, operating expense and revenue. Telecommunications must not for a moment deviate from the goal of a faster, more dependable and more economical telephone service for an ever- increasing number of people.

(2) Subscriber Demand As previously stated, the number of telephones re¬

quired to satisfy the needs of a community depends on many factors and variables. The number of govern¬ ment offices, the degree of industriaUzation, the com¬ mercial and social relationships between sections of the country, and the desires and the habits of the people themselves influence the final telephone saturation figure.


(a) No master telephone plan. Planning for Burma's near future network suggests a master plan for a trunk-lines system with clear-cut goals for the next two, five and ten years. Unfortunately, the Depart¬ ment has put very little definite shape to the blocks of accomplishment for these periods, and consequently can promise little more than the limited local service most large communities now have. Trunk-line plan¬ ning will be effective only when the top policy-makers understand fully the limitations imposed by pursuing the radiotelegraph program rather than rehabilitating and expanding the landlines.

(b) Surveys necessary. Before an expansion plan for any community takes shape, a formal survey must be conducted by the telephone administration to deter¬ mine its extent and direction. This prevents wasting money on an oversized plant, or losing money and good will by an inadequate system. It helps to deter¬ mine the best location for exchange buildings, and allows designers to mesh their plans with those of the municipality, to the advantage of all concerned. As each installation must be independently designed, Telecommunications must furnish its district officers with complete information and instructions for initiating these surveys.

(I) Survey details There is no short cut for avoiding the requirement

for detailed questioning to deternune who are poten¬ tial subscribers. Such information must be solicited on the premise that adequate trunk facilities are to be provided, rates are to be lowered, better subscriber instruments are to be installed, and improved local service is to be guaranteed. The survey is an exacting task, and not to be treated hghtly by the responsible personnel.

(3) Estimates of Telephone Exchange Expansion (a) General data only. The collection of the accurate

data required for the design of telephone exchanges in each of the provincial towns is beyond the scope of the survey made for this Report, but such information can and must be obtained by Telecommunications' personnel (under expert direction, if necessary) as out¬ lined previously. The present survey has, however, disclosed certain pertinent facts:

(1) The quality of service now rendered is generally at an unsatisfactory level.

(2) The equipment, both inside and outside plant, is obsolete and inadequate.

(3) The exchanges are for the most part unsuitable for connection into a high-grade trunk system.

(4) Maintenance standards have not been observed, whether because of material inadequacies or for other reasons.

It is estimated that most of the outside plant will require a complete overhauling and replacement.

(b) Initial exchange lines required

(1) Urgency Since Telecommunications has not completed the

first-stage planning for the rehabilitation-expansion program, very few data were available for the foUow¬ ing estimate. However, the urgency for indicating the order of expenditure involved demands action, even at the expense of accuracy.

(2) Basis for Estimate (a) Population above 10,000. Central battery ex¬

changes are more economical than magneto exchanges for medium-sized systems, but require a dependable source of power. It is believed that this will be pro¬ vided throughout Burma by the electrification pro¬ gram. Therefore, C-B exchanges are indicated for the 52 conamunities of more than 10,000 population out¬ side the Rangoon area. It is estimated that approxi¬ mately 3,500 hnes of C-B exchange equipment will be available upon the mechanization of Rangoon's ex¬ changes, leaving about 5,000 lines to be purchased.

(b) Population between 4,000 and 10,000. Magneto- exchange equipment, now in use throughout Burma, can be allocated to the 67 communities having popu¬ lations between 4,000 and 10,000 as required. The cost estimate for this phase of the program must be calculated at a later date when better information assures acceptable accuracy, and when the growth of the trunk-line system can be evaluated.

(4) Capital Investment All cost fixtures are given on a "per hne" basis to

facilitate making estimates for systems of various sizes up to 600 hnes.

Item Life

(years)

Foreign Ex¬

change (kyats)

Local (kyats)

1. Exchange Equipment 2. Outside Plant 3. Subscribers' Instruments

30 30 30

155 345 70

15 175

5

Engineering and Contingency (10%)

570

57

195

19.50

Estimated Total Capital Cost (per line)

627 214.50


(5) Annual Costs This is comprised of the annual investment charges

of (i) amortization and interest, (ii) maintenance and operating costs and (iii) administration costs. All figures are liberal and provide for first-class equip¬ ment, operation and maintenance.


53.19

Item Amount (kyats)

Rate (%)

Charge (kyats)


Item (kyats) (%) 1^3 841.50 25-0 210.38

(kyats)

210.38


Amount Rate Item (kyats) (%)

Charge (kyats)

1-3 841.50 10-0 84.15 84.15

Total Estimated Annual Cost per Line

Total Estimated Annual Cost 347.72

(6) Housing (a) Exchange. It is to be noted that no provision for

new housing has been made in the above estimate be¬ cause the extent of this requirement has not been as¬ certained. It has been observed that some exchange building must be appraised from the standpoint of utiUty and location when the program is planned. It is pointed out that where new housing is required, the economic and technical advantages of having the tele¬ phone, telegraph and post-office facilities share a buUding should not be overlooked. Modern functional design merits high priority.

(b) Staff. Consideration of living quarters provided by the Department seems to rank in the minds of em¬ ployees as the most important aspect of the job. The whole policy of furnishing living quarters must be settled by the Ministry to prevent staff dissension at a time when maximum cooperation is essential.

(7) Mandalay Telephone System (a) General. The installation of a new 400-line mag¬

neto exchange was recently completed in Burma's second city. This expansion was accompanied by ex¬ tensive outside plant improvements, mostly in the form of new cable. Considering the fact that Mandalay has a population of more than 182,000, the present telephone system will not be able to meet the demand

for connections when the Rangoon Mandalay carrier trunks go into operation permitting through operation to other districts. Now is the time to think about further expansion.

(b) Subscriber demand. The North Burma Division has not undertaken the accurate determination of future telephone subscriber demand. However, an estimate adequate for these purposes can be made from presently known facts about telephone usage in Burma. On this basis, it is estimated that one 1,000- Une C-B exchange will see Mandalay through the five-year period following restoration of trunk service to Rangoon. Under favorable conditions of indus¬ trialization and improved standards of living, the number of telephones may double in a 20-year period.

(c) Automatic or manual. Before the details of ex¬ pansion are discussed, the most desirable type of ex¬ change operation should be determined. There is much to be said for either automatic or manual operation for an exchange of this size. Where labor costs are high, or where there is any great threat of labor stoppages, automatic operation is especially attractive. In any case, its greater reUabihty and per¬ sonnel economies have justified its use for almost 70 % of the world's telephones. On the other hand, the lower initial cost of manual equipment with more modest maintenance requirements offers serious financial inducements. The inhial cost of automatic will average about K400 per line more than manual equipment. Fixed charges, considering return and de¬ preciation, wiU aggregate at least 8 %. Therefore, the excess annual fixed charge of automatic over manual will be K32 per line. At least ten operators will be required for toll, inquiry and service, at an added annual cost of K15 per line. The annual maintenance cost may easily amount to K8 per Une more than the manual exchange. Altogether, this amounts to K60 per line, per year, to be compared to the manual board's operating figure of K45. For a slightly larger exchange, the automatic system would be more eco¬ nomical.

(d) Exchange building. The present central building is too small to accommodate much exchange growth. Consequently, a new building is required for this anticipated expansion. All of the elements of good telephone engineering must be exercised to insure that the type of building and its location are optimum.

(8) Recommendations (a) General. It is recommended that plans be laid

immediately for expanding local telephone service throughout Burma as outlined in the foregoing para¬ graphs. This should include the drawing up of com¬ plete instructions and forms so that local subdivisional officers can conduct a subscriber-demand survey, and


furnish the necessary technical information for laying out the outside plant.

(b) Mandalay. Based on the assumption that Ran¬ goon's automatization plan will be implemented in the very near future, it is recommended that 1,000 lines of the new C-B exchange equipment released from Rangoon be instaUed in Mandalay. Efforts to obtain the essential information for designing the out¬ side plant system should be undertaken immediately. The designation of manual switching is beheved ad¬ vantageous because the need for expansion will be met efficiently and economically with equipment at hand. It is not believed expedient to have two auto¬ matization programs under way simultaneously, be¬ cause of the dearth of skUled telephone technicians. When the extent of Mandalay's telephone expansion can be evaluated, definite plans can be formulated for replacing the C-B exchange by the automatic exchange or remaining on a manual basis. If the former, the C-B equipment can always be reinstalled in smaller units at other locations.

g. Telephone System Maintenance

(1) General Maintenance is one of the major items that must

be taken into consideration in designing, manufactur¬ ing and operating a communications system. Test equipment and men trained in its use must be pro¬ vided to handle routine equipment tests and to expe¬ dite repairs on defective units. The tropical climate is more severely destructive to communications equip¬ ment than are more temperate climates. For Burma, this puts an additional emphasis on the adequacy of the maintenance procedures to be followed.

(2) Maintenance Standards Within this report there have been several references

to Telecommunications' lack of equipment standards. The same applies to maintenance procedures. Regard¬ less of the size of the telephone system there is a dis¬ tinct difference between outside and inside engineer¬ ing, operations and maintenance. Each area must have its characteristic equipment and standardized pro¬ cedure for its use. Standards of workmanship and repair must be established, and until teeth are put into the rules governing adherence thereto, Telecommuni¬ cations' service quality will remain definitely sub- marginal.

(3) Materials and Stores The Superintendent of Stores has the very heart

strings of the Department in his hands! If he stocks the material required in adequate quantities, the necessary work can proceed. If he does not, he pro¬ vides the maintenance staff with the best possible reason

for doing nothing. He must receive guidance and help from the operating staff as to materials to be ordered in plenty of time for the ordering-delivery interval. Without standardization, too much high-level activity is involved for each small order such as telephone in¬ struments. The present procedure requiring a meeting of top executives and a group decision to place a small order has resulted in procurement of several types of instruments, none of whose parts are inter¬ changeable. Chaos therefore prevails in fieu of a systematic instrument maintenance program. How¬ ever, a major portion of the prevailing "make-shift" or expedient type of maintenance so detrimental to service is caused by unreaUstic and impractical stores operations, as well as the previously mentioned lack of standards.

(4) Tests and records (a) Necessity. Adequate records are needed in an

effective maintenance program. Many faults cannot be readily traced or properly repaired because the local technician has no accurate or complete record of the operating characteristics to enable him to decide when the circuit is normal. The resulting approach by trial and error leads to sub-commercial circuit con¬ ditions.

(b) Setting-up records. Practice in weU-orgaiuzed telephone systems is to make all normal circuit test values a matter of record. On the same form there is space for classifying and entering all departures from normalcy as well as the steps taken (and time re¬ quired) for returning the circuit to service. In this manner a case history for every subscriber's circuit is developed to the continuing benefit of the mainten¬ ance program. Where such orderly methods are em¬ ployed, there are no instances of telephones being out of order for days or weeks.

(1) The Trouble Log A daily log sheet gives a running account of failures,

tests and repairs. From this record, the average out- of-service time per breakdown can be calculated, and the trends towards various types of failure recogtuzed. All of this is an excellent performance check on both men and materials, and should indicate whether the subscribers are getting the service they deserve. In Burma, such organized maintenance is not empha¬ sized. To partially correct this a convenient log sheet should be designed and printed in quantity. This wiU facilitate the use of the same procedure at aU ex¬ changes in the country.

(c) Test records for preventive maintenance. Once test information covering normal operation has been recorded, advantage can be taken of routine operating tests before trouble develops to the extent of putting the

TELECOM MUNICATIONS 525

circuit out of service. Operations engineers have com¬ pounded the theory of preventive maintenance from ex¬ perience extending over many years. The basic idea is to service and remove impending faults before they can degrade the operation of the system. Preventive main¬ tenance of this kind is practised in many fields. Its appfication to telecommunications is especially appro¬ priate considering the importance of the service ren¬ dered. As information is collected in the areas most Ukely to fail, attention is directed to them. In this manner, a complete preventive maintenance pro¬ gram is devised.

(1) Instrumentation Satisfactory preventive maintenance requires that

test instruments be made available to the staff, and that the staff be well versed in their use. Both speed and accuracy are necessary attributes, without which the value of instruments to the department is ques¬ tionable.

(5) Tools, Instruments and Transport The tools and instruments locked up in Telecom¬

munications' godown are earning interest for the Government from departmental revenue, but are not available to the employees for use in assuring the everyday working of the system. Employees who can ill afford such expenditures are furnishing their own tools because of the Department's budget restrictions. Although this whole matter is treated in Section 7, it is mentioned here to illustrate the complete frustra¬ tion of maintenance effort.

The maintenance equipment and methodology available to Telecommunications is shockingly meager. There is also a tendency to overstaff whereas it is pro¬ per equipment rather than increased manpower which is required. The proper instruments and tools, together with reasonable spare parts, and a means of getting to the scene of a fault quickly would pernut two well-trained men to accomplish what a dozen, as now operating, cannot do.

The need for motorized transport seems to have received very Uttle attention. This situation should not be allowed to persist. In this connection, several truck chassis (Ford three-ton) are awaiting bodies at the Botataung godown. These are too heavy for general installation and maintenance, but are ideal for medium-duty line construction and service pur¬ poses. The locally made general-purpose body is not nearly as useful (nor as good an investment) as the functional types available at reasonable cost from the United States.

(6) New Installations Good service and good pubhc relations go hand-in-

hand in the telephone industry. The prevention of R.B. n—3

trouble is always a major factor in good service. Many maintenance problems can be eliminated before they begin if the original installation is made correctly.

(a) Enforcing proper procedures. A great deal de¬ pends on the installer's ability and integrity in the matter of following approved practices. The engineer in charge of this work can accomplish much by:

(1) Providing the installers with the proper tools and specifications.

(2) Being sure that the men arc trained in the use of both.

(3) Inspecting carefully a fair percentage of each man's work.

(4) Making a special study of each case of station trouble occurring within two months after installa¬ tion.

(5) Going over trouble with the installer when it occurs in a new installation, so that mistakes are not repeated.

(7) Honesty Cases have been reported of telephone maintenance

men demanding and getting "small pay" from sub¬ scribers for repair service. No program for bringing these small-time racketeers to account for such flagrant violations of regulations has been instituted. Tolerance of such practices reflects on the manage¬ ment of the orgaruzation.

(8) Recommendations Telephone maintenance should be elevated to a

high technical and business plane. It is recommended that:

(a) Telephone maintenance standards be estab¬ Ushed and rigidly enforced.

{b) Maintenance activities be so organized that one visit is sufficient to locate and repair the fault. This will eUminate the present evasion of responsibility and inherent delays.

(c) Material necessary for proper maintenance be carried at aU times by Telecommunications stores. This must be given a first priority by all concerned.

{d) Maintenance men be provided with the neces¬ sary tools and transport for meeting their responsi¬ bilities quickly and competently.

(e) A complete system of tests and records be set up and rigidly maintained to assist outside plant maintenance personnel in locating cable faults. The present trial and error procedures are untenable in this age of precise electrical measurements.

(/) Daily trouble records be meticulously kept so that average "out time" can be calculated, and that the fault reasons be catalogued.

(g) Functional telephone-plant bodies be obtained for the Ford truck chassis at the Telecommunications stores.


(h) A determined drive be undertaken to eliminate the dishonest maintenance men who demand bribes for departmental attention to faulty telephone opera¬ tion.

h. Central Telegraph Office (1) General

The Rangoon central telegraph office is located in the Telecommunications headquarters building, Phayre and Dalhousie Streets. In this building are the instrument room, the public telegraph booking office, and the accounting clerical staff associated with these facilities. All of the telegraphic services with the ex¬ ception of the Marine Shipping Station are controlled from this location. Messages for the greater part of the city are also delivered from this point.

(2) Telegraph Circuits (a) Point-to-point foreign circuits. All of Burma's

foreign traffic moves over the Rangoon-Colombo, or the Rangoon Madras circuits. Average weekly traffic (in both directions) totals about 8,000 messages through Colombo, and 5,000 through Madras. Because of the large amount of press and diplomatic traffic, these messages may involve several hundred thousand words.

(1) High-speed Automatic Morse At the transmitting end, the messages are trans¬

ferred to punched paper tape by means of a keyboard perforator. The tape then passes through a motor- driven device which keys the radio transrrutter at any desired speed up to perhaps 150-200 words per minute. At the receiving end, the signals are inked on a moving paper tape by an undulator. These dot and dash characters are transcribed manually to tele¬ graph blanks by an operator using a typewriter, as the tape is pulled along.

(a) Limitations. Even though atmospheric and pro¬ pagation conditions permit the radio circuit to move this traffic at high speeds, delays occur in the punch¬ ing and transcribing operations. Although several perforator and transcribing positions permit large traffic volumes, when conditions deteriorate, there is an appalling waste of skilled manpower.

(b) Staff. For operating these two circuits on a three-shift day, 37 positions have been allocated at the CTO, although 30 are presently carrying the load with some difficulty. Of the 30 operators, seven are from the Radio Division, and the rest are Traffic Section employees.

(b) Point-to-point domestic circuits (1) Type and Operation

These utiUze either radio or landline facilities, and are all manually operated. At the present time, there

are 14 radio and 9 landline positions, each requir¬ ing the services of a skilled operator. The actual tun¬ ing, maintenance and control of the radio equipment are performed by technicians at the receiving and transmitting centers. Very few of these operating positions are equipped with typewriters.

(2) Staff

For the various services of booking, training, clerk¬ ing, accounting, operating, and message delivery, approximately 250 people are employed.

(3) Equipment and Facilities (a) Operation. Except for an acute shortage of tele¬

graphers' typewriters and radio headsets, it can be said that the operating equipment is adequate. The lack of typewriters results in lower productivity and greater operator fatigue while producing a much less legible message. From the hygienic point of view, each operator should have his or her oWn headset. Motor- driven tape pullers should be provided to increase the efficiency of operators transcribing inked characters from received tapes.

(b) Circuit distribution and supervision. The Ran¬ goon CTO has no supervisory control board, and the hnes to and from the centers terminate at the operating positions. Consequently, to check any complaint in¬ volving signal quality or operating practices, the supervisor must go to the operating position in ques¬ tion. Supervision thereby suffers. Order-circuit facili¬ ties to the receiving and transmitting centers are con¬ ventional telephones operating through the exchanges. This is a slow cumbersome arrangement for the brief, frequent communications required in an operation of this kind. Modern practice dictates that all receiving and transmitting circuits should pass through a cen¬ tral control board. This permits the supervisor to have a continuous and instantaneous check on signal quaUty and utilization of each circuit. A key and sounder circuit with each of the centers provides rapid and convenient order channels without tele¬ phoning. Since the sounder can be heard from some distance, more prompt service can be rendered by operating personnel.

(4) Message HandUng (a) Booking. Most messages are filed at the booking

office although a few are taken at branch offices in the outlying districts of the city, and then forwarded to the CTO on a landhne circuit. It is anticipated that a public booking office wiU be opened at the Secretariat. Inadequate facilities and outmoded practices at the booking office make fifing of messages a slow, tedious process. Instead of one clerk consummating the whole transaction, several are involved before the customer


can complete his task. Each of these "window stops" involves queueing and delay. Another objectionable feature is the affixing of stamps to the message for the amount of the telegram fee. Until modern cash regis¬ ters capable of stamping the message and rendering a receipt for the customer can be requisitioned by Tele¬ communications, steps should be taken to simplify what should be a minor, rapid transaction. For instance, stamps can be sold at every window to elim¬ inate travehng between windows. Not more than two or three minutes should be required to file a message. This whole matter, with recommendations, was brought to the attention of the Director several months ago.

(b) Delivery (1) Sorting of Messages

Received telegrams are sent down from the CTO to the rear of the booking office where they are sorted into pigeon holes from which they are turned over to designated peons when the accumulation warrants. They, in tum, enter the names and addresses in a "peon book," and then set out to make the dehveries. Considerable delay is inevitable.

(2) Delivery Peons A distinction has been made between "mounted"

and "foot" peons, even though the salary and quali¬ fications are the same, to the extent that messages are held for allocation to the "type" of peon designated for that particularly locafity. Better service could be rendered if a "foot" peon could be ordered out on a bicycle, if required, or vice versa.

(a) Uniforms and equipment. It is believed that ade¬ quate provision has now been made to supply water¬ proofs to peons for the wet season. It is doubtful if they achieve the three-season hfe anticipated per gar¬ ment. The uniform allowance, if it were implemented, would funush two suits per peon. However, at the present time, the peons get nothing. Enough changes should be provided so that a fresh suit can be kept ready for use, especiaUy in wet weather. The "esprit- de-corps" of workers, their pride in organization stimulated by smartly turned out messengers, is im¬ portant both to performance and to public confidence.

(3) Bicycle Shop Recently, enough new bicycles have been provided

to eliminate some of the deUvery delays previously experienced. The bicycle shop is a most necessary adjunct of the service. It has been and still is suffering from inadequate equipment. Power grinding and drilling as weU as brazing faciUties and sufficient spare parts should be provided to permit the two mechanics to render the best possible maintenance and repair service.

(4) Motor Cycle Delivery Other Telecommunications administrators have

found that the use of motorcycle-mounted messen¬ gers has resulted in considerable savings and greater satisfaction, especially on long and night trips. A few motor cycles are available, but need extensive repairs.

(c) Abbreviated-address messages. As now operat¬ ing, the process of adding the delivery information to messages bearing a cable address consume altogether too much time and effort. It requires checking a card file for address particulars and transcribing them on to the delivery envelope by longhand. All of this causes congestion and delay. Plans to improve this situation, with incidental staff economy, by using Addressograph equipment have been delayed for many months.

(5) Manpower (a) Supervision. In charge of the CTO is a super¬

intendent under the Director who also has a personal assistant, traffic, to direct the major administrative routine, and to act for him in traffic matters. Super¬ vision of the various subordinate activities is short- handed. During the present period of transition and rehabilitation, the number of authorized supervisory posts has not kept pace with the needs. In some cases telegraphists are acting in a supervisory capacity without extra compensation for the additional responsibility.

(b) Utilization (1) Mechanization Overdue

A tendency to increase manpower rather than mechanize operations for greater efficiency is mani¬ fest in the CTO. Examples of this were observed in the transcribing of radio messages; shortages of opera¬ tors' typewriters; hand addressing of delivery enve¬ lopes; and the lack of teleprinters and bookkeeping machines. In the highly scientific and systematized procedures required for the conduct of modern tele¬ communications, too many people get in each other's way and introduce a real impediment and delay into the transmission or delivery operation. Better pro¬ ductivity could be achieved in both the clerical and operating areas if a vigorous program were under¬ taken to provide the needed office equipment.

(2) Operating Staff Shortages As Ulustrated by Plate 6, the amount of traffic

handled is increasing yearly; yet no additional opera¬ tors have been added to meet this demand. With landline telegraph offices reopening in the districts and calling on the Rangoon CTO for staff, the situa¬ tion merits recognition before it deteriorates further. Efficiency must be increased or operators added. Already, overtime allotments are being exceeded in

Y EAR S PERCENT INCREMENTS MONTH 1950

47,704

1951

71,245

1952 '51 OVER'50 '52 OVER '51 Jan. 71,631 49-2 005 Feb. 47, 195 65,400 76,799 38-5 17-4 Mor. 5 5,484 74,857 77,838 34-9 40 Apr. 49,326 65,451 71,91 1 32-7 9-9 May. 57,564 75,245 68,922 30-7 -8-4 June. 6 0,382 66,540 73,002 10-2 9-7 July. 64,266 68,087 73,262 60 7-6 Aug. 62,505 66,701 77,243 6-7 15-8 Sep. 64,905 71,790 77,270 10-6 7-6 Oct. 65,115 72,9 15 81,512 120 1 1-8 Nov. 65,789 69,144 73,419 5 1 6-2 Dec. 72,044 71,332 75,421

898,230

-1-0 5-7

JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY. JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT NOV. DEC.

■% INCREASE OF 1951 OVER 1950

. % INCREASE OF 1952 OVER 1951

(1950 IS ZERO REFERENCE)


COMMUNICATIONS

TELEGRAMS HANDLED BY RANGOON C.T.O.

KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT EN6INEERING CO NEW YORK RANGOON

DR.BY. ^--/V DATE PLATE CK.BY. 'r:uj.&>. JULY 53 NO.

528


order to move the traffic at hand. In this connection, it must be tmderstood that moving traffic through the interference and static of the average radio circuit is not as simple as working over a noise-free landUne. Consequently, staff productivity suffers by compari¬ son.

(6) Desirable Changes (a) Need. The several items described briefly in the

foregoing paragraphs, while individually very modest, coUectively have a tremendous influence on the opera¬ tion of this most essential adjunct of the telegraphic service. Procurement action should be taken without further delay.

(b) Cost estimates (1) Capital Investment

Item Life P'"'^'^"

t'^^, Exchange ^""'^. (kyats)

Local (kyats)

1. CTO Central Control Board 2. Typewriters 3. Furniture, Alterations and Con¬

structions 4. Headphones 5. Tape Pullers 6. Cash Registers 7. Addressograph Equipment 8. Motorcycles 9. Signal Wiring Changes

15 10

15 10 15 15 15 10 15

2,000 30,000

1,800 15,000 40,000 2,500 7,500

1,200

300

Engineering and Contingency (10 %) 98,800 9,880

1,500 150

1,08,680 1,650

(2) Annual Costs (0 Annual investment charges

Amount Rate Charge Item (kyats) (%) (kyats)

1, 5, 6, 7 65,450 4-634 3,032.95 2,4,8 43,230 7-950 3,436.79 3,9 1,650 4-994 82.40

fi 55'' I'l

(B) Maintenance and Operating Costs Amount Rate Charge


1-9 1,10,330 8-0 8,826.40 8 8'>fi 'lO

(Hi) Administration Costs Amount Rate Charge


1-9 1,10,330 10-0 11,033.00

tal Annual Cost

11 03'^ 00

(7) Recommendations It is recommended that: {a) The equipment and materials listed in 6{h) be

obtained at once. The control board and additional circuit wiring can be made by the Assistant Engineer (Electrical) and staff. Wells for typewriters can be added to the present operating tables by any skilled carpenter.

{b) The addressing of message deUvery envelopes be done by Addressograph (coded addresses) and by typewriter (formal addresses) to eUminate errors.

(c) The whole message dehvery and booking systems be given the attention necessary to reduce the waste of time involved in their various functions. Cash registers in the booking office to eliminate stamps, and a few motor cycles for long-distance dehveries wiU help materiaUy.

{d) The use of telephone and teleprinter be adopted for forwarding messages between branch telegraph offices and the CTO, to save skilled operators.

(e) All personnel carrying supervisory responsibiU- ties be given indicated promotions.

(/) A better appreciation and understanding of the Traffic Section's problems and contributions be acquired by Telecommunications authorities.

(g) Telecommunications make the requisite uni¬ form allowances to its messengers, and insist on smart appearance as well as reliable service.

i. Marine Radio Station (1) General

The marine coastal station, XYR, operates on both intermediate and high-frequency maritime radio chan¬ nels to handle shipping traffic by international agree¬ ment. It is extremely weU located at Monkey Point and has aU necessary shops, emergency power sup¬ plies and quarters. TTie station has direct wire faciU¬ ties with the CTO. Traffic averages 60 to 70 messages per day. In all respects it is a well-organized and efficient unit.

(2) Location Change An unfortunate situation has developed in that the

marine station must be moved to a nearby location. This is at the behest of the Burma Navy because the station is within its restricted area. Another solution to this problem should not be too difficult to find, and should be sought since moving involves a most un¬ productive use of men, money and materials,at a time when all available resources are needed in other communications areas for providing the basic rudi¬ ments of a system. It is estimated that this move will cost K13 lakhs, and may require two years.


(3) Possible Solution

Since Telecommunications has the experience back¬ ground for conducting this service, it is recommended that the function remain in Telecommunications organization and not be transferred to the Navy as an alternative to moving. Instead, it is suggested that the Telecommunications staff at Monkey Point be made a naval reserve unit. This would facilitate transfer of the control of shipping to the Navy in time of national emergency as is the usual practice, and would obviate interference with peacetime operation by Telecom¬ munications' civil organization at the present loca¬ tion.

(4) Recommendations It is recommended that the plan for moving the

station be postponed while the whole matter is re¬ viewed at high levels. If it is finaUy decided that the station's location is detrimental to the Navy's effec¬ tiveness, the actual moving should be postponed until a time when Telecommunications has fewer construc¬ tion rehabilitation commitments.

3. ORGANIZATION

a. General The personnel and their functions within a tele¬

communications organization lend themselves nicely to division into groups concerned with engineering; plant installation, maintenance and operation; traffic handling; commercial acitivities; and legal matters. This grouping has been found to have optimum efficiency as operations increase in size and complexity. In the Burma Telecommunications Department, the traffic and plant details are nearly complete to the ex¬ tent permitted by equipment, standards and policy. Legal problems are arising only in radio regulations. Commercial activities, although to some extent or¬ ganized and reduced to routine, are not briskly pur¬ sued. These weaknesses require prompt attention, but are of minor consequence compared to the critical need for engineering.

b. The Present Situation As presently constituted and staffed, the Telecom¬

munications organization cannot cope simultaneously with the problems of new services, rehabilitation, ex¬ pansion and day-to-day operations. Rehabilitation and expansion programs are developing very slowly. Maintenance is badly hampered by inadequacies in manpower, stores and departmental standards. The lack of specification engineering leaves too many technical decisions to sales personnel. As operations increase in size and complexity, the need for engineer¬ ing specialization becomes more pressing.

c. Limited Engineering Resources Telecommunications for all its wide technical re¬

sponsibilities has but two college-trained engineers, and these are without broad experience. Others hold¬ ing engineering positions achieved the rank by virtue of selection, seniority, service or Public Service Com¬ mission examination. This meager technical staff is insufficient for an organization of this type. Former Posts and Telegraphs service has provided excellent training in administration and discipline. While there is room for wide application of those traditions in today's organization, formal engineering training is a basic requirement for successful operation in the com¬ plex field of communications-electronics. It is no personal reflection on partially trained men that they are unable to fully discharge responsibilities beyond their grasp, or to operate in fields for which they are neither trained nor experienced. This condition can be permitted to continue only at the expense of the country's welfare.

d. Applications Engineering Required

Hard pressed to furnish simple conununications circuits. Telecommunications' greatest deficiency is in the field of "apphcations" engineering. Men with vision are needed who know enough about communi¬ cations technology to analyze current problems in economically and technically sound detaU. Such engineering involves all of the elements of planning and implementation so that ends and means are maintained in perspective.

(1) Remedial Action Plant operations, too, require certain engineering

skills to assure optimum system performance. Ad¬ ministrative and training responsibilities must also be recognized. There is a real danger in permitting an employee to hold the title and bear the responsibihty for engineering, yet to perform only routine admini¬ strative tasks. There is evidence that this situation, an inheritance from the time when communications sys¬ tems were simple and required little technical back¬ ground, has long frustrated whatever rehabUitation plans were made. To correct this situation, the Mmis- try should promptly grant to its engineers the author¬ ity and responsibiUty to develop and introduce needed technical improvements.

e. Radio Section Reorganization

Of all the groups within the Department, the radio branch has the greatest number of pressing projects. These are of a nature to require considerable engineer¬ ing effort over some period of time.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS 531 (1) Engineering-planning

With Telecommunications' most experienced radio engineers located in and about Rangoon, committee engineering-planning action on projects appears feasible. If "doubling up" in this manner does not achieve the desired end, these officers should be de¬ tached from present duties, and assigned to operate as an engineering-planning group until the projects are completed. By that time, with the emergency over, future engineering tasks can be reliably anticipated and steps taken to meet them.

(2) Operations (See also Interim Report, page 278). From its in¬

ception, the radio division has made an all-out effort to maintain itself as a separate entity within the Department. Consequently, aU matters relating to radio working on any organizational level must be referred to Rangoon for action. This has amplified administrative and personnel problems at the ex¬ pense of engineering effort, to the over-all detriment of the Department. The feeUng that radio operation, because it requires specialized training, cannot be ad¬ ministered through ordinary channels has no place in today's philosophy of cooperation. Technical matters such as design, installation and maintenance of radio circuits are natural responsibiUties of the Radio Division, but operation, disbursements and discipUne are matters better handled by the departmental subdivisional officer. If this were recognized, there would be no occasion for such jurisdictional friction between the subdivisional officer and the radio-station super¬ visor as has occurred in some districts. If purely ad¬ ministrative routine is handled through regular chan¬ nels, the Divisional Wireless Engineer will be able to devote more time to important technical matters.

f. Telegraph and Telephone Planning Because of engineering inadequacies and perhaps

hesitancy inspired by the haste to build h.f. radio¬ telegraph stations, line and office rehabihtation is not showing healthy progress, even at the planning stage. The main stumbUng block is, of course, security; an¬ other is inadequacy of stores; and yet another is staff limitations. The most serious difficulties, however, are the absence of a firm pohcy for re-estabhshing the all- important lines system, and the lack of a plan for its implementation. Granted that many areas are yet un¬ tenable for lines, definite planning should be com¬ pleted and steps taken to procure the needed material against the day when it can be used.

(1) Centralized Effort and Responsibility Preparation of an integrated "Unes" plan is a task

of some magnitude. At the moment, plans, projects

and operations requiring contributions from more than one group are retarded by disagreement and misunderstanding. To meet this challenge with the action it so richly deserves, Telecommunications must abandon the piecemeal treatment it is receiving at subdivisional and divisional levels, and make cen¬ tralized lines planning the sole responsibility of an experienced lines and carrier engineer.

(2) Action Required over a Wide Area The following items deserve much fuller treatment

than they are now accorded: (a) Modernizing standards and developing specifi¬

cations. (b) Analyzing sources of supply, acquisition and

stocking of tools, material and equipment. (c) Ascertaining damage to alignments, and deter¬

mining clearing required. (d) Checking the conditions of, and planning the

utilization of carrier equipment now held in stores. (f) Reclamation of used Une and exchange material. (g) Expanding service by new lines and larger ex¬

changes. (h) Improving cost analyses, and modernizing unit-

cost figures.

g. Pertinent Considerations For maximum accompUshment in this emergency

situation, officers on special engineering assignment should report, as directly as possible, to the Director's office. Frequent progress reports should be circulated to interested officials to keep them informed of pro¬ ject status, and to enable them to plan their own con¬ tributions for greatest effectiveness. Requisite statist¬ ical, clerical and drafting facilities must be provided for these priority operations. It is assumed that large- scale maps will have been prepared to portray clearly the details of active circuits and circuits for rehabilita¬ tion (see Section 8). Heed must be paid to the irreduc¬ ible intervals required for financial approvals; author¬ ization requests must be filed at the earliest possible moment that accurate planning will permit.

h. Evolution of an Engineering Department For the effective functioning of the natural stimulus

of competitive operations, the trend should be away from having a single organization do the planning, engineering, purchasing, instalUng, operating and evaluating of any particular service within the Depart¬ ment. The abuses of such a system are that new ser¬ vices, modernization, expansion and efficiency can be suppressed to avoid additional responsibility; mistakes are seldom corrected; and poor performance can be disguised. Thus, for substantial reasons of economy, efficiency and policy, the most urgent organizational


change should be the isolation and centralizing of the engineering-planning functions for the whole Depart¬ ment.

i. Radio Regulatory Obligations (1) General

In the field of international and treaty agreements with other sovereign powers, Burma is a member of the International Telecommunications Union, and adheres to the stipulations of the Atlantic City Con¬ vention (1947), to which she is signatory. The actual implementation and enforcement of the various regu¬ lations on the country level is the responsibility of the Department of Telecommunications.

(2) Department Activities In actual practice, the Radio Divisional Engineer

handles the details. These, when properly executed, amount to a large responsibility and require consider¬ able time and staff. The most important function is the arrangement for frequencies with ITU, and assign¬ ment to the various users within Burma. Examinations for commercial and amateur radio operators as well as the hcensing of radio transmitters must conform to standards set by international agreement. Routine shipboard radio inspections are made to enforce inter¬ national safety-at-sea regulations in respect to opera¬ tors and equipment. And to aU of this has been added the hcensing and policing of broadcast receivers. Representing Burma at world and regional telecom¬ munications conferences is anotherimportant function.

(3) Frequency Allocation With over 80 end-uses of radio recognized by inter¬

national authorities, the general problem of frequency allocation becomes a most urgent reahty. This is further complicated for Burma by the proximity of radio users who are not bound by treaty to observe the rights of others in the matter of radio frequencies. Optimum utilization even within the country is no academic matter, and requires the close attention of competent radio engineers. The magnitude of this task is brought into focus by remembering that the radio spectrum's frequency limits have a ratio of 10,000,000 to 1, while that of the optical spectrum, for com¬ parison, is but 2 to 1.

(4) Further Requirements Regulations concerning frequency stability, channel

occupancy, standards of fideUty, noise, distortion and similar items are enforceable in conformance with treaty agreements. This function requires quaUty radio engineering and the laboratory faciUties to permit the necessary measurements. Telecommunications has not jet been able to accompUsh much in this connection.

(5) Organizational Change Indicated In the scramble for frequencies, one organization

may fare better than another. Consequently, it is reasonable that Telecommunications, the biggest user of frequencies, should not have the responsibUity for assignments to itself as well as to others. There must be strict impartiality in the allocation of fre¬ quencies just as there must be facilities for regulating and controlling radio communications. The increas¬ ing importance and urgency of the matters outlined above, and the inabiUty of the Department of Tele¬ communications, as presently constituted, to furnish the required services seems adequate reason for at once making a basic change to bring Burma's organ¬ izational structure into line with that of other coun¬ tries.

(6) Details of New Organization Structure There are many differently constituted organiza¬

tions in as many countries for handling the responsi¬ bilities aUuded to in this discussion. Burma need not copy the structure of any of her neighbors, but, to meet her own needs, can build her own along the following lines:

(a) The organization for control of the use of radio communications should be removed from the Tele¬ communications Department, but constituted by law within the Ministry of Transport and Communi¬ cations.

(b) It should be headed by a competent engineer, at divisional rank, who has had an opportunity to study at first hand, the Federal Communications Commission of the United States and the Inter¬ national Telecommunications Union, Geneva.

(c) It should be staffed with qualified personnel to meet satisfactorily the many and varied demands made upon it.

(d) It should be equipped with tools and instru¬ ments including precise frequency standards and measuring instruments, distortion analyzers, field strength meters, and other conventional electronic laboratory equipment.

(e) It should have an adequate appropriation to cover its examining, inspecting, policing and advisory functions.

(/) It should represent Burma at international and regional telecommunications conventions with techni¬ cal competence.

(g) It should submit a comprehensive annual report shortly after the end of the fiscal year.

j. Director's Staff Assistants (1) Present Areas and Duties

The Organization Chart shows two personal assistants to the Director, Telecommunications, in the


areas of engineering and traffic, respectively. In actual p)ractice, their duties are largely routine administra¬ tion, often on seemingly subordinate levels. However, with the recent appointments of a Deputy Director, and a Divisional Engineer, Rangoon Telephones, it is possible that the engineering assistant can now func¬ tion with the Director to provide haison for better handUng of technical matters between the various groups and divisions. At the same time, the responsi¬ biUty for commercial matters in respect to the Ran¬ goon telephone system will be transferred to the Rangoon telephone division sp that the traffic assis¬ tant can concentrate on domestic and foreign tele¬ graph traffic problems. The present assistants, there¬ fore, less encumbered by office routine, should be able to contribute much to the huge rehabilitation pro¬ gram facing Burma Telecommunications.

(2) Additional Areas Desirable

There are areas within the operation of the Depart¬ ment to which additional personal assistants could be assigned with advantage, at least until operations reach a more satisfactory level. It is believed that the quaUfied personnel for these posts can be found with¬ in the Department.

(a) Finance and accounting. A financial assistant should be responsible for pubUshing promptly a monthly statement covering all operations. In addi¬ tion, he should channel to all departments such financial advice and information as required. Infor¬ mation necessary for an annual report (none has been published by Telecommunications since the war) should be abstracted from these statements and an accurate report forwarded to the Ministry promptly at the end of the fiscal year. Improvement in timing is important since it is noted the financial review of the Department's 1950-51 operations was not available until February 1953, and not corrected until April 1953.

The accounting-statistical procedure should be strengthened through the use of bookkeeping machines. This should receive responsible study and action in the very near future. The preparation and standardization of departmental forms should be accelerated.

(b) Personnel. Too much of the time of the Depart¬ ment's chief executive has been absorbed in personnel problems. There is a very definite need for a skilled personnel officer to take charge of routine personnel affairs, to maintain the pertinent files, to prepare the necessary reports and to interpret departmental policy.

There is also a need for a non-partisan house organ or departmental news periodical. Telecommunications personnel in the districts as well as at headquarters frequently ask for information as to what others are

doing. Such a periodical published on a modest scale (Interim Report, page 285) should materially improve the spirit and unity of the Department, and could be made the responsibility of the Personal Assistant, Personnel.

(c) Training. Training of Telecommunications De¬ partment's workers is needed at all levels in theoretic¬ al and practical matters both to improve daily per¬ formance and to provide a systematic prerequisite for promotion. There is considerable remedial work to be done in establishing and strictly adhering to de¬ partmental standards, to say nothing of the need for upgrading personnel to higher technical responsibili¬ ties. At the present time, the traffic section is conduct¬ ing a training class for landline radio operations. However, there should be authorized a complete training program which would serve all divisions of the Department, meeting as many needs as necessary. The addition of a quaUfied Personal Assistant, Train¬ ing, provided with necessary equipment and facilities to arrange and manage training programs of all kinds would be a logical and much-needed change (see Section 5).

k. Recommendations While there are many items requiring corrective

action within the area of organization, only the most pressing are considered at this time. It is recommended that:

(1) An engineering group be established within the radio section as a part-time committee to plan for the more pressing expansion activities on a scale more appropriate than thus far undertaken. As soon as the technical manpower situation permits, this group should become part of a full-time engineering section within the Department.

(2) An engineering group be established to prepare detailed plans for the practical rehabihtation of Burma's landline system and the related expanded telephone-telegraph working. The engineering de¬ velopment of economical and satisfactory service in the lines system must be given emphasis commensur¬ ate with the huge investment.

(3) All telecommunications engineering recom¬ mended above ultimately be combined into a single competent engineering-planning section to serve the whole department.

(4) A radio regulatory body, with such duties and responsibihties as have been outlined be established outside the Department of Telecommunications but under the parent Ministry.

(5) To minimize departmental reorganization and yet provide essential services, personal assistants to the director be added in the areas of personnel, train¬ ing, accounting and finance.


4. PERSONNEL—MANAGEMENT HANDICAPS

a. General The Department of Telecommunications because

of its close relationship with the public is the target of constant criticism. Since the operation of the organiz¬ ation is exactly what its members make it, consider¬ able study is warranted of such matters as personnel procurement, administration and performance, all basic to effective management.

b. Telecommunications Enquiry of 1949 The aUegedly unsatisfactory performance of the

Department, especially the Rangoon telephone sys¬ tem, provoked a full-scale Government investigation. Broad charges of inefficiency and incompetence placed the organization's administration and operation in a very bad Ught. Without repeating the criticisms of the report, it may be said that considerable remedial action was indicated. However, after four years it would appear that no sustained action has been taken or is planned.

c. Loss of Leadership Many of the weaknesses of the Telecommunications

staff and its operations may be attributed to the loss of trained and experienced personnel as a result of the Burmanization Act, coupled with the depredations of dacoity and insurgency. Newly promoted officials placed in high posts and hampered by insecurity and meager job knowledge could contribute little to run¬ ning the organization. With supervisors unable to im¬ part thorough knowledge of procedures and standards to their organizations, the level of performance deteriorated. Average acceptable job standards ceased to exist. Although there is now encouraging evidence that the general situation is improving slowly, exemplary supervision bolstered by training programs under a firm departmental administration is needed.

d. Interference A serious manifestation of the breakdown of

leadership and authority is the prevalence of disre¬ gard for the established channels of authority. No program can be consistently or effectively pursued if subordinates can regularly evade or alter assignments by direct solicitation of authority higher than their immediate supervisors or if higher authorhies per¬ sistently ignore responsible supervisors in giving in¬ structions directly to those supervisors' subordinates. Errors of omission and contradiction are inescapable under such conditions and the ignored supervisors are rendered unproductive. It has been observed that in the day-to-day operation of the Department, the

Director's office is frequently bypassed in both direc¬ tions to the extent that the Director is left ignorant of the exact status of some projects. This situation should be corrected by the immediate adoption and promulgation throughout the organization of a care¬ fully prepared statement of the mutual obUgations and responsibilities of supervisors and their em¬ ployees, to include such matters as support of sub¬ ordinates' decisions made in the conscientious dis¬ charge of delegated responsibilities, encouragement of immediate supervisors, delineation of rights of appeal to avoid abuses, obligations of supervisors to accept responsibility for subordinates' mistakes but to give credit for subordinates' ideas and performance, and respect for channels of authority.

e. Morale and Effort Although government service in this area of the

world has been traditionaUy performed with compe¬ tence and pride, the general impression gained of the Telecommunications Department is not one of high spirit and morale. Some of the reasons for this Ue in the unsatisfactory salary and promotion situation.

(1) Salary Broadly speaking, the salary scale is not Uberal.

Private employment requiring comparable technical skills is much better paid, as attested by the experience of those having left the Department. It was beUeved that this situation would be corrected to some extent when the Wider Pay Commission's recommenda¬ tions were implemented. The failure of this measure has sacrificed a powerful incentive. There is httle logic in importing precision communications equip¬ ment for upgrading the service, if the technicians are paid so little that the circuits cannot be maintained. Technical skills should receive compensation commen¬ surate with the effort, intelhgence and initiative re¬ quired to develop them.

(2) Status The pension provisions which are an attractive

feature of government employment are counteracted by procrastination in confirming employees, even after several years of continuous service. WhUe this occurs at all levels, the most shocking example in¬ volves the telephone operators. Of the 352 employed in Burma, only about 65 are confirmed at the tune of this writing. Employees cannot be expected to do their best work, year after year, without even the minimum recognition estabUshed by regulations.

(3) Allowances Telecommunications is a far-flung organization.

Its employees are posted to aU sections under a variety


of conditions ranging from excellent to very poor. Yet the various allowances designed to recognize and equaUze these situations in prewar days have been dis¬ continued. This has resulted in detrimental maneuver¬ ing of aU kinds to secure assignments to the better posts and to avoid unpleasant posts. Even though unintentional, assignments under these conditions have a discriminatory aspect which lowers morale and provokes dissension. InequaUties arising from matters of leave and quarters are equally disturbing. An equitable poUcy is long overdue.

(4) Promotion Much of the Department's inefficiency, waste and

poor service stem from emphasis on form rather than substance, both in the selection of personnel and in the performance of daily duties. Merit and ability should be recognized before seniority in achieving promotion. Since service time can be totaled with great accuracy and little effort, as compared to pro¬ fessional competency, seniority has become a cri¬ terion of exaggerated value. This emphasizes the need for departmental examinations as partial criteria for the promotion of those with the capacity for greater responsibility.

f. Remedial Action As the value of competent and contented manpower

has crystaUized in the last few decades, increasing attention has been paid to personnel matters. Low- salaried employees are not economical when pro¬ ductivity is evaluated. The countenancing of proce¬ dures which permit a favored group or individual to wield power unsupported by abihty and productivity is unacceptable in progressive concepts of labor rela¬ tions. Urffair and unethical practices soon result in low morale and inferior production. To correct such deficiences, the various remedial actions that have been suggested must be initiated and pursued by ele¬ ments of the staff sufficiently high to produce thorough and lasting results.

g. Unionization The All-Burma Telecoms Workers Union has

2,500 members, about 80% of the non-gazetted em¬ ployees. In all, there are 13 locals with headquarters in Rangoon. Delegates meet annuaUy to formulate policies for improving the status of telecommunica¬ tions employees. Since special emphasis has been placed on such matters as an enhanced salary scale, re-estabUshment of allowances to adjust inequalities of assignment, and prompt confirmation action as outUned in departmental regulations, it would appear that the organization is concerned with logical and legitimate goals.

h. Recommendations It is recommended that: (1) Departmental regulations covering administra¬

tive procedure be impartially and vigorously en¬ forced, especially in the areas outlined. Where these regulations are found to be weak or unsuitable, appro¬ priate changes must be made. ResponsibiUties and obligations of leadership should be emphasized.

(2) A more rigid interpretation of job quaUty standards be imposed by high authority.

(3) The entire salary scale be reviewed in the Ught of findings of the Wider Pay Commission.

(4) The incompetent and inefficient be removed by the procedures set up in the regulations. The serious¬ ness of harboring or protecting such individuals must be impressed upon all supervisors.

(5) The necessity for and the importance of train¬ ing, and personnel administrative programs be recog¬ nized by detailing responsible officers to these func¬ tions (see Organization, Section 3).

(6) A procedure be set up for objective evaluation of all qualifications pertinent to promotion in addi¬ tion to the facts of previous service. Technical quali¬ fications must be estabUshed by written examination and performance within the Department before con¬ firmation on any level.

(7) More attention be focused upon improved morale by appropriate and inevitable recognition of both superior and inferior performance.

5. TRAINING

a. Need and Status Telecommunications' need for training is acute,

but the urge for seff-improvement that sparks the necessary individual effort is noticeably lacking. Suggestions that training courses might be necessary have not been generally welcomed. To overcome mis¬ understanding and reluctance, both a fuU apprecia¬ tion by supervisors of the mechanism and results of training and a system of recognition of trained em¬ ployees must be developed. Everyone seems satisfied enough with status quo to wait for someone else to get something started. In terms of success, they have gotten out of their training program about what they have put into it.

b. Motivation Before any general training program can be success¬

ful, there must be genuine wilhngness on the part of the trainees to do the extra work involved. This atti¬ tude of wUUngness wiU be present only when the trainee can visualize a reward for completion of the course. Suitable incentive may be promotion, in¬ creased salary, improved status, or easier methods of performing the job, and must be of demonstrated


value. The need for training in order to qualify for performance tests and examinations will also provide motivation when these procedures have been estab¬ lished. If definite courses are known to be pre-requisite for certain jobs, and are proven genuinely valuable, there will be no shortage of willing trainees.

c. Some Training Successes (1) Radio Operators

Telecommunications is conducting an operator- training program in which selected candidates receive a stipend while undergoing full-time training. Only in this manner have they been able to keep abreast of the operator demand for the expanding h.f. radio network. Two instructors are employed, one conducts the code instruction (English and Burmese) and message-handling procedure, while the other teaches some electrical and radio theory. There is no practical laboratory instruction in the latter section, although the students are sent to the Central Telegraph Office for experience prior to graduation. The course re¬ quires approximately six months, and has graduated 22 to date. There are 27 enrolled.

(2) Line Staff A few weeks of training in practical and theoretical

communications practices has just been completed with a group of linemen. It was said to have been mutuaUy beneficial to both employees and employer. A formal report with details and an evaluation of this venture should be prepared and given wide circulation.

d. Implementing a Training Program The Director of Telecommunications should estab¬

lish the training program, and utilizing his Personal Assistant, Training, should so plan that all personnel are reached to the optimum degree.

(1) Length of Program: Cost The direction the training program takes, and its

magnitude, wiU depend on the communications media adopted by the Department, and upon the reservoir of trained people available. The following figures are based on a three-year intensive schedule followed by contraction to an irreducible minimum:

Teacher and Librarian (salary and honorarium) K20,000

Furniture K 10,000 Instruments, Tools, Equipment* K25,000 Books and Magazines K3,000

Total K60,000 * Can also be used in Telecommunications Shop.

(2) Evening Classes Evening courses can often be conducted to ad¬

vantage. If the material is worth while and the men are willing to devote an evening or two a week to their own betterment, the movement should gain momen¬ tum. For a modest honorarium, experienced person¬ nel can be persuaded to take over instructional re¬ sponsibiUties in their particular field. Any foreign engineers available to the Department would prob¬ ably wish to participate in the training program at appropriate levels. As the saying goes, "It will be very easy to separate the men from the boys" when it comes to a modicum of sacrifice for self-improvement.

(3) Levels and Recognition Supplementary instruction for those holding the

higher posts requires the more urgent attention. Since each individual involved will have some valuable ex¬ perience to share, such training wiU probably be most effective if approached from the conference stand¬ point. Tact, dignity, yet firmness must characterize this venture since the objective is to increase the contribution of individuals who have experienced rapid promotion and who may not take kindly to a sug¬ gestion that further training is either appropriate or necessary. Most requests for technical instruction come from employees at the intermediate levels. For these interested and ambitious individuals who are already impressed by the great deal they have to learn, the application of the conventional principles of tech¬ nical and vocational training will assure most satis¬ factory results. At lower levels, training is chiefly con¬ cerned with imparting job skiUs based on depart¬ mental specifications. Since these ranks are most important to the functioning of the system and have provided some of its most dependable officers, there should be enough continuity of pertinent related material to provide a useful and strong foundation for future development.

Attendance and effort must be recognized and re¬ warded. This requires adequate record-keeping, and a stricter discipline with respect to attendance and pre¬ paration of assignments than is in evidence in day-to¬ day operations. A frank and objective appraisal of the individual's accomplishment must become a part of the departmental permanent record.

(4) Technical Library To supplement any worth-while program, a well-

stocked hbrary must be available. Most technical organizations throughout the world have flourisliing libraries equipped with the latest professional periodi¬ cals and books. Telecommunications attempted such a project but abandoned it because of staff misuse. This service should be reopened under the supervision

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

of a hbrarian who would perform the usual super¬ visory tasks, besides opening the library at specified times. Any future misuses should be corrected by appropriate supervisory measures rather than by closing the library.

537

e. Engineer Recruit Training (1) General

Local engineering college graduates, as well as state scholars who are recruited by Telecommunications must spend a considerable period of time in the various phases of the Department's activities before they know enough about operations to bear responsibility in supervisory posts. During this period, the recruit's potential value to the service can be ascertained quite accurately. If there is reasonable doubt of satisfactory adjustment on the part of the apprentice engineer at the end of his experience-training period he should be dropped forthwith.

(2) State Scholars The program for bolstering the engineering nucleus

of Telecommunications is enhanced by the training of several state scholars in the United States. Upon graduation from engineering colleges they wUl pursue a two-year work-study program with appropriate communications companies before returning to Burma. The practical apphcation of modern trends of carrier telephony-telegraphy, teleprinter circuits, and various types of radio working and automatic tele¬ phony has been specified for these two-year tours. With respect to the return of these young men, one particularly serious pitfaU must be avoided. This is the danger of a too rapid assumption of responsibility without sufficient personal knowledge of actual opera¬ ting conditions in Burma. This can be avoided by a systematic rotation of the students through the actual operating jobs requiring them to personaUy perform these duties. Such a program is now being considered.

f. Recommendations It is recommended that: (1) A training program be established under com¬

petent direction to meet the various techrucal require¬ ments of the Department. This should include both day and evening courses.

(2) This training program utilize tried and accepted methods of technical and vocational training.

(3) Promotions without appropriate theoretical and performance examinations be eliminated.

(4) A well-stocked and properly staffed professional and technical library be established at once within the Department. Further, that the services of a competent hbrarian be furnished.

(5) Enough money be appropriated for the training

program to provide the necessary training aids and furniture for a functional classroom. A modest honorarium should be offered staff members who participate in instruction.

(6) A rigorous local experience-training program be required for all engineering recruits, and that per¬ manent employment depend largely on ability demon¬ strated therein.

6. FINANCIAL MATTERS

a. General The Department of Telecommunications is a

revenue-earning organization which turns over its earnings to the Government, and is in turn supported by direct annual appropriations. Review of the fiscal year 1950-51, recently released, shows the Depart¬ ment operating at a substantial profit. Figures for 1951-52 have not been finaUzed.

b. Organization (1) Responsible Head

The Director bears the responsibiUty for: (a) Maintenance of all accounts in accordance with

regulations. (b) Submission of accounts to the Comptroller,

Posts and Telegraphs, monthly. (c) Collection of aU revenue. (d) Estimating revenue and expenditures in pre¬

paring the annual budget. The Director and lesser officers are guided by the

schedule of financial powers in the matter of expendi¬ tures beyond which governmental sanction must be obtained. The entire budget control rests with the Director.

(2) Staff Accountants and clerks handle the details under

each account head, and prepare various financial re¬ ports for the Ministry and for the Comptroller of Posts and Telegraphs accounts.

c. Comptroller of Posts and Telegraphs Accounts This post is directly under the Accountant-General

of GUB, and is responsible for auditing the accounts submitted by various officers, as well as for keeping the official account for the Department. He renders to Government, monthly, the actual expenditure of the Department, and keeps the Director informed of sanctioned allotment expenditures. He also checks the propriety of financial reports and their adherence to regulations.

d. Annual Budget A budget section of three accountant-clerks collects

information from all branch heads, and consolidates


this into a statement which the Director submits to Government in anticipation of the revenue and ex¬ penditure for the next fiscal year. This budget finally reaches the Finance and Revenue Ministry which checks and trims it as deemed necessary. It is then reported back to the Director who notifies those in¬ volved of any reapportionment.

e. Annual Report The Comptroller periodically submits a report to

Government covering Telecommunications' financial status. In addition, the Director submits a review of the financial statistics for each year's working. How¬ ever, since the Department has enjoyed autonomy, a conventional annual report has not been pubUshed. Prewar, an excellent review of the Department's fiscal activities was pubhshed, providing not only financial facts but information covering new services, ex¬ pansion, and various items of interest. It is believed that there is enough of instructive and informative value in Telecommunications' activities to justify reviving the practice.

f. Financial Summary The figures in the accompanying table were fur¬

nished by the Department of Telecommunications, and are included to illustrate the magnitude of financial operations.

g. Depreciation A sum of money is deposited yearly in the Renewal

Reserve Fund against replacement of capital assets. The amount to be deposited is determined by the

Comptroller for a three-year period. The balance in this funds bears interest to the Department.

h. General Accounting

From the brief study made, it is beUeved that a general overhaul of the accounting methods as a whole is necessary to bring them into Une with com¬ mercial practices. As the accounts are now prepared it is extremely difficult and time-consuming to separate the activities of the various services to permit exam¬ ination of any one aspect of their working. For ex¬ ample, the cost of maintaining telephone service in any one community cannot be clearly distinguished. SimpUfication, greater accuracy and much greater speed in all procedures are essential. This is another area within the Department where machines rather than increased manpower are required.

i. Reconmiendations

It is recommended that: (1) An annual report similar to that used before the

war be published shortly after the close of each fiscal year.

(2) Mechanized accounting be adopted to enhance the speed and accuracy of the accovmting function.

(3) A Personal Assistant, Finance, be added to the Directors' staff (see Organization, Section D-3-j),

(4) The Personal Assistant, Finance, selected be¬ cause of ability and thorough experience in Burma Telecommunications accounts, be sent to London to study the modern accounting methods of the British Post Office. The practices of the two communications

FINANCIAL STATISTICS

Account 1945-46 (K)

1946-47 (K)

1947-48 (K)

1948^9 (K)

1949-50 (K)

1950-51 (K)

1951-52 (K)

Revenue 5,34,540* 32,83,022 57,32,438 42,73,753 44,68,011 60,73,860 74,36,875

Working Expenses - t — 56,51,482 48,11,251 50,15,830 51,26,040 - t

Net Income - t - t 80,956 -5,37,498 -5,47,819 9,47,822 - t

Capital Outlay 15,17,367 15,52,048 12,59,125 30,67,314 4,22,164 4,26,482 2,15,909

* Less telephone revenue; figure unavailable. t Posts and telegraphs accounts not separated. j Figure not yet available from Comptroller of Posts and Telegraphs. § Exact breakdown figures awaited from Comptroller of Post and Telegraphs.

The progressive capital outlay to the end of the 1950-51 period is Kl,51,04,181; and includes K36,58,503 for assets taken over by the administration on January 1,1946.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

organizations have so much in common that this Annual Income Kl8,76,204 should be done without further delay. Annual Cost of Operation K3,75,275

539

7. RATES AND CHARGES

a. General Burma Telecommunications has operated at a profit

for the past two years. This cannot be attributed to good management, but is rather a result of exorbitant telephone rates and miserly repair and maintenance spending. A weU-managed and integrated telecom¬ munications system should pay its way without un¬ reasonable costs. With service costs based on operat¬ ing costs, there must be periodic examinations to check that a reasonable balance is maintained. When the administration is charged to conduct its working as a commercial enterprise, it must regulate its affairs to stay out of the red.

b. Telephone (1) Present Unsound Basis for Charge

More people use the telephone than aU other tele¬ communications media combined. Invariably, the telephone service is the most lucrative of combined operations. The better and more extensive the service, the cheaper it becomes if the quality of engineering and the efficiency of operations are high. These con¬ siderations highlighted the high rates and poor stan¬ dards of Telecommunications' limited service. The combined local and trunk flat-rate scheme is faulty since it is based on two unsound premises, the assess¬ ment of equal charges for unequal services (since all subscribers pay for trunk operations whether or not available or used), and the assessment of an annual charge much higher than service cost plus a reason¬ able margin of profit,

(2) Local Service Under present exchange conditions, and until auto¬

matic working is a reaUty, flat base rates for residen¬ tial and business usage should be employed. With automatic switching, call meters can be employed to assess the costs more fairly to those who use the ser¬ vice most. The importance of careful, accurate cost accounting cannot be over-emphasized in the com- pUation of the subscriber's annual charge.

(a) Rangoon system income statistics. It is apparent that the greater the number of telephones per unit of population, the better and cheaper the service can be. At the moment, the Rangoon telephone system is carrying many communities which have so few sub¬ scribers that the community accounts show deficits even at the K600 annual rate. For the fiscal year 1951-52, Telecommunications extracted the following information from the South Burma Division's statis¬ tics:

About Kll lakhs are outstanding in uncollected revenue. These arrears are said to be chargeable largely to government departments and ministries. The annual telephone directory, although supported by paid advertising, is sold for K3 per copy.

(3) Trunk Lines These lines provide the medium for interconnections

between exchanges. The cost of a line is proportional to its length. To be fair in setting scales for their use, zoning arrangements are universally resorted to. Yet in Burma trunk calls are allowed without further charges beyond the annual fee of K600. When trunk operation is restored on a large scale, zone rates should be established. Toll-ticket meters should be used on the boards to speed up error-less recording of call data for bUling purposes. Night and hoUday pre¬ ferential rates should be introduced to encourage use of the facihties outside of peak daytime periods. The schedule of rates must be calculated carefuUy, and wUl probably require frequent adjustment during the three- to five-year period following trunk rehabihta¬ tion. A sample zone scale is shown on the next page to illustrate the typical order and trend of charges.

(4) International Radio Telephone Flat rates are used for internal connections on over¬

seas calls to facilitate the calculation of charges. As in the case of all trunk operations, greater use brings about cheaper unit service. The rates are set by inter¬ national agreement at levels consistent with an effi¬ cient service.

(5) BilUng Telephone revenue, in most countries, is collected

monthly or bi-monthly. Bilhng machines are used to record the various items on the biU form. Some pro¬ gressive telephone administrations mail the toll tickets to the customer with the biU, and hold a record of them on microfilm. Special forms are used so that one section appropriately stamped serves as the sub¬ scriber's receipt.

c. Telegraphs (1) General

In many countries, internal telegraph services have been running at a loss for several years. This limits ex¬ pansion and threatens the quahty of service. Since most operations involved in handUng a telegram are of an individual nature, the cost is inherently high. In Burma, all inland telegrams are handled on a flat-rate basis. Consequently, the message charge rarely re¬ flects the actual costs involved. It is said that the


SAMPLE ZONE SCALE TO ILLUSTRATE THE TREND OF CHARGES

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200 400 600 Miles

British Post Office has not shown a profit on inland telegrams since a common rate was adopted in 1870. With the local telegraph system operating over ex¬ pensive h.f. radio circuits often involving several re¬ lays, a rate schedule should be compiled to reflect more accurately the actual cost of the service. Govern¬ ment subsidy should only be applied to those circuits of maximum public benefit which are at the same time inherently unable to pay their own way. Zone charges should be drawn up in the same manner as for trunk telephone operation.

(2) Special Services Embassies and business houses maintain "deposit

accounts" with the Central Telegraph Office so that time is not wasted in individual filing transactions. Under the prevalent procedures in the booking office this is an important consideration (see Section E-2h-(4)-(a)). Press rates have been established, as well as a money-order service. No reduced rate ser¬ vices are in existence.

(3) Combined Post and Telegraph Offices There is considerable merit in areas where the dual

duties are not detrimental to each other, in combining the telegraph and post offices. The saving in man¬

power and establishment is nearly 50%; there should be no difficulty in keeping the accounts separated and accurately. Incentive arrangements can be made with the postmaster-telegrapher to cover the telegraphic circuit after the post office is closed. Since this type of operation proved its worth before the war, plans to abolish it in all areas of Burma must be considered extravagant, especially at this time.

d. Rate Setting The Department of Telecommunications proposes

rates and rate changes subject to approval by the present Ministry. Final approval is given by the Ministry of Finance and Revenue.

e. Recommendations Considerable thought should now be given to setting

up adequate rate schedules against the very near future when Burma's telecommunications will be fully extended. The present approach to the rate structure is both inequitable and uneconomical. It is therefore, recommended that:

(1) The traffic department gather pertinent in¬ formation from other countries on zoning and rate setting for reference in preparing a schedule to submit to Government. The philosophy of charging what the

TELECOMMUNICATIONS 541 traffic wiU bear is as untenable for telephones as is charging too little for telegraphic service.

(2) The traffic department designate a competent person to study and handle all matters in connection with rates and charges. He must be familiar with all phases of traffic and cost accounting so that he can estabUsh a schedule which will produce the necessary income, yet stand comparison with universal practice.

(3) Monthly telephone billing be established with adequate forms and office machines for rapidly and accurately conducting this phase of the business.

(4) Special services at appropriate rates be intro¬ duced as soon as trunk working is resumed.

8. CHARTS, MAPS AND RECORDS

a. General Officers of an organization as diverse as Telecom¬

munications need every type of statistical and visual aid in planning and conducting operations. Both are seriously lacking in the headquarters offices. As a consequence, the staff is poorly informed, and pro¬ ductivity suffers. Accurate, up-to-date information is slow in circulating to the extent that one group seems to know what the next is doing only by coincidence. When information must travel by word of mouth without substantial docmnentary support, rumor rapidly supplants fact. This situation can be remedied.

b. Filing The type of folders used by the Department for

fihng has the serious disadvantage of deteriorating rapidly through frequent handhng. Since the only index of contents is vwthin the folder itself, unusual dependence is placed on memory as to the where¬ abouts of various documents and records. The storing of these folders in open cases invites loss, requires altogether too much space and contributes to untidy office atmosphere.

c. Charts The programming of all of the Department's

operations should be suitably plotted on charts so that interested and responsible individuals are thoroughly advised of current and projected affairs. This is especially pertinent to engineering and traffic activities.

d. Maps Telecommunications is further handicapped by a

meager supply of appropriately scaled maps essential for record and for the conducting of many operations. The shortage is aggravated by inadequacies in drafting and reproducing faciUties. For example, the blue¬ printing machine is an ancient type which depends on sunUght for operation. The drafting tables are small,

R.B. II—4

three by four feet, with non-adjustable tops. Map storage facilities are totally inadequate, as is bulletin posting space within all offices.

e. Recommendations It is recommended that: (1) A modern print reproducing machine be ob¬

tained for Telecommunications headquarters with which to provide efficient printing service for all sec¬ tions of the Department.

(2) Adequate drafting tables, as well as map and chart storage facilities be provided. Drawings of these items should be prepared to permit local construc¬ tion.

(3) AU divisions and subdivisions provide graphic information of operations plans and progress.

(4) Drawer-type filing cabinets be provided as standard equipment in all offices of the Department.

(5) An improved and more complete method of indexing file contents be employed.

(6) The study of this phase of departmental opera¬ tions be continued.

9. STORES ORGANIZATION

a. General Telecommunications stores is responsible for pro¬

curing, stocking, listing and dispensing the materials used by the various branches of the service. Since most of this has to be imported on tender, there are numerous delays which are in part responsible for much of the Department's apparent lethargy. In this situation, there are many contributory factors that could be eased or eliminated entirely.

b. Physical Structure and Staff The store's godowns are located in the Botataung

section of Rangoon, from whence supplies are shipped to aU divisions. In charge of stores operations is a superintendent who reports directly to the Director of Telecommunications. On the staff are an assistant engineer, several clerks, and the necessary stock handlers. Also at this location are the shops for minor repairs to line and radio communications instruments. Stores is a large operation and currently carries an inventory of K30 lakhs.

c. Requisitions and Sanctions When requisitioned materials are in stock and

covered by a current appropriation, the service is reasonably adequate. However, as is often the case when unstocked, material exceeding the Director's financial power of K3,000 must be authorized for purchase by Government. This procedure is required even though the appropriation for the purchase has been made in the budget, and results in serious and


fatal delays. The request for sanction goes first to the parent ministry for administrative approval and thence to the Ministry of Finance and Revenue. If the re¬ quest involves expenditures for a new project and exceeds a modest sum, Finance and Revenue takes it to the Standing Finance Committee for a final appro¬ val or rejection. It is not unusual for a budget allot¬ ment to expire during this process, thus requiring a new request by the very same procedure during the subsequent fiscal year. In the meantime, a price increase on imported equipment may require a sup¬ plementary allotment.

d. Further Stores Problems (1) Superintendent's Financial Authority

The Telecommunications Inquiry Report first pointed out the clumsy business procedures under which the stores organization must function. The Superintendent has no financial authority to purchase even the smallest item. All such matters must be re¬ ferred to the Director. It would appear a simple mat¬ ter to arrange a reasonable latitude for the Superinten¬ dent to make small purchases without annoying the Department's chief executive with such minor detaUs of daily operations.

(2) Government Central Stores It is necessary to ascertain the availabUity of a

desired article at the Government Central Stores before if can be purchased locally. Even when the article is stocked, a week or more may be required to deliver it to the Department's storeyard.

(3) Licenses Import licenses are stipulated for materials brought

into the country for departmental use. Since these must be procured before the order can be placed, considerable delay is chargeable to this requirement alone. Customs duties and handling are also applic¬ able to these imports.

e. Superintendent's Status Before the war, the Superintendent had an addi¬

tional pay allowance of K100 per month. After inde¬ pendence, this was withdrawn, and the post was re¬ duced to the same level as that of an assistant engi¬ neer in charge of a subdivision. On this basis, there is insufficient incentive for the quaUty of work required. The change of status long recommended should re¬ ceive prompt consideration.

f. Stores Suspense Account Materials are continuaUy added to and withdrawn

from stores. The difference in value between the amount in and the amount out is carried in this

appropriate account heading. From the accounting point of view the treatment is adequate. However, the investment in this amount bears interest to Govern¬ ment, chargeable to the Department. At the same time, many items desperately needed on various jobs are held in stores but cannot be requisitioned because of Departmental budget restrictions. The net result finds Telecommunications paying interest on material which it needs but cannot use. A more equitable arrangement should be devised.

g. Recommendations It is recommended that: (1) The financial authority of the Director be in¬

creased to reduce the number of sanction requests necessary unless a much less cumbersome procedure is installed.

(2) The post of Superintendent of Stores, because of its responsibility, be improved in rank to equal that of Divisional Engineer.

(3) Business machines be adopted for improving the records and saving time and manpower.

(4) An emergency project head be set up during this period of expansion-rehabilitation to facilitate withdrawing specific instruments and tools. Some measuring instruments, in whose use technical staff should be trained, have been held in stores for years under the misguided impression that they were too "expensive."

(5) The Superintendent of Stores have a modest financial authority, subject to regular audit, for emergency purchases on the local market.

10. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

a. General Burma's telecommunications goal must include

the best features of the prewar-postwar system besides such desirable innovations as the state of the electrical communications art wUl permit. The long-range objective should be prompt and accurate service between the major centers with dependable, if some¬ what slower, coverage of the rest of the country. The result will be a telecommunications network superior to any in southeast Asia today. To achieve this goal, the telecommunications organization must be given every encouragement and assistance in adapting itself to new methods and equipment.

b. Attitudes and Policy Men with vision and energy are needed to plan, to

build and to operate this network. Economic and social policy guided by sound engineering advice must achieve the balance between need and cost. A capable engineering organization must be estabUshed to pre-

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

pare detaUed plans and to supervise their implementa¬ tion. Appropriated money must be made readily avaUable for the installation of new projects and for the adequate maintenance of those already in opera¬ tion. Some means must be found for reducing the administrative delays in releasing appropriated funds to permit rapid initiation of needed new work and repairs. A fuUer reahzation of the importance of com¬ munications to the smooth and expeditious function¬ ing of every activity of the Government should go far toward mitigating some of the inadvertent handicaps to rapid development.

c. Extent of Telecommunications Coverage Recommended

Improving but uncertain security conditions pre¬ clude detailed planning in many areas, but these temporary conditions must not obscure the long- range view. Consequently, this Report, while accord¬ ing important consideration to the long term for general direction and guidance, has placed major emphasis on various near future projects. Once the backbone of trunk communications is established, the expansion of industry and the needs and wishes of the people wUl dictate further development. The end of the five-year period could and should find the follow¬ ing situation:

(1) External Circuits (a) Telegraph. Radio teleprinters handling all of

Burma's foreign traffic through the new transmitting and receiving centers which are connected to the Cen¬ tral Telegraph Office by multi-channel microwave cir¬ cuits.

(b) Telephone. Radiotelephone connections to the international circuit via the India link, and possibly linuted direct service to other neighboring countries on a spht-schedule basis.

(2) Internal Telephone and Telegraph Circuits (a) VHF-UHF. Carrying the Delta's primary

and most of the secondary trunks to Rangoon. (b) HF. Furnishing long-distance circuits to areas

in the outlying districts over difficult terrain. Not more than 20 such circuits should be required in all of Burma.

(c) Landlines. HandUng the Rangoon-Mandalay trunk traffic on carrier circuits, and extending in all directions (except the Delta) to provide secondary trunks and tributary service.

(3) Telephone Exchanges Rangoon's exchange automatized, and Mandalay's

543

program expanding satisfactorily throughout the large communities in the districts, and the smaller communities' telephony program taking shape.

(4) Telegraph Terminals A wide use of teleprinter in offices handling sub¬

stantial amounts of traffic, and combined telegraph and post offices in remote districts where economical dependable service is required.

(5) Engineering Organization and Training So arranged and established that the functioning

oftheDepartment affords no basisfor serious criticism. This requires engineering, planning and operation along the modern efficient lines recommended in this Report.

d. Recommendations Summarized The following is a brief resume of the numerous

recommendations offered in this Report for improv¬ ing the scope of service and the efficiency of Tele¬ communications in Burma. Ten projects basic to this attainment are shown in Plate 7 in terms of the esti¬ mated cost and the time required for completion. It is not intended to convey the impression that these projects will achieve everything needed in an inte¬ grated system, for such is not the case. They will, how¬ ever, provide the framework to give shape and strength to the structure. Details can and must be added as required and justified.

(1) Burma's Foreign Communications Circuits Considerable expansion and modernization are

necessary, and can be achieved by: (a) Adopting frequency-shift keying, diversity re¬

ception and teleprinter operation on the foreign cir¬ cuits.

(b) Shifting the receiving and transmitting stations to functional centers large enough for the requisite directional antennas, and connecting these centers to the Central Telegraph Office over multi-band u.h.f. circuits.

(c) Arranging with India to use single-sideband suppressed-carrier operation for the projected inter¬ national radiotelephone link. Also discussing the possible use of Calcutta as a radio terminal for future Burma-India telephone and telegraph circuits.

(d) Considering split-schedule direct radiotele¬ phone-telegraph operation with neighboring coun¬ tries other than India and Ceylon, for improved ser¬ vice and reduced rates.

(e) Carrying out the design of buUdings, auxiliaries and antennas for both the receiving and transmitting centres so that construction can start as soon as the

expanding with C-B operation. The C-B exchange sites are provided and equipment available

RANSOON AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE EXCHANSE.

DISTRICT CENTRAL- BATTERY

EXCHANSE PROGRAM.

: ■ \

^SsJJMi^l'sSJis.mjhmilmihni

I 1 i ■ ...,'_ r 1 "' ,", , 1 ■;" p,'- i' ,"!i'''i'' i p. T '' i,!*!'! 1'.* '•; .î {,'•'■ L i,, •.,, '■ 1 ■■ .',i„ i.iii..r:.i; .

LAKHS 0

YEARS 0

MINOR TRUNK LINE REHABIUTATION

RADIO TRANSMITTING S RECEIVING

CENTERS ( RANGOON)

RANGOON-MANDALAY CARRIER TRUNKS

DELTA U.H.P-V.H.F. TRUNK SYSTEM.

LAKHS 0

YEARS 0

INTERNATIONAL RADIO TELEPHONE

LINK.

CENTRAL TELEGRAPH OFFICE IMPROVEMENTS AND CIRCUIT MODERNIZATION.

ESTABLISHING RADIO REGULATORY

ORGANIZATION

TELECOMMUNICATIONS TRAINING

PROGRAM

YEARS ^

20

I

60

3

100

s

20

2

30

3

40

4

SO

9

60

6

— ■--

T^~T

140

7

70

7

160 I BO

•a 9

- .*!• •"■ rfH| aj1?!gn,iii3iaai

'"^■' " 1 ■ ...:

1

1

BO 90


TELECOMMUNICATIONS

EXPANSION a REHABILITATION PROGRAM COST a COMPLETION TIME ESTIMATES

KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO. NEW YORK RANGOON

OR. BY. E.J.P. DATE CK. BY. C.W.B. JULY,53.

PLATE NO.

544

TELECOM MUNICATIONS 545

(2) Communications within Burma The present state of Burma's internal communica¬

tions system (see the table entitled "Present FacUities," and Plate I) is such that remedial action is needed in all areas. It is recommended that:

(a) Trunk facUities. (1) Because of the high cost and mediocre service rendered, the expensive high- frequency radiotelegraph program be curtailed to serve only those areas inaccessible to landhnes.

(2) Microwave radio be utUized for the Delta prim¬ ary trunk system, and the v.h.f. equipment, not yet in operation, be used for secondary trunks. Improved service and greater economies will result in these marshy areas with their numerous river crossings.

(3) Serious planning for rehabilitation of the Rangoon-Mandalay carrier routes be undertaken at once so that unstocked materials can be ordered and reasonable preparations made for equipment rehabili¬ tation.

(4) Copperweld wire be used wherever theft and sabotage has proved a hazard to landline operation, and that aUgnments be moved, if necessary, to follow roads and/or railways for maximum protection and for ease of maintenance. Punitive or other deterrent actions to eUminate sabotage should be thoroughly explored.

(5) As the initial phase of the landline rehabihta¬ tion program. Telecommunications make an all-out effort to restring and maintain commercial lines on pole structures that are now carrying only railway control Unes.

(6) Radiotelegraph stations retained as a security measure in communities served by landlines be sup¬ ported from the defense budget.

(b) Telephone. This program is in two areas: auto¬ matization of the Rangoon exchanges, and expanding and improving the district exchanges. It is recom¬ mended that:

(1) The recently established organization for con¬ ducting the affairs of the Rangoon telephone service be given the latitude and assistance required to modernize the operation of Burma's largest telephone system.

(2) Modern Crossbar exchanges be instaUed at Main, North and Insein for full automatization of the service, and that a new outside plant including a conduit system in the downtown area be provided. It is further urged that provision be made for 6,000 Unes in Main, 2,000 in North and 300 in Insein, to allow for reasonable expansion of telephone-use in Burma's capital city during the first five-year period.

(3) Telecommunications obtain the centrally located sites for, and design the buildings required by the automatization program. Optimum locations have been suggested in various reports.

(4) Serious thought be given to limiting the new manual installation (40th Street Telephone Building) to 2,000 lines if action on automatization is to follow in the very near future. The present South Exchange can be kept in operation for another two or three years to provide, with the new boards, 3,000 lines. This would result in substantial savings in batteries, installation time and cut-over problems. The third 1,000-line board can be shipped to Mandalay where it will soon be required.

(5) Telecommunications standardize, by specifica¬ tions and drawings, the apparatus and materials needed in the operation of the telephone system. Enough laboratory faciUties must be provided to per¬ mit essential electrical measurements. Sufficient equipment performance data should be recorded to serve as a basis for future purchasing.

(6) Modern practices in outside plant construction and maintenance, notably distribution point and drop wiring, be adopted.

(7) Large-scale city maps showing outside plant installations be accurately drawn, and kept up to date. Along with these should be accurate cable test data to permit trouble location with test instruments.

(8) Telecommunications estabUsh well planned and capably conducted training classes for all grades of telephone technicians as one of the first steps in im¬ proving and standardizing operations. Also, that selected technicians be sent to the United States or Sweden for training.

(9) Plans be laid immediately for expanding the local telephone exchanges in the district communities of over 10,000 population by instaUing properly de¬ signed C-B telephone systems. This should include the preparation of complete instructions and forms so that the local subdivisional officers can conduct a subscriber-demand survey, and can furnish the necessary technical information for layout of the out¬ side plant.

(10) The many detailed measures for providing Mandalay with a C-B telephone system can be under¬ taken at once so that when trunk lines to Rangoon are restored, the demands for telephone service can be handled. The present 400-line magneto exchange is entirely inadequate to meet the future needs of 182,000 people for modern telephone facilities. The equipment freed by Rangoon's automatization can be used to advantage in the districts.

(c) Telephone system maintenance. Maintenance is one of the major considerations in operating a tele¬ communications system. To improve and expand the Department's efforts along this line, it has been recommended that:

(1) Telephone maintenance standards be estab¬ lished and rigidly enforced.

DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNI

TELEPHONE

Staff

1 ■3

■S

i5 Station

Capacity of

Switch¬

Subscri¬ ber's

Connec¬ Working Hours

fe ^ t 1 1 &

.§ i 1 1 Local

Telephone Lines

Telephone Trunk

Leased Lines

;^ i5 -§ board

tions in î bA ^ 5^ •4 ■§ (miles) Lines <^ use "^ 1 1 3 t^ ►5 O^

^ ^ Railway Canal

Mandalay 400 305 0000-2400 2 3 1 2 6 12 Monywa 40 18 0600-2000 1 1 2 Sagaing 40 33 0600-2000 2 Kyaukse 40 23 0600-2000 2 Shwebo 80 23 0600-2000 1 2 Bhamo 40 12 0600-1800 2 Katha 20 14 0600-2000 1 2 Myitkyina 40 18 0600-1800 2

% Kalewa 40 12 0600-1800 1 Ii 2 i Meiktila

Putao 100 57 0000-2400 1 1 2 4

s Homalin Mawlaik Paunglyin Shwegu Mogok Amarapura Myinmu Myitgne

840 515 2 8 1 4 16 32 668-2 556 766 60

Toungoo 50 35 0000-2400 1 1 1 2 5 Aungban 20 7 0600-1800 1 2

< Yamethin 20 15 0000-2400 1 4 Pyinmana 10 4 0600-1800 1 2

d 0 Nyaunglebin 20 12 0600-1800 1 2

i 8 Pyawbwe 20 6 0600-1800 1 2 ffl g Thazi 20 4 0600-1800 1 2

^ ^ Taunggyi 50 54 0000-2400 1 1 4 vi Kalaw 40 18 0000-2400 1 4 o Pyu 20 5 0600-1800 1 2

270 160 1 1 2 11 29 275 650 1390 70

Yenangyaung 100 52 0000-2400 1 1 2 4 Myingyan 80 59 0000-2400 1 2 4 Minbu 50 19 0600-1800 1 2

0 Magwe 50 6 0600-1800 1 2 Chauk 10 8 0600-1800 1 2

< Pakokku 50 13 0600-1800 1 1 2

% Nyaungoo 25 4 0600-1800 1 2 § Gangaw

1 Kanpetlet i

>- Taungdwingyi Minhla

365 161 1 2 9 18 391 36 57 26

Maymyo 120 72 0000-2400 1 1 1 3 2 7 Namtu

p Lashio 50 44 0600-2000 2 2 Hsipaw 44 37 0600-2000 2 2 i Kyaukme 50 28 0600-2000 2 1 < Nyaungkhio

546

CATIONS—PRESENT FACILITIES

TELEGRAPH RADIO

Schedule Hours

Aver¬ age

Traffic Total

Staff

Call Sign

Staff

i 1 s ^

1 1 1 1 O 1

►4

1 1

1 1 i 1

11

1

1

1 1 1

1

1 ■g

1

1 Si

2

1 1

6

1 & 1 to

1

1

Freqi

Trans¬ mit

lency

Receive

9>v

i 1 i-. <U ;^

6 1

1 1

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1

19

c

3 Cl

2

1

1 1 1 1

1

8

1

1

1 1

1 1 1 1 1 I ]

1

11

i 1>5

0700-2200 1000-1700 0900-1700 1000-1700 1000-1700 0900-1700 0900-1700

1000-1600 0900-1700 0900-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0900-1700 0800-1600 1000-1600 1000-1700 0900-1700

33670 1570 910 365 565

1180 1500

2900 1000 525 500

1100 820

95 740

95 20

1 2 32 4 4 1 XYQ 8 XYK 3

XYD 6 XYN

XYL 3 XYC XYD 4 XYL 9 XYC 4 XYC 2 XYC 3 XYZ 2 XYL 5

XYV 7

3360 3360

6380 5820 5180 6380 3380 3380 3380 3710 5740

3720

6370 3380

4165

1 1

1

1 1 1

29 2

2 3

3 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2

3

2

1

47555 1 2 32 4 4 1 ,17 1 2 6 1 6 57 3

0900-1900 0800-1700 0900-1700

0900-1700

1000-1700 0900-1700 1000-1700

1550 260 615

225

205 1500 235

XYD 2

XYD 5

5180

3360

1

1

2

2

1

1

2

1

1 1 1

4

1

1

2

10

1

1

4590 2 4

0900-1700 0900-1700 0900-1700 0900-1700 090&-1700 1000-1700 0900-1700 0900-1700 1000-1700 0900-1700 0900-1700

1470 1710 405 655

1665 1940

155 270 410

26

1 1

2

1 1

1

1

XYD 3 XYC 9 XYK 2 XYD 7 XYL 8 XYC 5 XYV 6 XYL 6 XYC 6 XYL 7 XYT 9

5180 5740 3720 3360 5820 3700 5180 5820 3600 5740 5170

5635

5625

1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1

1 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 1 2 3

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

7706 4 4 8 23 11

1000-1800 0900-1600 0900-1700 0900-1700 0900-1700 0900-1600

1310 260 975 230 300 45

XYD 8 3360 3

3

1

1

547

TELEPHONE


5; Capacity Subscri¬

Staff

Local g 1 Leased Lines

]S

1 5?a/io« of

Switch¬ board

ber's Connec¬ tions in

use

Working Hours 1

1 1 i

■5" i 1

Telephone Lines

(miles)

Telephone Trunk Lines <5

k) >i5 s KJ ^ ►^ 0 ^ Railway Canal

Taikkyi 25 2 Tharrawaddy 25 20 Pegu 100 70

z Twante 20 7

8 Syriam 25 11 z Rangoon CTO I 3 1

<& University Telegraph office Ahlone Telegraph office

195 110 1 3 1 2200 935-0 1312 32

Moulmein 180 179 0000-2400 1 2

i Tavoy Mergui

100 50

81 33

0000-2400 0000-2400

5 Thaton 30 23 0000-2400

s Kanbauk

2 360 316 1 269-4 343-36 290-19

Prome 60 49 0000-2400 1 2 < Thayetmyo 25 18 OOOa-2400 % Allamnyo 10 5 0000-2400

n s Paungde 20 11 0000-2400

Shwedaung OH Thegon

Zigon

2 o CO 115 83 1 426-8 252-5 391-1

Bassein 180 99 0000-2400 1

Myaungmya 35 21 0600-1800 Wakema 25 7 0800-2000 Moulmeingyun 10 2 0900-1700 Bogale 5 3 0900-1700 Pyapon 20 18 OOOa-2400 Kyaiklat 20 11 0900-1700 Maubin 25 21 0600-1800

i Yandoon Henzada

10 50

8 36

0900-1700 0000-2400

pa Zalun Myanaung Yegyi Kyonpyaw Ngathaingyaung Kyaunggon Danubyu Kyangin Einme Pantanaw

10 10 20 10 10 10

7 3 7 4 2 3

0900-1700 0900-1700 0600-1800 0900-1700 0900-1700 0900-1700

548


TELEGRAPH RADIO

Schedule Hours

Aver¬ age

Traffic Total

Staff Staff

1 1 i

1 t 1 CO

6

1

r-i

1 1 1

1 1

2

t

1

1= i

61

1 1

9

1

8

1 1

33

§

6 11 1

Frequ

Call Sign

Trans¬ mit

ency

Receive

1

1

1

1

1

1 Cl

1

5 1 1

1

1

0900-1700 0900-1700 I00O-1700

0000-2400 0930-1630 0800-1630

550 130 140

65080 15 20

1 3 5 83 6 34 35 13 1 1 2

XYF 6 5300 1

65935 1 3 5 83 6 34 35 13 1 1 2 2 1 61 9 8 33 6 11 1 1 1 1 1

0900-1900 3

2 2

2 3

2 2

1 1

1 1

1

XYG 7800 XY 7 XYT 2 5925 XYG 2 5925 XYG 3 5925

5810

1

1 1

8

3 2 1

1

1 1

1 1

1 1

1

1 1 1

7 2 7 1 1 2 1 3 14 3 1 3

1

4

0800-1800 0900-1600

0900-1700 0900-1700 0900-1700

2100 390

4 120 100

2 2 1 1 XYF 3760 XYF 5 5180

1 1

2 2

1 1 1

2714 2 2 1 1 2 4 2 1 2 1

0900^1900

0800-1400

0900-1700

0930-1800 0900-1700 0900-1700 0900-1700 0700-1800

1110

430

14

345 60

770 100

2800

10 8 8 8

{ XYX 1 \„„ XYX 2 /"50 XYG 4 5300

XYK 6 5120

XYG 5 5300

XYF 7 3750

XYF 4 5300

XYK 8 5120 XYJ 9 5140 XYK 4 5300 XYK 7 5140

8100

5575

5575 5595 5755 5595

1

1

1

1

4

1

3

1

1

3

3 3 3 3

2

1

1

1

1

1

1 1 1 1

1

1

1 1 1 1

1

1

549


TELEPHONE

c i Subscri¬ ber's Working

Staff

Local Telephone

Lines (miles)

Telephone Trunk Lines

Leased Lines

.2 "S5 1 Capacity •Si „ . of 5; 1 ti 1

1 1 &' s i 0 1 ;:».

Q ^""'""r- Hours ^ % lions w ; 1^-5,

use i i i§

^ ^ ^

Railway Canal

z;

< hi

Akyab Kyaukpyu Sandoway Maungdaw Cheduba Kyauktaw Minbya Paletwa Singaling Khamti

200 40 20

(Non-Ex.)

171 20

9 3

0000-2400 0500-2300 0500-2300 0000-2400

1 2 1 3 1

25 i 6 2 3 2! 3 1

260 203 1 1 2! 1 14 1

30 j 12 1

o o S

Rangoon North Exchange Mingaladon Insein Central Regent West South

540 150 100 400 440 340

1099

525 132 62

360 440 340

1093

0000-2400 0000-2400 0000-2400 0000-2400 0000-2400 0000-2400 0000-2400 1

; 1 1

1

1 1

1 3I22 3^12 1 5

17 i 4 i 4

15 53 8

3069 2952 1 5 3 1 22 117114 10-762 ; 1 i

Rangoon Radio

Rangoon Transmitting Station

j.

1

Rangoon Recrad and High¬ speed Station

Rangoon-Moulmein R/T j

Maymyo Alexander Barracks

Daik-U Kawlin Myitgne Pyimtaza Sagu Salin Singu Tatkon Taungtha Thedaw Yawnghwe Zeyawaddy

550


TELEGRAPH RADIO

Aver¬ age

Staff

Call

Frequency Staff

Schedule 1 1 i

1

1 10 1

t

4

1 i 1

5-

s b V Q 1

5

1 1 1

1 1

j

c i s § 1.

1 2

1

17 2 3 2 3 2 2 2 1

1 6 1

s a

!^ Hours Traffic

Total 1 i C5

1 Co

? Sign Trans¬

mit Receive

8 1

1 1

11

1

1-

0900-1800 0900-1630 0900-1630 1000-1700 1000-1700 1000-1700 1000-1700 1000-1200 0900-1700

5217 500 600 120 60 60 50

475

1 1 1 XYA 8 7660 XYA 3 6790 XYA 3 6790 XYA 4 5810 XYB 3 4270 XYA 2 i 4270 XYB 3 4270 XYS 4; 5810 XYC 8 3380

1160

6265

1

1

1

7082 1 10 1 4 5 9 1 1 1 3 34 14 6 3

1

XYR 2 250 XYR 3 ; 500 XYR 4 j 4200 XYR 5 1 12600 XYR 6 XYR 1 16800

1 1 34 6 2 1 3

I

i

XYM j 13020 XYM2 XYM 3 ' 12385 XYM 4 XYM 5 7645 XYM6i XYM 7 12870 XYM 8 XYM 9 13655

7675

7690

5925

1 4 12 7 1 1 1

1

3

i XYN XYNO XYN 3 XYN 4 XYN 5 XYN 6 XYN 7 XYN 8 XYN 9

13395

17580

15470

12387 7680

5300

7600

7600

6900

1 4 29 6 1 1

7400 7500

1 i

7200 7300 1 2 1 1

1000-1700 0900-1700 0900-1700 1000-1700 0900-1700 1000-1700 1000-1700 1000-1700 1000-1700 1000-1700 1000-1700 1000-1600 0930-1630

75 45 15 40 45 25

200 20

9

2 105

579


(2) Material necessary for proper maintenance be carried at all times by Telecommunications stores. This must be given a first priority by all concerned.

(3) Maintenance men be provided with the neces¬ sary tools and transport for meeting their responsi¬ bilities quickly and competently.

(4) A complete system of tests and records be set up and rigidly maintained to assist outside plant maintenance personnel in locating cable faults. The present trial and error procedures are untenable in this age of precise electrical measurements.

(5) Daily trouble records be meticulously kept so that average "out time" can be calculated, and the major fault reasons be catalogued.

(6) Functional telephone-plant bodies be obtained for the Ford truck chassis at the Telecommunications stores.

(7) The acceptance of gratuities by maintenance personnel for "preferred" services be thoroughly suppressed and replaced by cultivated pride in organization.

(d) Central Telegraph Office. A study of this most essential component of both foreign and domestic communications facilities has resulted in the follow¬ ing recommendations;

(1) Thematerials listed in section E-l-(c)-(6) should be provided at once to modernize and improve the telegraphic services.

(2) The message delivery and booking systems should be reviewed with the object of eliminating time-wasting procedures. Cash registers which furnish a printed receipt wUl eliminate "stamps," and a few motor cycles for long-distance deliveries will help materially.

(3) Telecommunications should insist that its mes¬ sengers are uniformly attired.

(4) There should be a better appreciation and under¬ standing of the traffic section's problems and contri¬ butions. All personnel carrying supervisory responsi¬ bilities should be given official status.

(5) Telephone or teleprinter should be used for for¬ warding messages between branch telegraph offices and the CTO to save skilled operators.

(6) Message deUvcry envelopes should be addressed with Addressograph equipment (coded addresses) and by typewriter (formal addresses) to eliminate errors.

(e) Marine Radio Station. It is recommended that the plan for moving the station be postponed untU the whole matter is reviewed. If it is finally decided that the staff cannot be made a naval reserve unit and the station's location is incompatible with the Navy's effectiveness, the actual moving could be deferred until a more appropriate time when Telecommunications has less construction rehabilitation commitments.

(f) Organization. Of the many needed corrective

actions in the field of organization, the most pressing are these:

(1) An engineering group be estabhshed within the radio section as a part-time committee to plan the pressing expansion activities on a more appropriate scale than at present. As soon as the technical man¬ power situation permits, this group should become part of a full-time engineering section within the Department.

(2) An engineering group be established to work out the practical rehabilitation of Burma's landline system and the related details of expanded telephone- telegraph working. The economical and satisfactory service to be engineered from the huge investment in the lines system deserves greater attention.

(3) All telecommunications engineering recom¬ mended in the body of this Report be ultimately con¬ centrated into a single component engineering-plan¬ ning section to serve the whole Department.

(4) A radio regulatory body, with duties and re¬ sponsibilities as outlined in paragraph E 3-i-(6), be established outside the Department of Telecommuni¬ cations but under the parent ministry.

(5) To minimize departmental reorganization and yet provide essential services, personal assistants to the Director be added in the areas of personnel, train¬ ing and accounting-finance.

(g) Personnel. It is recommended that: (1) Departmental regulations covering administra¬

tive procedure be thoroughly enforced. Where these regulations are found to be weak or unsuitable ap¬ propriate changes should be made.

(2) Higher standards of job quality be imposed and enforced.

(3) The entire salary scale be reviewed in the light of the findings of the Wider Pay Commission. This would go far toward winning the much needed loyalty to the program.

(4) The procedures provided in the regulations for the removal of the incompetent and inefficient be exer¬ cised. The harboring, protection, or coddhng of such individuals has an extremely depressing effect on the morale and eflficiency of the service.

(5) The necessity for and the importance of training and personnel administrative programs be recognized by detailing responsible officers to these functions (sec Organization, Section E-3).

(6) A procedure be established for objective evalu¬ ation of demonstrated qualifications for promotion in addition to the facts of seniority. Technical qualifica¬ tions should be established by both written and per¬ formance examinations.

(7) More attention be focused upon improved morale by appropriate recognition of superior performance.


(h) Training. To meet the training needs of all echelons of the organization, it is recommended that:

(1) A training program be carefuUy developed con¬ sidering both vocational and professional aspects, both on-the-job and fuU-time opportunities, both ex¬ tension and residence instruction, and possibly day and evening classes.

(2) This training program utiUze the best available techniques of instruction, embracing both long-range and accelerated objectives.

(3) The compilation of a good technical library be instituted at once under the supervision of a compe¬ tent hbrarian.

(4) That funds appropriated for this training pro¬ gram be adequate for the provision of training aids, shops or practical laboratories, classrooms and equip¬ ment. A modest honorarium should be offered staff members for teaching their specialities.

(5) A rigorous experience-training program be re¬ quired for all engineering recruits, and that permanent employment depend largely on ability demonstrated therein.

(i) Financial matters. It is recommended that: (1) An annual report simUar to that used before the

war be published within three months after the close of each fiscal year.

(2) Mechanized accounting be adopted to improve the speed and accuracy of the accounting function.

(3) A personal assistant, finance, be added to the Director's staff.

(4) The above officer, selected for ability and thorough experience in Burma Telecommunications accounts, be sent to London to study the modern ac¬ counting methods of the British Post Office in respect to telecommunications.

(j) Charts, maps and records. It is recommended that:

(1) A modem print-reproducing machine be ob¬ tained for Telecommunications headquarters to pro¬ vide efficient printing service for all sections of the Department.

(2) Adequate drafting tables as well as map and chart storage facilities be provided. Drawings sUould be prepared so that these items of furniture can be constructed locally.

(3) All divisions and subdivisions be responsible for preparing certain minimum graphic information illustrating plans and the progress of operations.

(4) Drawer-type filing cabinets be provided as standard equipment in all offices of the Department.

(5) An improved and more complete method of indexing file contents be employed.

(6) The study of charts, maps and records be con¬ tinued on an appropriate scale with attention to new and functional forms where required.

(k) Rates and charges. It is recommended that: (1) The traffic department designate a competent

person to study and handle all matters in connection with rates and charges. He must be familiar with all phases of traffic and cost accounting so that he can establish a schedule which will produce the necessary income, yet compare favorably with universal prac¬ tice.

(2) The traffic department gather pertinent informa¬ tion on zoning and rate-setting for reference in pre¬ paring a schedule for Government approval. The philosophy of charging what the traffic wiU bear for telephones is as untenable as charging too little for telegraphic service.

(3) Monthly telephone billing be established with adequate forms and office machines for rapidly and accurately conducting this phase of the business.

(4) Special services at appropriate rates be intro¬ duced as soon as trunk working is resumed.

(1) Stores organization. Because of the importance of the stores in the operation of the Department, it is recommended that:

(1) The financial authority of the Director be in¬ creased to reduce the number of sanction requests necessary unless a much less cumbersome procedure is installed.

(2) The post of Superintendent of Stores because of its responsibility be improved in rank to equal that of Divisional Engineer.

(3) Business machines be adopted for improving the records and saving time and manpower.

(4) An emergency project head be set up during this period of expansion and rehabilitation to facilitate withdrawing specific instruments and tools.

(5) The Superintendent of Stores be granted modest financial authority, subject to regular audit, for emer¬ gency purchases on the local market.

(m) Requirements for further study. In addition to the matters discussed in this Report, several specific subjects require further study and exploration, and the general problem of keeping abreast with current developments in the science of telecommunications requires constant attention.

(1) Public Relations A vital requirement for public service is the con¬

stant cultivation of a behavior toward the public that reflects full realization that the service exists solely for the purpose of accommodating the public, both individually and collectively. The Telecommunica¬ tions Department could improve its services im¬ mensely by two courses of action. The first would be to undertake a campaign of education among all em¬ ployees to develop a spirit of courtesy, accommoda¬ tion, and desire to find a better way of serving the


customer. The second would be to establish a public relations or public information section charged with demonstrating and publicizing telecommunications services to the public. Both service-wise and revenue- wise, the success of a department can be greatly en¬ hanced by weU-directed advertising and solicitation.

(2) Service to Government Departments The telecommunications needs of the Burma Rail¬

ways, the Irrigation Department, the Inland Water¬ ways, the Merchant Marine and other agencies must be adequately met if these agencies are to operate at maximum effectiveness. Their needs for independent communications systems will be reduced to a few speciaUzed requirements when the Telecommunica¬ tions Department demonstrates that it can provide dependable service throughout Burma at reasonable rates. The Telecommunications Department should study the needs of the other departments, should help them to devise systems and equipment that would better serve their needs, and should make available to them such services as it may be able to provide in installing and operating such equipment. The Depart¬ ment should seek to avoid the overcrowding of the high-frequency spectrum, and should do its best to support and to contribute to the orderly allocation of frequencies by international agreement.

(3) Job Evaluation

Telecommunications is using job titles, concepts and relative salary scales developed many years ago and no longer applicable to the duties being per¬ formed. Some of the more desirable and obvious

changes have been previously pointed out. Consider¬ able additional study is needed to eliminate many remaining inequaUties resulting from modernization and changing operations. A systematic and scientific evaluation of each job should be undertaken as a primary responsibiUty of the personnel section of the administrative staff.

(4) Administration

A close study of the administrative structure of the whole Telecommunications organization would be profitable. Planned changes should be part of an over-all improvement scheme. A particular need is to devise a means of providing closer support for person¬ nel in the field. This may mean strengthening and simplifying supervisory channels and emphasizing the responsibilities of the supervisors concerned for both the personal and professional welfare of the field employees.

(5) Responsibility

As with all functions of organization, both adminis¬ trative and organizational, the responsibility for pro¬ gress and improvement rests squarely with super¬ vision. It is not enough that Telecommunications seek merely to provide adequate service; only in striving to become superior can an organization become ade¬ quate. It is a key virtue of supervision that it be able to stimulate throughout its organization a constant search and effort to improve while at the same time being able to temper change by recognition and con¬ tinuance of equipment and methods of demonstrated value.

PART VI

POWER

CHAPTER XIX

ELECTRIC POWER

A. EARLY HYDROELECTRIC INVESTIGATIONS

During the years 1920 to 1923 inclusive, field investigations were made of numerous hydroelectric power sites throughout Burma by B. Raikes, Electrical Inspector to the Government of Burma and Officer- in-Charge, Hydroelectric Survey of Burma. The results were incorporated in a report dated 1924 entitled "Report on the work of the Hydroelectric Survey of Burma." AU power sites which were investigated and found useful or believed to be useful by the survey are Usted in Table XlX-1 together with brief extracts from the 1924 report. For most of the sites the continuous horsepower is given based on minimum stream flow without benefit of possible storage.

1. MOST USEFUL SITES

Generally the power sites Usted in the Raikes Report are in remote areas inaccessible for construction and

far from the population centers. Exceptions are as foUows:

Power Site

Saingdin Falls Pyaungsha Rapids,

Namtu River Namsan Falls Balu Chaung at Loikaw Bawgata Chaung Pegu River Lampha Chaung Hpaungdaw Chaung

Possible Market

Akyab District

Mandalay Area Northern Shan States Southern Shan States Rangoon Area

J) »»

Amherst District Tavoy District

It is beUeved that the sites given above are the most useful based on the current status of transporta¬ tion faciUties and probable power demand in the near future. Each is discussed in detail later in this Report. Also a number of additional hydroelectric and steam developments are proposed which were not covered in the Raikes report.

TABLE XIX - 1

HYDRO POWER SITES INVESTIGATED AND FOUND USEFUL OR BELIEVED TO BE USEFUL BY THE

HYDROELECTRIC SURVEY OF BURMA, 1924

Item Available No. Name River Locality Power* Market Remarks

Sheet No. 92t 1 Chipwi Chaung N'Maikha Kachin State — — 4 Indawgyi Lake Mogaung >> ' Lake area 40 sq.

mi

5 Hpalin Site Irrawaddy )» — Bhamo and Myitkyina

iiii.

Very large project.

6 Above Myitkyina j> jj — Myitkyina >>

7 Ledan Chaung Ledan Katha District — Katha Good fall and storage.

8 Mole Chaung Mole Bhamo District ' — Bhamo 9 Nampak HkaJ Taiping ); 1 ■ "

880 ft. natural head.

10 Namtabet ChaungJ Namtabet Kachin State — Myitkyina 150 ft. natural head.

11 NamU Hka N'Maikha )> ' J)

13 Tabak Hka Namtabet )) — 9)

14 Mile 31 from Bhamo J Taiping Bhamo District — Bhamo 2,700 sq. mi.

* Continuous horsepower. t Sheet No. and Item No. refer to drawings in the 1924 report. X Investigated and found to be useful.

R.B. n—5 557


TABLE XIX - 1 {continued)

Item No. Name River Locality

Available Power* Market Remarks

15

Alternative No. 1

Alternative No. 2

Alternative No. 3

Alternative No. 4

Umungya HkaJ Taiping Bhamo District

10,000

14,000

21,000

47,000

22,000

Bhamo

9J

35 ft. faU and 20 ft. dam plus 500 ft. tunnel and penstock. 57 ft. faU plus 1,840 ft. tunnel and penstock. 117 ft. gross head, high dam and long tunnel. 257 ft. gross head, higher dam, longer tunnel. 2,370 ft. fall and storage—canal and pipe line.

1 3 7

15

17

21

Sheet No. 84t Cho Chaung Kyaukset Chaung Sidoktaya Site

Saingdin FallsJ Alternative No. 1

Alternative No. 2

Saw Chaung

Yaw River

Yaw

Mon

Saingdin

Yaw

Yaw

Pakokku District

Minbu District

Akyab District

Pakokku District

1,200

3,400

Kanpetlet

Oilfields

Akyab 55

55

Kanpetlet

Pauk

400 cusecs min. flow.

65 ft. fall 880 ft. canal, 470 ft. tunnel. 185 ft. hd., stor¬ age dam, 2,350 ft. pipe hne. Good flow and dam site.

55

* Continuous horsepower. t Sheet No. and Item No. refer to drawings in the 1924 report. I Investigated and found to be useful.

ELECTRIC POWER

TABLE XIX - 1 (continued)

559



15 Makchinu Chaungf Nam Pang South Shan 400 Taunggyi 16 cusecs 250 ft. 16 Myinkyado ChaungJ Panlaung J> )? 2,000 Kalaw 15 cusecs 1,500 ft. 17 Namsit Nampawn ff )> — Lough Keng "Reported

useful." 21 Nam Chitt Shweh North Shan 600 Bawdwin 10 cusecs 700 ft. 23 Nam HpaungJ

5? >» JJ 1,000 9j 15 cusecs 750 ft. 30 Nam Hka Salween South Shan — Kengtung "Worth

investigation." 32 Nankwe LakeJ Paunglaung Yamethin District 2,500 Yamethin 25 cusecs 1,110 ft. 33 Nam LamJ Shweh North Shan 300 Bawdwin Long canal and

penstock. 40 Nam Mangkaha Ch.J 55 >s >> 1,000 it

42 Nam Pan Nam Teng South Shan . 400 cusecs min. 43 Nam PangJ

No. 1 Loi Ha FaUs Alternative A

Alternative B

Salween (14 mi. from

55 55

mouth) 38,000

33,000

Taunggyi 2,000 cusecs min.

210 ft. head with 2,700 ft. pipe line. 180 ft. head with 1,000 ft. canal and pipe.

No. 2 Naung Wo Falls (3 mi. above Kengkham) 5,500 30 ft. head with 500 ft. canal and

No. 3 Kunkha Village (2 mi. below Kengkham) 14,000 pipe. 75 ft. head with 350 ft. canal and

45 Nam PawJ ShweU North Shan 6,000 Namkhan pipe. 600 cusecs with 100 ft. dam.

46 Nam Pawn Salween South Shan — — 580 sq. mi., 700 ft. fall in 35 mi.

47 Nam Po Songt Shweh North Shan 450 Namkhan 20 cusecs 250 ft. 50 Nam Tawn Nam Teng South Shan — — 51 Nam Teng$

Alternative No. 1

Alternative No. 2

Salween » »> 36,000

31,000

1,000 cusecs min. 396 ft. head, 1,000 ft. canal, 2,000 ft. pipe. 345 ft. head, 1,000 ft. canal, 800 ft. pipe.

52 Railroad Sitef Namtu North Shan — Hsipaw 3,000 cusecs min. 55 Namsan Falls Nam Yao JJ 9> Bawdwin Probably capable

further develop¬ ment W. storage.

56 Nam Yom Nam Teng South Shan — 1,000 ft. in 10 mi. 200 cusecs min.

* Continuous horsepower. t Sheet No. and Item No. refer to drawings in the 1924 report. t Investigated and found to be useful.



Item Available No. Name River Locality Power* Market Remarks

No. 4 Combined 27,000 150 cusecs 2,000 ft. head.

No. 5 Ingon ViUage 2,000 Combined with flood control dam by PWD.

61 Pyaungshu RapidsJ Namtu North Shan 35,000 Mandalay 3,800 cusecs 100 ft. head 2,800 ft. tunnel.

63 Shweh RiverJ Alternative No. 1

No. 2

No. 3

No. 4

No. 5

North Shan 280,000

250,000

190,000

33,000

27,000

Mandalay 3,000 cusecs min. 1,039 ft. head, 5 mi. tunnel. 920 ft. head 4 mi. tunnel. 705 ft. head 3 mi. tunnel. 120 ft. head 1 mi. canal. 100 ft. head, dam and pipe hne.

65 ZawgyiJ Mong Hing Falls

Lawsawk

Myitnge South Shan 11,000

4,000

Taunggyi 300 cusecs 400 ft. head canal and pipe hne. 168 ft. head w. dam 7,300 ft. canal.

Sheet No, 85t 3 Naung Yo Chaung Prome Dist. — Prome

Sheet No. 94t 1 Balu Chaung Nam Pawn Loikaw 90,000 Taunggyi 2,000 ft. m 10

miles, 500 cusecs min.

2 Bawgata Chaung Sittang Pegu District — Pegu 3 Bilin ChaungI — Thaton District — 5S

4 Kawkareik Chaung Amherst District — Moulmein Rapid descent. Narrow gorges.

6 Lampha Chaung 5» — 55 2,000 ft. head. 8 Nam Tan Hpak Nam Pawn South Shan — • • 1,000 ft. head. 9 Nawng Htao Lake 55 55 55 55 — 1,000 ft. head.

10 Pada Chaungf Sittang Toungoo District — Toungoo Too smaU for any but local needs.

13 Paunglaung$ No.l Nancho Chaung No. 2 Just upstream of

Nancho Chaung

55 Yamethin 4,500

7,000

Pyinmana 500 cusecs. 100 ft. dam.

150 ft. dam. 15 Hatgyi Rapids Salween Thaton District — Moulmein Very large power

source.

* Continuous horsepower. t Sheet No. and Item No. refer to drawings in the 1924 report. t Investigated and found to be useful.

920 94<>

94°

ELECTRIC POWER


561



19

20 21

Thauk-ye-gatt

YunzaUnJ Zamagyi

Sittang

Salween Pegu

Toungoo

Salween District Pegu District

5,000 Toungoo

Pegu Rangoon

550 cusecs. min. 150 ft. dam- good access. Special Report. 195 ft. faUs in upper reaches.

1

2

4

Sheet No. 95t Hpaungdaw ChaungJ

Kyaukpyu Chaungf

Tenasserim

Tenasserim

Tavoy

Tavoy District

55 55

55 55

320

330

Tavoy

55

55

4 cusecs, 900 ft. head. 3 cusecs—1,220 ft. head, long canal and pipe. Large storage possible.

* Continuous horsepower. t Sheet No. and Item No. refer to drawings in the 1924 report. X Investigated and found to be useful.

B. PREWAR POWER SYSTEM Much information on the prewar power system

was destroyed during World War II. However, the annual report on the administration of the Electricity Act in Burma for the year ending December 31, 1939, detaUs 102 pubhc supply undertakings and 77 com¬ mercial and industrial undertakings for that year. Of the former aU were smaU diesel plants, 10 to 500 kW, except for the 24,000 kW Rangoon Steam Station and nine nunor hydro and steam stations. Of the industrial undertakings six were hydro stations ranging from 300 to 10,000 kW; 24 were diesel plants up to 1,300 kW; and the remainder were steam stations up to 20,000 kW capacity. About 48,000,000 kWh were generated for pubhc supply in 1939 and 185,000,000 kWh for commercial and industrial use. A comparison of the prewar development with the existing power system (1952) is made in Table XIX-2 {see next page) entitled "PubUc Electric Supply, Prewar and Postwar," indicating that much work is yet required to restore the prewar facUities and production.

C. EXISTING POWER DEVELOPMENT On Plate 1 are shown existing pubhc and private

power plants in sufficient detaU to indicate concentra¬ tions of load and to plan a transmission network suppUed by a few large generating stations. Table XIX-2 contains details of existing pubUc supply in¬ staUations wherever it has been possible to obtain

the data. Questionnaires were sent out July 1952, with poor results. More recently 80 power plants through¬ out central Burma and the Delta were visited in order to complete the inventory. The results given in Tables XIX-2 and XLX-3 {seep. 566) mclude annual kWh generated in 1951 or 1952, and the estunated future demand, based on the statements of local people, businessmen and power plant operators. This represents local desires rather than long-range planning by trained personnel.

D. INITIAL DIESEL PLANTS AT 36 TOWNS The Electricity Supply Board has prepared a plan

for the installation of diesel and smaU hydro plants at 36 towns in accordance with Table XIX-4 {see p. 572). The work wiU include extensive transmission lines and municipal and rural distribution systems. The plan is scheduled for immediate construction to be completed in about three years. It wiU assist in early completion of various portions of the longer range plan presented in this Report without appre¬ ciable waste of labor and materials, subject to the foUowing comments:

1. It is recommended that permanent transmission towers or poles suitable for use with the hydroelectric system be instaUed.

2. Provision should be made for double circuit Unes on much of the irutial construction, though single circuits only wUl be provided at first for the sake of early completion.


TABLE XIX - 2

PUBLIC ELECTRICITY SUPPLY—PREWAR AND POSTWAR

Estirrmted 1939 1952 Future

Detnand

Division .i- "§ Q

and "3 :^ c^ *2 i Town C;

.« a ^ ss

a ^

■S

If t Is

;;«, 5

1 ■t

II 1 II 1 1^

Arakan Division

Akyab 38 /138 \ 50

D S y 123 42 130 D 248

/Inventory not \ completed

Pegu Division I

Daik-U 5 45 D 50 10 (Destroyed) — — — 1,210 Gyobingauk 8 78 D 79 10 78 |D 105 132 — 1,250 Hlegu 5 29 D 31 7 (Destroyed) — — — 625 Kanyutkwin 5 50 D — 6 ( 5, |)

— — — 370 Kayan 7 97 D 90 19 Kyauktan 5 35 S 36 10 (Destroyed) — — 350 Letpadan 12 97 D 94 16 66 D — 94 2,283

„ (Municipal) 12 30 D 40 — — — — — — — Minhla 4 49 D 61 6 49 D 65 77 — 1,025 NattaUn 6 43 D 68 9 43 D 81 92 —- 2,295 Nyaunglebin 8 90 D 112 16 90 D 62 68 — 1,030 Pyu 8 157 D 126 10 (Destroyed) — — — 1,235 Pegu 22 192 D 270 46 258 ID 286 307 — 1,410 Paungde 13 105 D 94 17 (Not Commen ced) — 130 1,263 Prome 28 288 D 648 37 130 ID 132 252 — 1,340 Pyuntaza 6 17 D 9 10 (Destroyed) — — — 725 Rangoon and Insein 421 24,000 S 34,151 688 28,000 1 S 37,368 46,481 Table XIX-5 Shwegyin 6 67 D 61 5 (Destroyed) — — — 650 Shwedaung 8 95 D 133 9 95 |D 166 * — 335 Sitkwin 3 14 D 6 5 (Destroyed) — — — 664 Tharrawaddy 7 91 D 82 8 130 iD 100 110 — 539 Thingangyun 8 70 D 55 18 (From RET) 61 — — — Thongwa 9 55 D 54 11 1 Thonze 8 55 D 54 14 (From Thar¬

rawaddy) 50 79 —■ 995

Toungoo 7 305 D 251 31 162 D 114 168 — 2,590 Zigon 6 65 D 86 9 65 D 103 122 — 985 Kyaiktaw 3 8 D 22 — (Destroyed) — — — — 'Okpo 3 17 D 43 4 17 ID 54 71 — 1,380 ■Oktwin 4 30 D 31 4 (Destroyed) — — •— 492 Syriam (Municipal) 15 (from BO C) 86 15 (from BOC) 42 Taikkyi 4 22 D 42 9 (Destroyed) — — — 1,135 Twante 4 18 D 7 7 ( „ ) — — — 150 Waw — 12 D 8 7 ( „ ) — — —• 535

* Out of commission D Diesel Plant. S Steam Plant. H Hydroeleetric Plant,

ELECTRIC POWER



563

Estimated 1939 1952 Future

Demand

Division and .»>

fN 1 Q

Town .^^ |1 ? .S; ON s ^ 1 P

opul

atio

n (t

hous

ands

)

1 4 1 Ii

•If 1

1 ■Si -5

|i 11 S c

i II

1-- ii

Irrawaddy Div. Bassein 46 325 D 396 77 152 D 425 100 3,037 Bogale 8 120 D 190 23 125-5 D 190 1,200 Danubyu 6 79 D 119 10 136 D 193 153 683 Dedaye 7 30 D 66 9 30-5 D 66 375 Henzada 29 194 D 216 61 130 D 27 178 3,509 Kungyangon 4 26 D 47 5 (Destroyed) 300 Kyaiklat 11 28 D 72 16 58-5 1 D 88 _ 825

„ (Municipal) 11 22 D 40 — (Combined) _ Kyaunggon 4 41 D 42 4 (Destroyed) . _ 150 Kyonpyaw 6 63 D 72 12 i „ ) 225 Kyangin 8 45 D 9 6 45 D 14 15 560 Maubin 9 107 D 124 23 49 D 20 30 _ 150 Mouhneingyun 8 r60

\50 D S y 130 17 50-5 S — 130 975

Myanaung 9 145 D 119 11 (Destroyed) _ _ 620 Myaungmya 8 140 D 18 24 130 |D 22 128 1,263 Pantanaw 5 — — — 5 (Destroyed) _ 150 Pyapon 12 185 D 200 19 66 D 165 52 1,200 Wakema 9 72 D 68 19 ! .42 D 15 18 600 Yandoon 10 110 D 151 15 44 D 29 693 Einme 4 18 D 22 — (Destroyed) 150 Kangyi — 6 D 17 —

\ 5J /

Kwingauk 2 22 D 16 — \ )S /

_ _ 150 Kyonmange 3 32 D 12 10 V »» /

_ 150 Labutta 3 46 D 64 5 V J) /

250 Myingagon 4 18 D 29 —

V " / _ _ 150

Mezahgon - ( Revok ed) — — _ Ngathainggyaung 5 27 D 29 8 \ " / _ 225 Ngamyethna Pagoda — 22 S 14 — (from . 22 22

(Henzada) Henzada) Yegyi 1 10 D 11 4 (Destroyed)

1

— — — 225

Tenasserim Div. Kyaikto 7 65 D 125 13 Inventory not CO mpleted Mergui 20 120 D 146 34 Moulmein 66 500 D 54 99 370 D 468 Tavoy 29 154 D 146 40 Thaton 17 207 D 285 38 Kawkareik 7 31 D 36 Mudon 4 22 D 11 20 Palaw — 17 D 9 i 6 35 D 4 t

1




Estimated 1939 1952 Future

Demand

Division 1 and i$ _! fS •3 Town

/•~\ &■ ^1

tc o\ rC ON ■**

1 ^^ ei J ■^ § ^-*, J<; s ■!<.S ^•S e •§

Ii ts

5

1 "5.

1 11 Ii

§1 Ii

CJ. Q Is

0

'3

1 11 II

II 1^ II

Magwe Division Allanmyo 13 22 D 61 16 (Destroyed) 2,270 Magwe 8 84 D 137 12 66 D 47 345 Yenangyaung — — — — 24 128 D — 80 — 6,970 Pakokku 23 180 S 110 30 (Destroyed) — — 1,005 Thayetmyo 9 37 D 78 12 ( 5, ) 50 815 Kama 3 18 D 30 4 18 |D 27 303 Minbu 6 51 D 43 9 (Destroyed) . — 830 Sahn 7 (Not C om menced) — — — — — 880

Mandalay Division Amarapura 6 39 D 50 11 25 D 9 15 — 1,800

Mandalay 148 rl5l45 \ 194

S D }2,396 182

/1,100 \ 408

S D y 464 764 1,000 12,800

Maymyo 21 / 225 \ 368

D H } 602 22

/ 200 I 448

D H / 887 944 100 250

Myingyan 26 150 D 146 36 131 D 123 138 3,815 Meiktila 9 40 D 32 20 163 D 106 146 2,275 Nyaungoo 8 47 D 26 9 44 D . 370 Pyawbwe 6 73 D 63 10 73 D 64 79 720 Pyinmana 18 208 D 284 22 (Not commenc ed) — 44 1,650 Yamethin 9 44 D 79 11 56 D 36 44 1,070 Kyaukse 7 39 D 47 9 68 D 30 36 , 1.355 Lewe — — (R evoked) 6 — — — — — 1,422

Sagaing Division Inventory not CO mpleted Bhamo 80 62 D 79 10 76 D Katha 6 23 D 52 8 20 D Mogok 6 420 H 2,000 8 420 H 1,600 1,600 Monywa 11 93 D 127 26 Myitkyina 7 95 D 114 12 76 D 22 Sagaing 14 56 D 86 15 53 D 36 38 50 5,806 Shwebo 11 75 D 42 18 98 D 72 86 50 KawUn 3 25 D 36 4 435

Federated Shan States Inventory not CO mpleted Hsipaw 5 63 D 69 — 76 D Kyaukme 1 46 D 77 — 44 D . , 50 100 Lashio 5 60 D 43 —- 66 D 30 48 30 30 Panghai E'Hang — 33 D 56 —- Taunggyi 9 65 D 84 — Namhsan — 30 H 79 —

ELECTRIC POWER 565

3. Consideration should be given to steel towers, centrUugally cast concrete poles as made by the Hume Pipe Co., Singapore, and reinforced concrete poles of local manufacture. It is assumed that the Hume Company or similar firm would equip a manu¬ facturing plant in Burma for the centrifugal poles in view of the large program being initiated.

4. Since the hydroelectric transmission system will be completed soon after the diesel system it is recom¬ mended that 132 kV be planned for primary trans¬ mission lines. For secondary lines 6.6 kV will be satisfactory except where excessive length may dictate a high voltage. Consideration is being given to 33 kV for a number of secondary Unes now under study for the Myingyan-Mandalay system. It is likely that the same situation will exist in the Pegu-Rangoon system. The Electricity Supply Board wUl be con¬ sulted in this as detaUed plans are developed.

5. Transmission Une conductors should be ade¬ quate for the near future loads anticipated for the hydro system. Close haison wiU be maintained with the Electricity Supply Board in this matter as well as in voltage requirements.

E. THREE LARGE POWER PLANTS FOR IMMEDL4TE DEVELOPMENT

After detaUed study of existing markets, population centers and probable industrial plants a selection of three moderately large power developments has been made. These are as foUows:

Initial Name of Project Installation

in Kilowatts

Pegu River Hydroelectric Plant 30,000 Myingyan Steam Plant 30,000 Saingdin FaUs Hydroelectric Plant 40,000

The Usted projects can be completed within three to four years and wUl produce ample quantities of low cost power to supply the initial demand of a new industrial era. No unusual construction or trans¬ mission difficulties are anticipated in these develop¬ ments.

1. PEGU HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT a. General

The Government's objective is to supply a sizable block of low cost power to the Rangoon-Pegu- Henzada area. The power wiU be derived from the most economical source with due allowance for benefits to be obtained from interconnection of power plants and the supply of the smaUer com¬ munities along the principal highways and raUroads. For the Rangoon-Insein metropoUtan area an accelerated growth is anticipated in part arising from the needs of the proposed steel null and other heavy industry under consideration by the Govermnent.

At Henzada and Pegu planned dry weather irrigation pumping as well as ice factories, street lighting and pumping for domestic water supply wUl supplement the existing load. The Pegu River hydroelectric project is the most economical source of power in the area. It will be easily accessible after the insurgents have been cleared from nearby villages and after an all-weather road has been constructed to the site from the Pegu-Toungoo Highway. The project will also provide flood control and regulation, increasing the minimum flow from zero to 2,000 cusecs for irriga¬ tion, navigation and sanitation in the Pegu district.

b. Location

The site of the proposed power project (see Plate 2) is 40 mUes upstream from Pegu on the Pegu River. It is just upstream from the vUlage of Taikkyi. At this point the valley is narrow, though affording a substantial storage basin due to the existence of several lateral vaUeys above the dam site. The flood¬ ing of vUlages and rice lands will be avoided. There are no natural faUs in this portion of the river, but about 160 feet of head can be developed by a dam without exceeding permissible abutment heights. Several earth dikes wiU be needed to seal off low saddles. No other dam site of equal value has been discovered along this section of the river, based on aerial photos, map study and reports from forestry officials and others famUiar with the region. A recon¬ naissance and preliminary survey of the site were made on May 14-16, 1953.

c. Access

Forest traUs and jeep roads provide access to the site during dry weather. The principal route follows the Pegu River from Payagyi via Aseiktaung and Zaungtu. An alternative route exists from Pyinbongyi along the foothiUs, where much gravel is avaUable for road construction. This alternative is shorter and probably a better location except for the lack of mihtary security. A study of both routes should be made by the Public Works Department in conjunction with military and forestry officials to determine the best route. Road construction should be started at once, in order to expedite the construction of the hydroelectric project. During the wet season access may be had by way of the river until an all-weather road is completed. River navigation to Zaungtu is not difficult except for the swift current during floods and the interference of bamboo rafts which move during the monsoon. Above Zaungtu navigation is hazardous because of the steeper river gradient. Access to Payagyi or Pyinbongyi from Rangoon may be had via asphalt paved highway or raUroad.


TABLE XIX - 3 PUBLIC ELECTRIC SUPPLY-

Rice Oil Saw Wheat Cotton Dhall Ice Petroleun I Sugar Weaving Jail City or Town Mills Mills Mills Mills Mills Mills Factories Refinerie. ■ Refinerie. t Factories Industries

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11)

Arakan Division Akyab

Pegu Division Daik-U 600 Gyobingauk 750 50 Hlegu 150 75 Kanyutkwin 225 75 Kayan

Kyauktan Letpadan 600 75 375 50

„ (Municipal) Minhla 225 150 150 Nattalin 1,125 300 300

Nyaunglebin 375 75 Pyu 525 150 Pegu 375 75 150 1 Paungde 150 150 1 75 38 Prome 300 150 300 75

Pyimtaza 225 Rangoon and Insein (Details are given in Table XIX-5, Pegu Hydroelectric Project) Shwegyin 75 75 Shwedaung 75 35 75 50 Sitkwin 300

Tharrawaddy 150 75 50 50 Thingangyun Thongwa 1 Thonze 525 50 Toungoo 450 150 800 150

Zigon 375 150 i i Kyaiktaw Okpo 675 150 50 Oktwin 75 75 Syriam (Municipal)

Taikkyi 225 200 Twante 150 Waw 225 Yedashe 150 75

Irrawaddy Division Bassein 1,050 150 300 100 55 Bogale 1,200 Danubyu 225 35 j Dedaye 375 Henzada 1,200 50 75 150 75

Kungyangon 300 Kyaiklat 825

„ (Municipal) Kyaunggon 150

(a) Tobacco Factories (b) Leather Factories

((-) Kyazan Factories (d) Bamboo Mat and Hat Factories

(e) Fruit Canning Factories

ELECTRIC POWER 567

'ROSPECTIVE EXPANSION IN KILOWATTS

Salt and Workshops 1 1 1 1 Cottage 'ndustries

Fish Pump (Auto Printing Military Pagoda Town Cinema Air Ports Nautical Railways Misc. Total Industries Stations Repairs) Presses Lighting Lighting Houses Ports (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (23) (24) (25)

400 120 10 20 50 10 1,210 300 50 50 20 30 1,250 300 40

20 50 50

10 625 370

300 20 30 350 45 300 200 60 20 100 108 350 2,283

300 50 20 30 50 20 30 1,025 300 100 50 20 50 20 30 2,295

400 80 20 20 10 (a) 50 1,030 400 60 20 20 50 10 1,235 400 200 120 20 30 40 1,410 300 320 30 130 40 30 1,263 150 30 20 100 45 10 10 (b) 150 1,340

400 60 10 30 725

400 10 50

30 50

10 (a) 50 650 335

300 14 50 664

50 50 20 120 54 20 539

150 60 50 20 20 100 20 995 400 180 140 30 30 60 200 2,590

300 40 20 50 20 30 985

300 50 30 30 50 15 30 1,380 300 10 10 22 492

250 300

250

60

25 20

20

20

20

30

40

10 30

20 1,135 150 535 300

50 50 375 375 178 50 10 100 40 100 (c) 54 3,037 1,200

150 150 18 5 10 15 (d)15 683 375

500 710 200 90 10 60 210 45 15 10 10 (e)99 3,509

300 825

150


TABLE XIX - 3 {continued) PUBLIC ELECTRIC SUPPLY-

City or Town Rice Mills

(1)

Oil Mills

(2)

Saw Mills

(3)

Wheat Mills (4)

Cotton Mills

(5)

Dhall Mills

(6)

Ice Factories

(7)

Petroleum Refineries

(8)

Sugar Refineries

(9)

Weaving Factories

(10)

Ml Industrie

01)

Kyangin Maubin Moulmeingyun Myanaung Myaungmya

225 150 975 450 975

150

75 113 100

Pantanaw Pyapon Wakema Yandoon Einme

150 1,200

600 225 150

70 105 20

Kangyi Kwingauk Kyonmange Labutta Myingagon

150 150 150 150

Mezaligon Ngathainggyaung Ngamyethna Pagoda

(Henzada) Yegyi

225

225

Tenasserim Division Kyaikto Mergui Moulmein Tavoy

Thaton Kawkareik Mudon Palaw

Magwe Division Allanmyo Magwe Yenangyaung Pakokku

650 75

500 100

100

175

1,000

100 75

5,000 100

20

Thayetmyo Kama Minbu Salin 375

100 20

50 73

100

100

300

20

Mandalay Division Amarapura Mandalay Maymyo Myingyan Meiktila

825 150

1,275

1,150

1,275

150

150 900 150

1,000 1.425 750

225 1,000

260

100

(d) Bamboo Mat and Hat Factories (J) Smithy and Foundry

ELE(7rRIC POWER 569

SPECTIVE EXPANSION IN KILOWATTS

Salt and Workshops age Fish Pump (Auto Printing Military Pagoda Town Cinema Air Nautical Railways Misc. Total tries Industries Stations Repairs) Presses Lighting Lighting Houses Ports Ports >.) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (23) (24) (25)

150

35 50 10

("035 560 150 975 620

75 1,263

150 1,200

600 180 36 27 30 693

150

150 150

100 250 150

225 22 22

225

20 160 100 20 50 20 20 (/)130 2,270 170 20 20 20 20 345

1,000 125 50 100 20 (^)75 6,970 150 75 100 20 40 100 20 (/)50 1,005

350 35 20 30 50 20 20 (h)20 815 50 20 80 50 10 303

300 10 20 50 50 830 300 75 20 50 50 10 880

200 120 60 100 20 1,800 100 600 30

50 120 1,000

200 90 20 500 430 (/•) 5,000 12,800

250 400 225 20 20 3,815 400 80 60 20 20 20 250 2,275

50 20 10 (7)20 370

400 120 20 10 20 720

420 60 30 20 (k)20 1,650

400 80 20 20 1,070

200 20 10 1,355

(g) Coffee Mills (h) Night Bazaar Stalls

(0 Cigarettes, Distillery, Electroplating, Tanning, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

0') Lacquer-ware Factories (k) Forest School


TABLE XIX - 3 {continued) PUBLIC ELECTRIC SUPPLY-

City or Town Rice Mills

(1)

Oil Mills

(2)

Saw Mills

(3)

Wheat Mills

(4)

Cotton Mills

(5)

Dhall Mills

(6)

Ice Factories

(7)

Petroleum Refineries

(8)

Sugar Refineries

(9)

Weaving Factories

(10)

Jail Industrie

(11)

Sagaing Division Bhamo Katha Mogok Monywa

Myitkyina Sagaing Shwebo Kawlin

280 45 105 375

60 3,750 50 100

Federated Shan States Hsipaw Kyaukme Lashio

d. Market Area

The project is intended primarUy to serve the existing Rangoon-Insein market but would also serve Pegu-Henzada and other communities along the route of the proposed transnussion Une. The market area is bounded on the north by the Pegu Yomas, on the east by the Sittang River, on the south by the Rangoon River, and on the west by the Irrawaddy (see map on Plate 2). The population of the area is estunated to have been about 3,000,000 in 1952. The income in 1938-39, corrected for the price increase since that time, is estimated at K81 crores. Industrial plants in the Rangoon area include ice factories, flour miUs, match factory, hosiery works, rubber works, broadcasting station, government docks, pumping plants and raUway shops. One of the largest users of electricity is the government cotton spinning and weaving factory, completed in 1950, with 20,000 spindles and 200 looms. Other important users are the Burma Army, Secretariat, General Hospital, Rangoon University and domestic Ughting which catalogued about 25,(X)0 meters at the end of 1952. Plants under construction include a the factory, sawmiUs and a soap factory. Existing development at Pegu and Henzada includes ice plants, soft drink bottling works, saw miUs and a moderate lighting load.

e. Existing Power Development The Rangoon power plant is a coal or oU-fired

modern steam station having two new 10,0(X) kW generators, two inefficient old 2,500 kW generators and one damaged generator derated to 3,000 kW. An additional 10,000 kW generator wUI be in opera¬ tion by mid-1956. The 1952 peak demand at the generators was 12,400 kW and the units generated totaled 46,500,000 kWh. The market growth is over 30 % per annum in spite of the high rates, 50 pyas per kWh for domestic and 25 pyas for commercial. Plate 3 shows a typical daily load cuve for January 12, 1953. On Plates 4 and 5 are shown ututs generated in kWh per week and maximum demand in kW for Rangoon-Insein market. Plate 6 shows the present and projected sales and peak demand for the years 1948 to 1962. Existing development at other towns in the market area includes the following diesel plants owned and operated by the Electricity Supply Board.

Plant Capacity inkW 238 130 66

130 In the above communities power rates are 75 pyas per kWh and service is on a 6- to 12-hour basis daily.

1. Pegu 2. Tharrawaddy 3. Letpadan 4. Henzada

k Wh per year sales (1951)

280,000

180,000

ELECTRIC POWER 571

ROSPECTIVE EXPANSION IN KILOWATTS

Cottage ndustries

(12)

Salt and Fish

Industries (13)

Pump Stations

(14)

Workshops (Auto

Repairs) (15)

Printing Presses

(16)

Military

(17)

Pagoda Lighting

(18)

Town Lighting

(19)

Cinema Houses

(20)

Air Ports (21)

Nautical Ports (22)

Railways

(23)

Misc.

(24)

Total

(25)

350 100 36 150 50

50 20 20 500 (7)200 5,806

435

20 80 30

100 30

(I) Locomotive Workshop

f. Prospective Load The principal power loads now anticipated for 1955

and 1960 are summarized below:

Demand in Kilowatts

Demarui in Kilowatts No. Description —

1951 1955 1960 1. Ice Plants 600 900 1,200 2. Flour Mills 300 500 700 3. Match Factory 100 150 200 4. Hosiery Works 170 250 350 5. Rubber Works 80 100 150 6. Broadcasting Station 50 400 600 7. Government Dockyard 90 100 100 8. Spinning Mill 700 1,100 1,500 9. Rangoon University (Pimiping) 60 60 60

10. Burma Railways 530 700 900 11. Port Conunissioners 70 80 90 12. Miscellaneous 300 600 900

Subtotal (Existing Bulk) 3,050 4,940 6,750 13. Proposed Tile Factory — 400 600 14. „ Saw MiU — 300 500 15. „ Soap Factory — 250 400 16. „ Creosoting Plant — 100 200 17. „ Water Supply Pumps (220)* 730 1,100 18. „ Sewage Pumps (82)* 300 600 19. „ Steel Mill — 4,500 7,500

Subtotal (Exist, and Prop. Bulk) 3,050 11,520 17,650 20. Burma Army 350 500 700 21. Railway Office 80 100 100 22. Sule Pagoda Wharf 60 60 60 23. Secretariat 105 150 250 24. Central Jail 70 100 100

No. Description 1951 1955 1960

26. University 85 100 100 27. Misc. AU Purpose 820 1,200 1,500

Subtotal (Bulk and All purpose) 4,700 13,880 20,710 28. Power 1,030 1,400 1,600 29. Departmental 70 160 320 30. Public Lighting 260 570 1,140 31. Lighting 4,070 7,550 15,150

Rangoon Load with Steel Mill 10,130 23,560 38,920 Max. simultaneous demand at

generators 9,400 21,900 36,000 32. Pegu Lighting 238 438 550 33. Hanthawaddy Lighting Incomp. 244 343 34. Tharrawaddy-Thonze Lighting 130 257 365 35. Letpadan Lighting 66 114 172 36. Henzada Lighting 130 600 732 37. Ice Plants — 165 200 38. Pegu Sawmills — 300 600 39. Irrigation — 4,000 8,000

Outlying Towns Total 564 6,118 10,962

Max. simultaneous demand at generators 9,900 27,500 46,000

*Existing steam or air pumps.

For detaUs of the above summary see Table XIX-5 "Estimated Power Requirements: Rangoon-Insein Metropolitan Area" and Table XlX-6 "Estimated Power Requirements: Lower Pegu Division and Henzada" {see pages 577 & 579).


TABLE XIX - 4

INITIAL DIESEL AND HYDRO PLANTS AT 36 TOWNS

ind

of

'g S

ets

Estimated Cost in Thousand Kyats

Location

1 c

a rg

-§1

Co C3 !-.. 1 5 " Total

Num

ber

o C

apac

ity

Gen

erat

ir,

II >3

,5

Step

-dow

C

onsu

me

Subs

tati

o 5

la ^"1 II

1. Pegu 2 X 1,000 1,070 45 5,085 134 500 310 7,144 2. Pyinmana 2 X 1,000 1,070 45 6,345 134 600 312 8,506 3. Meiktila 3 X 1,000 1,590 45 6,231 168 400 335 8,769 4. Prome 2 X 1,000 1,070 45 4,695 127 403 312 6,649 5. Tharrawaddy 2 X 1,000 1,070 38 3,735 127 400 310 5,680 6. Henzada 2x 500 605 38 5,775 113 400 301 7,232 7. Bassein 2x 500 605 38 3,855 120 400 301 5,319 8. Maubin 2x 250 348 14 1,538 78 300 245 2,523 9. Pyapon 2x 250 348 14 1,538 78 300 245 2,523

10. Bogale 2x 100 239 13 1,520 70 300 158 2,300 11. Kyaiklat 2x 100 239 213 1,520 70 300 158 2,500 12. Magwe 2x 500 605 31 1,485 110 400 302 2,932 13. Minbu 2x 250 348 214 2,438 89 300 246 3,635 14. Pakokku 2x 500 605 288 3,375 106 400 303 5,077 15. Kanpetlet 2x 50 143 113 . 94 350 16. Shwebo 2x 200 348 14 2,588 105 300 248 3,603 17. Monywa 3x 100 359 263 3,030 79 250 103 4,074 18. Katha 2x 250 348 214 6,038 105 300 228 4,233 19. Bhamo 2x 250 348 214 3,038 105 300 228 4,233 20. Myitkyina 2x 250 348 14 3,038 105 300 228 4,033 21. HomaHn 2x 50 143 113 . 94 350 22. SingkaUng Hkamti 2x 50 143 133 — 94 350 23. Mogok (Existing Hydro to hi ; survey ed for expa nsion) 24. Loikaw 2 x 50 1 143 1 113 1 614 1 49 100 114 1,133 25. Panghai E'hang (Namtu) (Purchase from Burmj I Corpc )ration Nam Ltu) 26. Akyab 2x 250 348 14 1,538 104 300 229 2,533 27. Sandoway 2x 250 348 14 1,538 104 300 229 2,533 28. Kyaukpyu 2x 50 143 163 612 47 100 114 1,179 29. Ramree 2x 50 143 163 612 47 100 114 1,179 30. Cheduba 2x 50 143 163 612 47 100 114 1,179 31. Moulmein Exists — — 3,038 92 300 66 3,496 32. Mergui 2x 100 239 263 3,617 53 200 155 4,527 33. Tavoy From Anglo- —

Burma Tin, Hpaungdaw, increase height of dam.

250 82 332

34. Victoria Point 2x 50 143 163 _ 95 401 35. Thaton 2x 500 605 231 3,375 112 400 295 5,018 36. Bilugyun 2x 100 239 263 — 115 617

10500

10000

9500

9000

8500

uJ 8000 I- l- 7500 < ^ 7000

3 6500

^ 6000

5500

5000

4500

4000

3500

TIME

zoooooooooSSoooooooooogo^ ÔOOOOO ooo-Voooooooooo-9

A_ I V

^

r - \

V I ^^ \

7^^^ -f"^ \-l V t I t XL i ^^^ \ 7i^ V

LOAD CURVE FOR MONDAY I2TH. JAN. 19 53.

MINISTRY OF NATIONAL PLANNIG

RANGOON- INSEIN MARKET

TYPICAL DAILY LOAD CURVE MONDAY 12 JAN. 1953.


OR.BY. ^-J f DATE PLATE CK BY. (i.HT- MAY,53. NO.

R.B. n—6 573


RANGOON-INSEIN MARKET

UNITS GENERATED IN KILOWATT HRS.PER WEEK KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO. NEW YORK RANSOON DR. BY €--3?' DATE PLATE CK. BY. <r.<*/. T- MAY, 53. NO.

574

0 s IC > 1! WE

20 25 3C EKS

» 35 40 45 5C ) 55 60

19 1 N /^ A \

I i A / V _Î9 53

A

^ /

i K

^ r

A /

/I952

. <^/ V^ A r /

V)

;5 0 /

r ^sy 1 \ o -J /

// \ 1951

f ^^ \A ^ V

X H

7 7 r w

^ A k

y^ /^

/ JV\

\. ^1950

e /^ /

y^

/

' > X v^ "^ y

A f /

r^ ̂ .XA s /"^

^^ ^^ ^J n^ \^

■OI949

V ^ ' \r V \f

V


RANGOON - INSEIN MARKET

MAXIMUM DEMAND AT GENERATORS IN KILOWATTS KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO NEW YORK RANGOON

575

1950 YEAR

1954 1956 1958 I960 1962

o

< o

z o

Z Z

UJ

< v>

< 3


LOWER PEGU DIVISION a HENZADA

POWER MARKET FORECAST KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO. NEW YORK RANGOON

DR.BY ^1) ■? DATE PLATE g* CK.BY. a/^T MAY, 53. NO. O

576

ELECTRIC POWER 577

TABLE XIX - 5 ESTIMATED POWER REQUIREMENTS—RANGOON-INSEIN METROPOLITAN AREA

1951 (Actual) 1955 (Estimated) i960 (Estimated)

Thous. Thous. Thous. kW Load kWh kW Load kWh kW Load kWh

Max. Factor per yr. Max. Factor per yr. Max. Factor per yr. Demand (%) Sales Demand (%) Sales Demand (%) Sales

Existing Installations Ice Plants 600 2,290 900 3,550 1,200 5,350 Flour Mills 300 830 500 1,220 700 1,530 Match Factory 100 269 150 460 200 610 Hosiery Works 170 279 250 480 350 670 Rubber Works 80 341 100 510 150 770 Broadcast Station 50 118 400 740 600 1,480 Government Dockyard 90 186 100 240 100 240 Spinning MiU 700 2,050 1,100 2,450 1,500 2,760 Rangoon University Pumps 60 295 60 410 60 410 Burma Railways 530 960 700 1,290 900 1,650 Port Commissioners 70 99 80 120 90 130 MisceUaneous 300 844 600 1,730 900 2,310

Subtotal (Existing Bulk) 3,050 32 8,561 4,940 31 13,200 6,750 30 17,910

Proposed Installations 1 Tile Factory — 400 1,050 600 2,100 Saw Mill — 300 700 500 1,750 Soap Factory 250 525 400 1,400 Creosoting Plant — 100 440 200 880 Water Supply Pumps *220 67 —■ 730 3,520 1,100 5,250 Sewage Pumps *82 100 — 300 2,620 600 4,380

Subtotal 7,020 36 22,055 10,150 38 33,670 Steel Mill — — —■ 4,500 50 19,700 7,500 50 32,800

Total (Existing and Proposed Bulk) 3,050 32 8,561 11,520 41 41,755 17,650 43 66,470

All Purpose Power Burma Army 350 1,340 500 2,230 700 3,120 Railway Oifice 80 256 100 370 100 370 Sule Pagoda Wharf 60 292 60 320 60 320 Secretfiriat 105 249 150 381 250 635 Central Jail 70 157 100 236 100 236 General Hospital 80 378 150 762 250 1,270 University 85 252 100 333 100 333 Miscellaneous 820 2,809 1,200 4,520 1,500 5,650

Subtotal (AU purpose) 1,650 5,733 2,360 9,152 3,060 11,934 Power 1,030 4,051 1,400 6,100 1,600 7,000 Departmental 70 204 160 500 320 1,000 Public Lighting 260 665 570 2,500 1,140 5,000 Lighting 4,070 9,535 7,550 19,800 15,150 39,800

Total (Other than Bulk) 7,080 33 20,187 12,040 36 38,052 21,270 35 64,734

Population (thousands) 700 800 1,000

* Existing air or steam pumps.



1951 (Actual) 1955 (Estimated) I960 (Estimated)

kW Max.

Demand

Load Factor (%)

Thous. kWh

per yr. Sales

kW Max.

Demand

Load Factor (%)

Thous. kWh

per yr. Sales

kW Max.

Demarui

Load Factor (%)

Thous. kWh

per yr. Sales

Estimated Power Requirements— Bulk without Steel MUl Other than Bulk

Bulk and 3,050 7,080

Other 8,561

20,187 7,020

12,040 22,055 38,052

10,150 21,270

33,670 64,734

Subtotal Steel MiU

10,130 32 28,748 19,060 4,500

36 60,107 19,700

31,420 7,500

36 98,404 32,800

Total with Steel MiU — — 23,560 39 79,807 38,920 39 131,204

t System load factor.

g. Comparison of Steam and Hydroelectric Power The actual cost of energy per kWh of output is given

in Table XIX-7 {seep. 580) for the existing Rangoon system. The cost includes fuel, labor, management, interest, depreciation and taxes for both generation and distribution based on detailed reports of the Rangoon Electric Tramway and Supply Company up to 1950 and based on prehminary accounting esti¬ mates from the same company for 1951. For future years a descending price per kWh is estimated in view of the relatively constant overhead charges and the anticipated market growth. The cost of power pro¬ duction by expanding the present steam plant or constructing a new steam plant in the Rangoon- Insein area has been compared with the cost of pro¬ duction by new hydroelectric stations. Four alterna¬ tive markets were considered as follows:

(1) Rangoon-Insein area not including Steel Mill (see Table XIX-8, seep. 581)

(2) Rangoon-Insein area including new Steel MiU (see Table XIX-9, jeep. 5S2)

(3) Rangoon-Insein area including Steel MiU plus lower Pegu Division and Henzada (see Table X\X.-\0,seep.583)

(4) Rangoon-Insein area including Steel MiU plus lower Pegu Division and Henzada with Irrigation (see Table XIX-11, seep. 584)

Table XDC-lla {see p. 585) is included to show alternative (4) if the Pegu hydroelectric plant is constructed and all future expansion is accompUshed by steam without the benefit of additional low cost hydroelectric power.

For each of the four alternatives hydroelectric power from the Pegu and Paunglaung projects is

found to be more economical than power from a steam station. The hydroelectric estimates are neces¬ sarily conservative because of the dearth of physical data. It is possible that the cost of Pyas 4-5 per kWh for the Pegu River project (not including distribution costs) can be reduced by design and construction economies after field investigations have been com¬ pleted. It is concluded that two 15,000 kW units should be installed initially in 1957, the earhest possible completion date for the hydroelectric plant, and that an additional 15,000 kW unit should be installed not later than 1959.

h. Paunglaung Hydroelectric Project

Construction of the initial Paunglaung River hydro¬ electric plant should be completed in 1960 in order to supply additional low cost power (Pyas 4-0 per kWh not including distribution costs) to the Man¬ dalay and Rangoon power markets. Completion of upstream regulating dams will further reduce the cost of power from the initial hydroelectric station. Ultunately about 750,000,000 kWh annuaUy can be made available from the Paunglaung projects at an average cost of about Pyas 3-5 per kWh. (See discussion of this project under paragraph G of this report, "Other Hydroelectric Projects for Future Development").

i. Bawgata Hydroelectric Project

The initial and ultimate costs for the Paunglaung project are about equal to those for the Bawgata project, for which a preliminary study is given in paragraph G. The former has irrigation and flood

ELECTRIC POWER

TABLE XIX - 6

ESTIMATED POWER REQUIREMENTS

LOWER PEGU DIVISION AND HENZADA

579

1951 (Actual) 1955 (Estimated) 1960 (Estimated)

Ann. kWhjcap. Population Ann. kWhjcap. Population Ann. kWhjcap. Population

Domestic Power Requirements

kWMax. Demand*

Load Factor

% kWhper Yr.

Sales kWMax. Demand

Load Factor

% kWhper Yr.

Sales kWMax. Demand

Load Factor

% kWhper Yr.

Sales

Pegu Hanthawaddy Tharrawaddy-Thonze Letpadan Henzada

238

130 66

130

14

16

280,000

180,000

438 244 257 114 600

20 15 20 15 20

765,000 320,000 450,000 150,000

1,050,000

550 343 365 172 732

25 20 25 20 25

1,200,000 600,000 800,000 300,000

1,600,000

Bulk Power Requirements

Pegu Ice „ Saw Mills

Tharrawaddy-Letpadan Ice Henzada Ice

—

50 300 45 70

50 40 50 50

219,000 1,050,000

198,000 306,000

60 600

60 80

50 40 50 50

262,000 2,100,000

262,000 350,000

Subtotal Pegu Irrigation Henzada Irrigation E

465 1,300 2,700

25 25

1,773,000 2,850,000 5,910,000

800 2,600 5,400

25 25

2,974,000 5,700,000

11,820,000

Combined Domestic and Bulk Power Requirements

Domestic Bulk without Irrigation

564 Incomplete 1,653 465

2,735,000 1,773,000

2,162 800

4,500,000 2,974,000

Subtotal Total inch Irrigation

564 2,118 6,118

24 25

4,508,000 13,268,000

2,962 10,962

29 26

7,474,000 24,994,000

* Present installed capacity. t System load factor.


TABLE XIX - 7

COST OF ENERGY FROM ACCOUNTS OF RANGOON ELECTRIC TRAMWAY AND SUPPLY

1948 1949 1950 1951

kWh Annual Output 16,908,861 19,725,411 25,407,837 33,666,901

K K K K A. Generation Costs

Fuel 13,31,016 21,35,709 24,00,254 -, Stores 38,162 47,023 39,751 Salaries 1,17,293 1,17,985 1,36,603

1951 Costs are close estimate

"of actual

Wages 98,263 1,06,915 1,58,650 Repairs and Maintenance 1,16,906 2,23,983 1,82,176 Rents and Taxes 98,691 1,29,516 1,27,032 Insurance — .—. — expenses

Hire of Generating Plant 12,596 13,815 — MisceUaneous Expense 30,692 55,807 53,770 J

Total Generation Costs 18,43,619 28,30,753 30,98,236 33,00,000 B. Distribution Costs

Salaries 2,11,282 2,36,307 2,58,927 Wages 81,159 75,447 62,468 Mains, Repairs 1,88,115 2,23,076 2,39,282 Transformers, Repairs 1,15,464 1,03,023 1,00,531 Meters, Repairs 60,440 81,119 90,678 Public Lamps, Repairs 44,855 73,681 67,232

Total Distribution Costs 7,01,315 7,92,653 8,19,118 9,00,000 C. Administration Costs

Agency Fees 1,80,752 2,32,424 3,29,938 General EstabUshment 4,21,863 4,59,987 4,70,793 Auditors' Fees 6,250 5,500 5,500 Hire of Assets 1,34,044 1,53,891 4,39,277 Business Premises Tax — — 58,332 General Misc. Expense 456 2,006 7,381

Total Administration Costs 7,43,365 8,53,808 13,11,221 16,00,000 60% to Generation* 4,46,000 5,12,000 7,86,000 9,60,000 40% to Distribution 2,97,365 3,41,808 5,25,221 6,40,000

D. Depreciation Costs (Oct.-Dec.) Buildings — — ( 24,212) Plant — — (1,49,134) Mains — .—. ( 41,262) Transformers — .—. ( 7,192) Motors — — ( 18,379) Motor Vehicles ~ — ( 21,373)

Total Depreciation 4,38,815 5,71,341 8,72,478 12,00,000 60% to Generation* 2,63,000 3,43,000 5,24,000 7,20,000 40% to Distribution 1,75,815 2,28,341 3,48,478 4,80,000

Cost of Generation A+60%ofC&D K25,52,619 K36,85,753 K44,08,236 K49,80,000 Cost per kWh Output Pyas 15-10 Pyas 18-70 Pyas 17-30 Pyas 14-75

Cost of Distribution B+40%ofC&D Kl 1,74,495 K13,62,802 K16,92,817 K20,20,000 Cost per kWh Output Pyas 7-00 Pyas 6-90 Pyas 6-70 Pyas 6-00 Total Costs A-t-B+C+D K37,27,113 K50,48,555 K61,01,153 K70,00,000

Proportionate to thie investment.

ELECTRIC POWER 581

control benefits in addition to power whereas the latter provides power only. The Paunglaung project does not involve flooding villages or farm lands whereas Bawgata is objectionable because of such damages. Accordingly it is concluded that the Bawgata field investigations and construction should be deferred until the Paunglaung project is completed or well advanced.

j. Early Completion of Hydroelectric Projects By reference to Table XIX-8 it may be seen that

the estimated cost of energy produced by steam plants located in the Rangoon area (including distribution costs) varies from Pyas 20 per kWh in 1952 to about Pyas 16-4 in 1962. By the addition of the Pegu hydroelectric plant in 1958 the average cost of energy can be reduced from Pyas 17-6 (steam alone) to Pyas 12-5 (steam and hydroelectric combined). By the addition of the Paunglaung hydroelectric plant in 1962 the average cost can be reduced from Pyas 16-4 (steam alone) to Pyas 11-8 (steam and hydro¬ electric combined). The above comparisons are made

TABLE XIX-8

ESTIMATED COST OF ENERGY, RANGOON-INSEIN METROPOLITAN AREA

Whhout Steel Mill

1952 1956 1958 1960 1962

Annual Sales, Thousands kWh 37,000 68,000 83,000 98,000 114,000 Annual Output, Thousands kWh 42,500 78,300 95,500 112,500 131,000 Maximum Demand, kW 12,400 20,000 25,000 29,000 34,000

Steam Plant, 10,000-kW units 2 3 3 4 4 Steam Plant Capacity, kW 25,000 35,000 35,000 45,000 45,000 Steam Generation Costs, Pyas per

per kWh 14-35 13.40 11-80* 11-20* 10-60* Steam Distribution Costs, Pyas

per kWh 5-75 5-75 5-75 5-75 5-75

Total Cost by Steamf 20-10 19-15 17-55 16-95 6-35

Pegu Hydroelectric Plant, kW — — 30,000 30,000 45,000 Pegu Hydroelectric Output, Thous.

kWh — — 95,500 112,500 131,000 Pegu Generation Cost, Pyas per

kWh — — 5-54 4-71 5-10 Pegu Generation per year, Thous.

Kyats — — 5,290 5,290 6,680 Steam Plant, 10,000-kW units 2 3 3 3 3 Steam Plant Capacity, kW 25,000 35,000 35,000 35,000 35,000 Steam Output, Thous. kWh 42,500 78,300 0 0 0 Steam Generation Cost, Pyas per

kWh 14-35 13-40 — — — Steam Generation per year, Thous.

Kyats 6,100 10,500 1,200 J 1,200 J l,200t

Total Generation Cost 6,100 10,500 6,490 6,490 7,880

Generation Cost, Pyas per kWh 14-35 13-40 6-79 5-77 6-02 Distribution Cost, Pyas per kWh 5-75 5-75 5-75 5-75 5-75

Total Cost by Steam and Hydro-

* Kalewa coal available at K72.00 per ton. t Cost per kWh of output. X Interest, depreciation and maintenance on idle steam plant.


for the Rangoon-Insein market without the steel miU development. The sale of large amounts of steam power renders the 1962 comparisons slightly less favorable to the combined steam and hydroelectric scheme when the steel mill is included and the Pegu- Henzada markets are added (see Table XIX-11). If the larger markets are to be served economically the

hydroelectric projects should be completed as soon as possible.

k. Recommendation of Pegu Plant The proposed Pegu hydroelectric project is a

moderate-cost development with a relatively short transmission Une to maintain and protect from

TABLE XIX - 9


Including Steel MiU

1952 1956 1958 1960 1962

Annual Sales, Thous. kWh 37,000 90,500 110,500 131,000 151,000 Annual Output, Thous. kWh 42,500 104,000 127,000 151,000 174,000 Maximum Demand, kW 12,400 25,000 30,500 36,000 41,500

Steam Plant-10,000-kW units 2 3 4 4 5 Steam Plant-Capacity, kW 25,000 35,000 45,000 45,000 55,000 Steam Generation Costs-Pyas per

kwWh 14.35 13-10 11-50* 10-90* 10-25* Steam Distribution Costs-Pyas per 5-75 5-75 5-75 5-75 5-75

kWh Total Cost by Steamf 20-10 18-84 17-25 16-65 16.00

Pegu Hydro Plant, kW 30,000 45,000 45,000 Pegu Hydro Output, kWh — — 118,000 139,000 139,000 Pegu Generation Cost, Pyas per

kWh — — 4-48 4-80 4-80 Pegu Generation Cost, per year

Thousand Kyats — — 5,290 6,670 6,670 Paunglaung Hydro Plant, kW — — 40,000 Paunglaung Output for Rangoon-

Thousand kWh — — . 35,000 Paunglaung Generation Cost, Pyas

per kWh — — 4-00 Paunglaung Generation Cost, Pyas

per year Thousand Kyats — — 1,400 Steam Plant, 10,000-kW units 2 3 3 3 3 Steam Plant, Capacity, kW 25,000 35,000 35,000 35,000 35,000 Steam Output, Thousand kWh 42,500 104,000 9,000 12,000 0 Steam Generation Cost, Pyas per

kWh 14-35 13-10 16-50* 16-00* Steam Generation Cost, per year.

Thousand Kyats 6,110 13,620 1,490 1,920 1,200 J

Total Generation Cost- Thousand Kyats 6,110 13,620 6,780 8,590 9,270

Generation Cost, Pyas per kWh 14-35 13-10 5-31 5-70 5-33 Distribution Cost, Pyas per kWh 5-75 5-75 5-75 5-75 5-75

Total Cost by Steam and hydro-

* Kalewa coal available at K72.00 per ton. t Cost per kWh of output. X Interest, depreciation and maintenance on idle steam plant.

ELECTRIC POWER

TABLE XIX - 10


Including Steel MiU plus Lower Pegu Division and Henzada, without Irrigation Pumping

583

1952 1956 1958 I960 1962

Annual Sales, Thous. kWh 38,000 95,000 117,000 138,000 160,000 Annual Output, Thous. kWh 42,500 109,000 134,500 159,000 184,000 Max. Demand, kW 13,000 26,500 33,000 39,000 45,000

Steam Plant, 10,000-kW units 2 3 4 4 5 Steam Plant Capacity, kW 25,000 35,000 45,000 45,000 55,000 Generation Cost, Pyas per kWh 14-35 13-10 11-40* 10-80* 10-10* Distribution Cost, Pyas per kWh 5-75 5-75 5-75 5-75 5-75


Pegu Hydro Plant, kW — 30,000 45,000 45,000 Pegu Hydro Output, Thous. kWh — — 118,000 139,000 139,000 Pegu Hydro Generation Cost, Pyas

per kWh — — 4-48 4-80 4-80 Pegu Generation Cost, per year.

Thous. Kyats — — 5,290 6,670 6,670 Paunglaung Hydro Plant kW — — — — 40,000 Paunglaung Output for Rangoon

Thous. kWh — — — — 40,000 Paunglaung Generation Cost, Pyas

per kWh — — — — 4-00 Paunglaung Generation Cost, per

year, Thous. Kyats — — — — 1,600 Steam Plant, 10,000-kW units 2 3 3 3 3 Steam Plant, Capacity, kW 25,000 35,000 35,000 35,000 35,000 Steam Output, Thous. kWh 43,500 109,000 16,500 20,000 5,000 Steam Generation Cost, Pyas per

kWh 14-35 13-10 16-00* 15-50* — Steam Generation Cost, per year.

Thous. Kyats 6,240 14,280 2,640 3,100 l,250t

Total Generation Cost, Thous. Kyats 6,240 14,280 7,930 9,770 9,520

Generation Cost, Pyas per kWh 14-35 13-10 5-90 6-15 5-19 Distribution Cost, Pyas per kWh 5-75 5-75 5-45 § 5-45§ 5-45§

Total Cost by Steam and hydro¬

* Kalewa coal available at K72.00 per ton. t Cost per kWh output. X Interest, depreciation and maintenance on idle steam plant govern cost for small output. § Transmission Une expense to Pegu, Tharrawaddy, Henzada, included in hydroelectric generation costs.

vandahsm. It is planned to serve Rangoon primarily with supplemental benefits to Pegu, Henzada, and other communities in the market area. For each combination of power markets investigated the Pegu project shows substantial economy over supplying

the same market by expansion of the present steam station or construction of a new steam station. The Pegu project lends itself to incorporation in a more extensive power system connected to the proposed Paunglaung River project, but until the latter is


TABLE XIX-II

ESTIMATED COST OF ENERGY RANGOON-INSEIN METROPOLITAN AREA

Including Steel Mill plus Lower Pegu Division and Henzada with Irrigation Pumping

1952 1956 1958 I960 1962


Steam Plant, 10,000-kW units 2 3 4 5 6 Steam Plant Capacity, kW 25,000 35,000 45,000 55,000 65,000 Generation Cost, Pyas per kWh 14-35 12-85 11-05* 10-45* 9-82* Distribution Cost, Pyas per kWh 5-75 5-75 5-75 5-75 5-75


Pegu Hydro Plant, kW 30,000 45,000 45,000 Pegu Hydro Output, Thous. kWh —■ 118,000 139,000 139,000 Pegu Generation Cost, Pyas per

kWh — — 4-48 4-80 4-80 Pegu Generation Cost, per year.

Thous. Kyats — —■ 5,290 6,670 6,670 Paunglaung Hydro Plant kW — — — — 40,000 Paunglaung Output for Rangoon,

Thous. kWh — — — 40,000 Paunglaung Generation Cost, Pyas

per kWh — — —. 4-00 Paunglaung Generation Cost, per

year, Thous. Kyats — — — — 1,600 Steam Plant, 10,000-kW units 2 3 3 3 3 Steam Plant Capacity, kW 25,000 35,000 35,000 35,000 35,000 Steam Output, Thous. kWh 43,500 122,000 31,500 40,500 29,000 Steam Generation Cost, Pyas per

kWh 14-35 12-85 14-40* 14-00* 14-00* Steam Generation Cost, per year.

Thous. Kyats 6,240 15,680 4,540 5,670 4,060


Generation Cost, Pyas per kWh 14-35 12-85 6-56 6-90 5-95 Distribution Cost, Pyas per kWh 5-75 5-75 5-45§ 5-45§ 5-45 §


* Kalewa coal available at K72.00 per ton. t Per kWh of output. § Transmission line expense to Pegu, Tharrawaddy, Henzada, included in hydroelectric generation costs.

constructed the Pegu plant will function efficiently in serving the fast growing Rangoon market. Both steam and hydroelectric power are essential in the near future, the former to operate as a base load plant where it wiU be relatively efficient and the latter to carry base load and peaks, being equally efficient for either purpose. Accordingly it is recommended that field investigations for the Pegu site be completed

as soon as possible and construction be scheduled for 1957 completion.

1. Technical Details (1) RamfaU

For eight stations in the Pegu Division the annual rainfaU is shown on Table XIX-I2 {seep. 586), for the period of record, 1901 to 1952 inclusive except for the

ELECTRIC POWER

TABLE XIX-11a

ESTIMATED COST OF ENERGY RANGOON-INSEIN METROPOLITAN AREA

Including Steel MiU plus Lower Pegu Division and Henzada with Irrigation Pumping

Assuming no future hydroelectric development after completion of the Pegu River development

585

1958 I960 7962 1964 1966


Steam Plant, 10,000-kW units 4 5 6 7 8 Steam Plant Capacity 45,000 55,000 65,000 75,000 80,000* Generation Cost, Pyas per kWh 11-05 10-45 9-82 9-30 8-90 Distribution Cost, Pyas per kWh 5-75 5-75 5-75 5-75 5-75


Pegu Hydro Plant, kW 30,000 45,000 45,000 45,000 45,000 Pegu Output, Thous. kWh 118,000 139,000 139,000 139,000 139,000 Pegu Generation Costs, Pyas per

kWh 4-48 4-80 4-80 4-80 4-80 Pegu Generation per year, Thous.

Kyats 5,290 6,670 6,670 6,670 6,670 Steam Plant, 10,000-kW units 3 3 3 3 4* Steam Plant Capachy, kW 35,000 35,000 35,000 35,000 40,000 Steam Output, Thous. kWh 31,500 40,500 69,000 98,000 128,000 Steam Generation Cost, Pyas per

kWh 13-40 13-00 12-20 11-30 10-30 Steam Generation per year, Thous.

Kyats 4,420 5,270 8,420 11,070 13,180


Generation Cost, Pyas per kWh 6-36 6-67 7-27 7-50 7-45 Distribution Cost, Pyas per kWhf 5-45 5-45 5-45 5-45 5-45


* Discard old 2,500 kW sets. t Per kWh of output using Kalewa coal at K72.00 per ton. } Transmission line expense to Pegu, Tharrawaddy, Henzada included in hydroelectric generation costs.

years 1939 to 1945. The data were obtained from the Burma Meteorological Department. Three of the stations (Tharrawaddy, Pegu and Nyaunglebin) are beUeved to approxknate the rainfaU over the watershed more closely than the others, in view of the high altitude of the drainage area, averaging about 1,000 ft. above the rainfall stations, and in view of the large water supply measured at Pegu Iron Bridge, where river discharge records are available for the period 1946 to 1952. Accordingly these three stations have been selected for the rainfall duration curves shown on Plate 7. The relative position of the I946-I952 rainfall

at Pegu is also shown thereon. It is apparent from examination of the table and plate that the year 1951 is a controUing year in determining the minimum annual outflow at the iron bridge and probably at the dam site. It is probable that the low yield for 1951 was equalled in 1906, and even lesser yields were obtained in 1902, I9I0 and 1913. During such infrequent years the steam station at Rangoon would be called upon to supply the slight deficiency. The 1951 yield, less 5% for a possible error in stream flow measurements, is used for computing firm power and for constructing the stage-discharge curve.


TABLE XIX-12

PEGU RIVER HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

Annual, DaUy Maximum Rainfall in Inches at Selected Stations

Year |1 i! 1- 1

1901 61-7 *55-3 79-5 123-9 126-1 1902 63-4 ♦66-9 83-3 106-7 98-8 1903 57-9 70-5 86-3 126-2 130-7 1904 67-9 83-7 87-3 153-4 142-8 1905 65-4 83-8 91-6 150-8 149-4 1906 63-4 67-8 71-0 112-5 122-2 1907 72-0 73-4 891 129-9 138-1 1908 71-8 75-7 83-5 143-9 147-5 102-7 1909 600 82-5 103-1 132-8 130-0 116-9 1910 69-3 108-1 84-2 110-1 117-1 88-0 1911 59-3 69-9 900 150-7 111-8 106-4 1912 66-6 70-9 84-0 116-4 134-1 99-0 1913 61-6 75-8 80-8 111-1 118-1 104-4 1914 64-8 71-9 115-0 132-5 118-3 143-3 1915 61-4 79-9 89-1 lOI-l 140-5 118-0 121-8 139-7 1916 62-8 91-0 94-6 94-7 120-6 103-5 100-9 122-4 1917 63-8 99-8 86-4 97-6 127-9 113-3 116-5 125-6 1918 71-7 95-2 87-0 101-8 116-1 136-7 127-4 179-2 1919 5M 79-0 83-1 100-2 122-8 113-9 118-1 168 1 1920 50-5 64-4 82-9 1001 132-8 110-4 114-4 87-5 1921 57-5 71-0 89-7 106-1 157-5 132-9 121-6 120-1 1922 48-9 75-3 104-5 104-6 125-2 168-0 149-7 144-1 1923 53-1 89-9 85-2 103-1 139-7 157-9 136-1 99-9 1924 60-2 92-8 95 0 103-6 141-8 154 0 126-4 109-8 1925 56-5 74-4 91-0 101-7 136-8 114-8 109-4 107-7 1926 59-2 74-3 96 0 98-9 118-3 140-8 114-3 104-9 1927 63-7 78-5 89-8 105-8 118-9 146-2 147-1 106-7 1928 49-9 77-2 78-1 116-4 123-3 143-6 142-2 102-5 1929 62-3 89-0 106-6 112-5 119-1 153-8 160-0 123-4 1930 84-7 82-2 92-8 115-8 139-8 150-6 128-2 105-2 1931 48-9 64-4 82-9 91-4 146-6 116-7 106-3 84-4 1932 53-9 66-4 75-2 81-3 135-5 125-6 134-8 130-9 1933 68-3 74-1 99-0 98-2 127-8 126-3 136-6 117-5 1934 56-6 68-7 76-8 96-4 124-5 137-7 156-2 123-3 1935 53-3 78-5 81-7 99-5 128-5 1480 129-5 1261 1936 59-5 76-1 92-0 100-2 142-0 122-3 122-0 120-4 1937 76-8 88-3 99-8 124-7 156-8 185-8 147-8 142-5 1938 70-5 70-5 85-8 101-4 123-4 115-6 137-2 133-3 1946 136-4 1947 104-2 1948 63-2 76-8 109-8 112-5 129-2 100-4 112-6 95-6 1949 131-0 1950 123-3 1951 66-0 84-8 82-8 96-9 113-3 107-7 1952 70-7 98-3 98-9 120-7 144-5 135-3 98-6

Average 62-2 78-4 89-5 105-0 130-6 131-0 128-7 1140

*At Okpo near Minhla. fAt Rangoon.

(2) Stream Flow Daily gauge heights from June to October inclusive

for 1946 to 1952 are available for the iron bridge at Pegu Town. The gauge was installed and current meter measurements were made by experienced per¬ sonnel of the Irrigation Department regularly

stationed at Pegu. Daily gauge readings were made by the same organization. The stage-discharge curve is given on Plate 8. Based on the gauge heights and rating curve, runoff for each year of record has been estimated and the foUowing runoff factors based on the Pegu rainfaU spread over the entire watershed above the iron bridge have been determined.

Year 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952

Computed Runoff Factor

70-6* 66-2* 58-0 49-5 52-8 62-6 65-1

*Based on Taikkyi rainfall instead of Pegu.

(3) Regulated Flow Table XlX-13 {see p. 591) and Plate 9 contain a

study of seven years of stream flow records, 1946 to 1952 inclusive. The computed runoff modified by storage would have yielded a minimum of 1,580,000 acre feet per year. After deducting evaporation an average daUy flow of 2,120 cusecs could have been maintained for the period of record except in 1902, 1910 and 1913, using 985,000 acre feet of reservok capacity. As shown on the Area-capacity Curve (Plate 10) the drawdown from top of spillway crest gates to minimum reservoir would have been 42 ft. in order to utUize the stored water. Plate 9 shows graphicaUy the information given in Table XIX-I3.

(4) Firm Power Continuous firm power is compuled as follows: Pool Elev. 280 ft. Tailwater Elev. 120 ft. Gross

Head 160 ft. Average Head 160 - 21 = 139 ft. Net Head

(95%) =132 ft. Continuous Power*

•95 X 2,120 X 132 = 17,700 kW 15

Initial Output 30,000 kW @ 50% station capacity factor

15,000 X 8,760 = 131,000,000 kWh at station •9 X 131,000,000 — 118,000,000 kWh at load

center Ultimate Outputf

45,000 kW @ 39 % station capacity factor 17,700 X 8,760 = 155,000,000 kWh at station •9 X 155,000,000 = 139,000,000 kWh at load

center

*The average daily flow is reduced by 5 % to allow for possible error in constructing the stage-discharge curve.

tA fourth unit of 15,000 kW would be added at some future date if justified by the water supply or capacity factor.

PERCENT OF TIME


ANNUAL RAINFALL AT PEGU THARRAWADDY AND NYAUNGLEBIN

RAINFALL DURATION CURVES KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO. NEW YORK RANGOON DR. BY. ti-V DATE CK.BY. 6^T MAY,53.

PLATE NO.

587

36

32

28

DISCHARGE IN THOUSANDS OF SECOND FEET.

10 20 30 40 50 60

UJ UJ 24

20

X O UJ 16 X

UJ O 12 Z) < o

@

^.'''

^ ^ ^ ^

V ^ ^

%y^ \

V /

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ / \

NO. DATE GAUGE READING

DIS¬ CHARGE

RIVER STAGE

1 27-8-52 25.5 22,984 FALLING

2 31-8-52 23 • 4 22.644 STATIONARY

3 12-9-52 2 t 0 12,096 FALLING 4 19-9-52 21-8 14,255 RISING

5 26-9-52 16 -5 6,98 4 RISING


PEGU RIVER AT IRON BRIDGE PEGU TOWN

STAGE-DISCHARGE CURVE KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING Ctt NEW YORK RANGOON

588

z o 2

oc 111 0.

UJ bJ U.

UJ Q: o <

< Vi

O

9 00

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

1946 1952


PEGU RIVER HYDRO PROJECT

HYDROGRAPH OF MONTHLY RUNOFF

KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO NEW YORK RANGOON

OR BY- £ JP- DATE PLATE CKBY. C/^T" MAY, 53. NO. 9.

R.B. n—7 589

CAPACITY IN THOUSAND ACRE-FEET. 2400 2200 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 600 600 400 200 0

300 < Q

UJ O

7Z 250

O

Ul > o OD <

200 Ul Ul u.

O 150

< > Ul -1 Ul

100 12 15 18 21 24 27

AREA IN THOUSAND ACRES.

ELEVATION AREA

IN ACRES RESERVOIR

CAPACITY IN A/F.

120' T.W.L. NIL ' NIL

150' CONTOUR 1,363-2 13,630

200" CONTOUR 7,334-4 211,280 MINISTRY OF NATIONAL PLANNING

PEGU HYDRO-ELECTRIC PROJECT

RESERVOIR AREA-CAPACITY CURVE.

250'CONTOUR 18,521-6 836,460

30d CONTOUR 36,4000 2,164-560 KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO. NEW YORK RANGOON

590

ELECTRIC POWER

TABLE XIX- 13

PEGU RIVER HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

Cusecs, Continuous Output from Reservoir, 1946—1952

591

Thousand Acre Feet per Month*

1946 Jan.-Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.




Infiowf

27 28

305 519 783 343 247

13 3

2,2£8

27 14

268 567 277 312 138

13 3

1,619

11 14

201 355 565 331 268

13 3

1,761

27 28

165 227 497 395 166

13 28

1,546

Make up from Storage

De- I pletion\ „ L, , j Gross \Evapo-

Re- Yield ration

503 104

-173 -387 - 47

119 129

503 118

-136 -435 -145 -153

119 129

519 118

- 69 -223 -433 -160

119 129

503 104

- 33 - 95 -365 -263 - 34 119 104

503 530 607 132 434 132 47 132 0 736 — 343 — 247 119 132 248 132

751 530 869 132 733 132 298 132 153 132 0 159 — 138 119 132 248 132

767 530 885 132 816 132 593 132 160 132 0 171 —. 268 119 132 248 132

751 530 855 132 822 132 727 132 362 132 99 132 65 132 184 132

29 5 0 0 0 0 0

21 4 0 0 0 0 0

21 4 0 0 0 0 0

21 4 0 0 0 0 0

Net Yield

(usable)

501 127 132 132 132 132 132 124 124

1,536

509 128 132 132 132 132 132 124 124

1,545

509 128 132 132 132 132 132 124 124

1,545

509 128 132 132 132 132 132 124 124

1,545

Cusecs Con¬

tinuous Output

2,100

2,120

2,120

2,120

(5) Penstock Size The normal maximum demand from three units

will be 5,130 cusecs based on 45,000 kW ultunate installation, and 132-ft. average net head. For a 22-ft. diameter penstock the maximum velocity would be 13-5 ft. per sec. at average head, or 15-9 ft. per sec.

Thousand Acre Feet per Month * Cusecs Con¬ De¬

InflowX Make

up from Storage

pletion of

Re¬ servoir

Gross Yield

Evapo¬ ration

Net Yield

(usable)

tinuous Output

1950 Jan.-Apr. 27 503 791 530 21 509 May 28 104 895 132 4 125 June 190 — 58 837 132 0 132 July 400 -268 569 132 0 132 Aug. 407 -275 294 132 0 132 Sept. 228 - 96 198 132 0 132 Oct. 212 - 80 118 132 0 132 Nov. 13 119 237 132 8 124 Dec. 28

1,533

104 341 132 7 125

1,546 2,120 1951 Jan.-Apr. 11 519 860 530 20 510 May 7 125 985 132 3 129 June 171 - 39 946 132 0 132 July 352 -220 726 132 0 132 Aug. 634 — 502 224 132 0 132 Sept. 288 -156 68 132 0 132 Oct. 196 - 64 4 132 0 132 Nov. 7 125 129 132 8 124 Dec. 3

1,669

129 258 132 8 124

1,547 2,120 1952 Jan.-Apr. 11 519 777 530 23 507 May 14 118 895 132 4 128 June 265 -133 762 132 0 132 July 476 -344 418 132 0 132 Aug. 761 -418 0 343 0 132 Sept. 444 — — 444 0 132 Oct. 223 — — 223 0 132 Nov. 13 119 119 132 8 124

*Except four-month total used opposite Jan.-April. tinflow computed by proportionate drainage areas from Pegu

Iron Bridge records.

at extreme low water for the 112 ft. minimum net head and 6,040 cusecs maximum demand. If a fourth unit should be installed the velocities would be increased 33% to 18.0 and 21-2 ft. per sec. respec¬ tively. It is concluded that the 22-ft. diameter pen¬ stock is a conservative selection based on present estimates of the size and type of market. It is in accordance with economic standards of design for short penstocks which require 15 to 20 ft. per sec. velocity under the conditions of normal head and output.


(6) Diversion Tunnel

For the seven years record at Pegu Iron Bridge the largest daily discharge was 39,215 cusecs on August 24, 1946, and frequent flows of 30,000 or more occurred each year except 1950. At the dam site, with a drainage area less than half that at the iron bridge, it is probable that construction floods will not exceed 25,000 cusecs during wet years. This amount has been used as a basis for determining the capacity of the diversion tunnel. For a 27-ft. diameter concrete-lined tunnel with a velocity of 40 ft. per sec. the diversion capacity would be 23,000 cusecs and with 50-ft. velocity, 28,700 cusecs. These velocities will be dependent on cofferdam pond levels at the time of a possible construction flood during the wet season. Accordingly, construction schedules will provide for completion of the earth dam during the dry season to a point above danger level, so that overtopping due to a rare frequency flood cannot occur.

(7) Earth Dam Based on the preliminary reconnaissance and

studies it is concluded that the dam site is in a deeply weathered formation covered with moderately heavy overburden. Exposed rock foundations suitable for a concrete dam are not available. Several factors favor the selection of an earth dam, i.e. {a) heavy over¬ burden which wiU provide earth fill material and will support an earth dam without complete excavation to firm rock; {b) natural saddle beyond the right abutment for economical spillway construction; (c) probable tunnel and power house site in firm rock in the right abutment. It is assumed that the rock from the tunnel and power house excavation will be suitable for slope protection on the earth dam but not suffi¬ ciently durable for good concrete aggregates. The dam cross section has been estimated conservatively at one on three upstream and one on two downstream slopes with 30-ft. top width to accommodate an access road. The center portion or core of the dam would be clay silt containing weathered shale from the borrow pit upstream from the right abutment. Broken shale would be used in the transition to provide a filter varying from the finest materials adjacent to the core to larger fragments of hard shale near the outer slopes. The shale would be protected with a heavy layer of sandstone riprap in sizes from 200 to 2,000 lbs. per stone, in order to break waves on the upstream slope, and to control erosion and withstand sun action on the downstream slope. The shale and sandstone would be obtained from the tunnel, power house, tailrace and spillway excavations. If insufficient sound rock is available from these sources, rock may be imported from the quarries at Mokpalin, and the downstream slope may be protected with Bermuda

grass or equal. In order to minimize underseepage a cutoff trench would be excavated to bedrock or impervious strata along the axis of the dam. At the bedrock surface a concrete grout cap would be con¬ structed through which drilling and grouting would be accomplished. The cutoff trench would be refilled with rolled impervious earth fill.

(8) Outlet Works The right abutment location for the outlet works

appears to be the most favorable, with a minimum length of tunnel intake and outlet channels (see Plate II). The tunnel would be located in shale and sandstone requiring considerable bracing with steel or timber rings. It would be lined with reinforced concrete, and grouting would be provided between the concrete and rock over the roof of the tunnel. At the upstream end there would be a concrete intake tower containing trash racks, stop logs, and emer¬ gency headgates. Mechanical trash rake and gate hoists would be accessible by steel truss foot bridge from the right abutment. The 22-ft. diameter penstock would be anchored at its upstream end by a concrete tunnel plug and would be supported on concrete saddles throughout its length. At the downstream end three lateral 11-ft. diameter pipes would lead to three turbines in the power house, each protected by an U-ft. diameter penstock valve. The 22-ft. pipe would be reduced in stages to 11 ft. in passing the laterals and the discharge end would be controlled by two 11-ft. valves in tandem. The tunnel discharge channel would be concrete lined for about 300 ft. below the outlet portal to withstand high velocity flow during its use for river diversion.

(9) Spillway About one half mile west of the dam site there is a

natural saddle in which the spiUway structure would be located as shown on Plate 11. This would be a concrete ogee section founded on firm rock and surmounted by five Tainter gates each 50 ft. long by 20 ft. high. The length of structure, face to face of training waUs, would be about 270 ft. The gates would be provided with individual electric hoists and individual gasoline standby units located at the gate piers. A light foot bridge would connect the piers and abutments for safe access during floods. Below the spillway a concrete apron, baffles and end sill would be provided to dissipate the energy of the flood waters. Derrick stone and riprap would be placed downstream from the end sill. An analysis has been made of several hypothetical floods showing the effect of surcharge storage in each case (see Plate 12 and 13, "Flood Hydrographs" and "Mass Curves of Reser¬ voir Inflow and Outflow"). For the flood equal to

u o o o

(J

< T. U oo

>- <

uo

Q Z <

Q O O

DURATION IN HOURS

HYDROGRAPH BASED ON PEAK

INFLOW. QM=IO,OOOv'A = 2IO,000

CUSECS, VOLUME OF RUNOFF

EQUIVALENT TO 15 INCHES OF

RAINFALL, I.e. i5,300x 10' CU. FT.

OR 352,000 ACRE-FT. AND DUR¬

ATION OF FLOOD 40 HOURS


PEGU RIVER PROJECT

FLOOD INFLOW-OUTFLOW

HYDROGRAPHS

KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO.

NEW YORK RANGOON

DR. BY £. J. P. DATE PLATE

CK. BY G.M. T. MAY 53 NO. 12

593


10,000 times the square root of the drainage area, there would be six feet of freeboard at maximum reservoir level, assuming all turbines and sluice valves closed throughout the flood and crest gates to be opened at increments of one foot in the reservoir water level starting at El. 278. About 52 hours would be required to empty the surcharge volume assuming crest gates to be closed at one foot increments of reservoir level. The spillway outlet has a favorable location about 11 miles downstream from the power house and tailrace.

(10) Power House Two 21,000-horsepower-at-normal-head vertical

Francis turbines directly connected to 15,000 kW water wheel generators would be provided initially. The power house substructure, founded on rock near the tunnel outlet portal, would include the draft tube for a third unit of 15,000 kW; and in future could be extended to accommodate a fourth unit on line with the others supplied by a penstock from the 11 -ft. sluice valve. The power house is set at an angle with the center hne of the outlet works, to improve hydraulic efficiency at the entrance to the scroll case and to permit construction of the power house during the diversion period. There would be a steel frame super¬ structure with brick walls and tile roof utilizing local materials and labor for this feature. An outdoor installation is not considered feasible in view of the heavy rains which sometimes reach as much as 40 inches per month.

(11) Substation An outdoor substation would be provided with the

main transformers located at the power house and with switching structure on the downstream berm of the earth dam, east of the outlet channel. The initial capacity would be 30,000 kW with a layout to permit the addition of 15,000 kW in the near future and possibly another 15,000 kW in the future. Voltage would be stepped up from 13-8 kV to 132 kV at the transformer bank. A double circuit 60,000 kW line would lead southward, one circuit to supply Pegu, Syriam and Rangoon, and the other circuit to supply Tharrawaddy, Henzada and Rangoon.

(12) Transmission Line Initial hnes would consist of 132 kV 60,000 kW

double circuit from the power station to a junction five miles south as shown on Plate 2. From the junction, one 30,000-kW single circuit line would supply Pegu and Rangoon, with a 10,000-kW branch to Syriam; and one 30,000-kW single circuit line would supply Tharrawaddy and Rangoon with a 10,000-kW branch to Letpadan and Henzada. The Pegu to Rangoon line would be designed to take a

second circuit so that power from the proposed Paunglaung hydroelectric development may be brought in on that circuit. All lines would be adjacent to existing highways and railroads through generally flat rice lands with no clearing required, except from the dam to Zaungtu and from the junction to Tharrawaddy. These portions are in rolling, jungle- covered terrain without access roads.

(13) Distribution System A sizable distribution system exists in the Rangoon-

Insein area and is being expanded at the rate of 5,000 connections per year by the Rangoon Electric Tramway and Supply Co. The development of this system should remain under the control of RET, an efficient organization which should not be replaced by Government management if it can be avoided. Details of the proposed distribution system at Pegu, Henzada, Letpadan, Tharrawaddy and Taikkyi need not be determined until additional data are available. The development should be under the close control of a private management firm, in order that the sale of energy and appliances can be rapidly expanded. This will assure maximum profit to the Government from the power development and sufficient reward to the private owner so that he will energetically promote sales. The franchise to sell power at rates approved by the Government should be awarded to the highest qualified bidder. Financing for major installations should be accomphshed by low interest loans to the private owner. The foregoing procedure is believed to be the best means of expanding the new power system rapidly and of giving efficient personal service to the consumer.

m. Construction Materials and Equipment (1) Earth FUl

It is probable that the borrow area for the earth dam can be located just upstream from the right abutment. It is believed that the area contains ample quantities of clay silt with fragments of weathered shale suitable for rolling into the impervious portion of an earth dam. The length of haul will vary from 1,000 to 2,000 ft.

(2) Gravel and Broken Stone Pervious material to form the shells or filter

portions of the earth dam can be obtained from two sources: {a) rounded gravel from branch streams in very limited quantities, and {b) shale outcrops in both abutments upstream or downstream from the dam. The latter should be the principal source of pervious material because the quantity available is large and the shale is believed to be resistant to disintegration if protected from drying. It should be mixed with

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OD. 285

284

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282

281

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279

O > UJ in Ul a:

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CC hi

<

4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 49 5

TIME IN HOURS FROM COMMENCEMENT OF STORM

^78 I

CURVES SHOWING RELATION BETWEEN STORM WATER INFLOW INTO RESERVOIR. DISCHARGE OVER SPILLWAY AT CREST LEVEL 26000 O.D. WITH GATE OPENINGS AS BELOW, AND RISE OF FLOOD WATER. W.S.L.AT 1ST. GATE OPENING = 27800 O.D


.. H 2ND. " " " 3RD. >> • • " 4TH. II " " 5TH. »•

ALL GATES CLOSED AT CN FALLING FLOOD.

W.S.L.

= 27900 0 D. = 28000 OD. » 28 I 00 00. = 26200 OD. 28000 0-D.

PEGU RIVER PROJECT

MASS CURVE RESERVOIR INFLOW- OUTFLOW

KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO NEW YORK RANGOON DR. BY. ti-^- DATE PLATE

iCK.BY. g/^T" MAY, 53. NO. 13 595


sandstone fragments and the largest, most stable stone should be used nearest the surface directly under the slope protection stone. These features will be subject to review when samples have been obtained from the site and tests have been completed.

(3) Slope Protection Stone It is probable that suitable stone wUl be obtained

from the tunnel, powerhouse and tailrace excavation for use on the slopes of the dam and for riprap areas where wave action or turbulent flow must be resisted. Additional stone may be obtained from the existing granite quarries at Mokpalin on the east bank of the Sittang River about 60 miles from the dam site.

(4) Concrete Aggregates Large deposits of suitable gravel for concrete

aggregates are reported in the vicinity of Pyinbongyi, about 40 miles from the dam site. The use of this gravel would necessitate the construction of a long access road and overland haul. Possibly the existing granite quarries at Mokpahn will prove more economical, utilizing a 60-inile water haul via the Pegu-Sittang canal in shallow draft barges. It is understood that the governing depth in the Pegu River north of Pegu Town is about four feet during half of the year and during the six dry months complete stoppage of navigation will occur due to lack of water. Mokpalin granite has been used for road surfacing and concrete aggregates throughout Burma with successful results.

(5) Timber, Brick and Tile Timber for operators' houses, concrete forms and

other temporary construction can be obtained in the Pegu VaUey. Where smooth surfaces must be obtained absorptive form hning should be imported. Such surfaces include tunnel lining, intake and outlet walls, powerhouse draft tube and tailrace waUs, and spillway training walls, piers, baffles and end sills. Brick and tUe for the powerhouse superstructure and other permanent buildings can be procured in Burma. The manufacture of tile will be initiated in the near future under Goverimient sponsorship.

(6) Plumbing and Electric Fixtures Small pipe, valves, fittings and fixtures can be

purchased from the countries in the "soft currency" area through existing supply houses subject to satis¬ factory prices and delivery dates. Electrical wire, fittings and fixtures can be' obtained from the same source.

(7) Reinforcing Steel, Structural Steel, Penstock, Headgates and Hoists

These may be purchased from the same source subject to satisfactory prices and deUvery dates.

(8) Hydraulic and Electrical Machinery and Controls For the purpose of the present estimates, United

States prices have been used. If equal or lower prices and satisfactory delivery time can be secured from the manufacturers in "soft-currency" countries, they should be given consideration.

(9) Powerhouse Crane Purchase of a 100-ton overhead crane with rails

and controls should be made in the "soft currency" area subject to satisfactory price and dehvery date.

(10) Substation, Transmission, Distribution Equipment These should be purchased in a country in the

"soft currency" area where manufacturing capacity is known to be ample.

(11) Construction Equipment (a) Earth moving. Shovels, bulldozers, scrapers,

trucks and miscellaneous earth equipment should be suppUed by the general contractor in accordance with his estimated needs. For the purpose of computing foreign exchange it is assumed that a foreign con¬ tractor will be selected using equipment manu¬ factured in the United States.

(b) Concrete plant. This would probably be sup¬ plied from the United States by the general con¬ tractor.

(c) Rock excavation equipment. This would also be supphed from the United States by the general contractor.

(d) Steel erection equipment. This would be sup¬ phed from a "soft currency" country by the general contractor, particularly if structural steel, gate hoists and powerhouse crane are from this source.

n. Design Contract In order to complete the Pegu project in 1957, a

design contract should be entered into as soon as possible between the Government and an engineering firm experienced in hydroelectric work. The contract should include field investigation and detailed design of dam, power station and transmission hnes. Plans and specifications together with the analysis of design should be completed in 12 months but the tunnel design should be accomphshed in four months so that its construction can be expedited. The engineering firm should be selected by negotiation and should be paid costs plus a fixed fee in accordance with standards equivalent to those established by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

ELECTRIC POWER 597

o. Construction Contract (1) Type of Contract

In view of the lack in Burma of contractors ex¬ perienced in hydroelectric construction and in view of the continued activity in heavy construction throughout the world, it is doubted that a lump sum contract can be secured in the customary manner by competitive bidding. However, a "target price" contract should be secured with an experienced contractor in which he contracts to complete the work for a target price (containing a reasonable contingency allowance for his protection) plus a fixed fee subject to the following provisions. If the actual costs are less than the "bid target," he will be paid for the actual costs plus the fixed fee plus 20% of the difference between the actual costs and the "bid target." If the actual costs are greater than the "bid target," he will be paid for actual costs plus his fixed fee less 10% of the difference between actual costs and "bid target." The bid target as used above, will be the original bid target adjusted once at the completion of the contract for changes 'in wage rates, material prices and work quantities. The target price contract has been used successfully for current projects in the Middle East, West Indies and other areas where the construction industry is not strongly developed and competition cannot be obtained.

(2) Completion on Schedule The contract should provide that liquidated

damages be assessed at approximately K5,000 per day, the estimated profit on the system, in the event that the contractor fails to complete the work in accordance with the construction schedule. In order to give the contractor every opportunity to expedite the work he should be solely responsible for the purchase of all materials and equipment, subject only to inspection by the supervising engineers. The contractor should be permitted to import such con¬ struction equipment, skiUed labor, foremen and administrative personnel as he deems essential for prompt completion of the work.

p. Construction Engineering In order to assure the quality of materials and

workmanship in accordance with the specifications, supervisory inspection and control of construction should be the responsibility of an engineering firm experienced in hydroelectric and transmission line construction work. The engineering firm should be selected by negotiation and should be paid costs plus a fijced fee in accordance with standards for this type of work in Asian and Pacific projects.

q. Operation and Maintenance Contract For a period of at least five years after completion

of the construction, the dam, power station and transmission line should be operated and maintained by contract. The contractor should be selected by negotiation. He should furnish a superintendent, operators and skilled labor as needed for routine or major repairs. He should furnish the necessary tools and equipment. He should have full authority to employ foreign assistants or experts, subject to the financial limitation of his contract. During the life of the contract, apprentice superintendents, operators and skilled labor should be hired locally, so that Burmese nationals can receive necessary training in order to hold key operating jobs as soon as possible.

r. Estimated Costs Quantity and cost estimates are based on very

incomplete data including aerial photographs of the site and stream flow measurements (1946-1952) at Pegu Town, 50 miles downstream from the dam site (see Table XIX-14(;?. 595)—"Estunated Cost—Initial Installation"). Excavation, concrete and steel prices are based on costs of similar work recently completed in Burma. Hydraulic machinery, electrical machinery and penstock valves are estimated from prehminary quotation by American manufacturers. A contingency and engineering factor of 20% has been allowed in addition to a fee of approximately 4 % for the detailed exploration and design. No details for the distribution system have been developed, but the kWh charges are assumed to be slightly greater than the present costs for the Rangoon metropolitan area, in view of the more scattered communities. The annual charges capitalized at 12% give the total estimated cost of the distribution system as presented in Table XIX-I4. The over-aU costs of hydro station, transmission hne and distribution system are conservative in com¬ parison with the actual cost of similar projects com¬ pleted recently in other countries.

s. Production Costs The cost of power at the load center is computed as

follows: Capital recovery with interest at 4.25%

Life Annual Description in Years Factor Investment Cost

% S Elect. Controls 20 -0752 120,000 9,000 Generators, Portion of

Substation 25 -0655 1,520,000 99,600 Turbines, Butterfly

Valves, Trash Racks 35 -0555 1,460,000 81,000 Transmission Line 35 -0555 2,570,000 142,500 Civil Eng. Works

Buildings 50 -0491 11,440,000 562,000 Operation and Maintenance — -0127 17,110,000 217,900

Annual Cost, Initial Development (6-5 °„)

Note: Interest has been assumed at 4"^ for 75" investment and 5 % for the remainder.

51,112,000

of the total


TABLE XIX - 14 PEGU RIVER HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

ESTIMATED COST—INITIAL INSTALLATION

(U.S. DoUars)

¥■ r„... Unit /^_„^ Percentage

No. Description Quantity Unit Cost

Cost Local Sterling U.S.

1 Exploration and design ■ l.s. % 1

700,000 20 _ 80 2 Clearing reservoir 10,000 acre 50.00 500,000 80 10 10 3 Clear and grub dam site 60,000 s.y. 1.00 60,000 80 10 10 4 „ „ „ borrow area 80,000 s.y. 0.50 40,000 80 10 10 5 „ „ „ spilhvay 10,000 s.y. 1.00 10,000 80 10 10 6 „ „ „ townsite 30,000 s.y. 0.50 15,000 80 10 10 7 Access roads 4 mi. 10,000 40,000 70 20 10 8 Excavation, cutoff trench 8,000 c.y. 4.00 32,000 70 10 20 9 „ tunnel portals 30,000 c.y. 3.00 90,000 70 10 20

10 „ tailrace 80,000 c.y. 3.00 240,000 70 10 20 11 Excavation, power house 46,000 c.y. 5.00 230,000 70 10 20 12 „ spillway 100,000 c.y. 1.00 100,000 70 — 30 13 „ borrow pit 3,500,000 c.y. 0.52 1,820,000 70 — 30 14 Cofferdam and diversion l.s. — 250,000 70 — 30 15 Foundation preparation, dam 40,000 s.y. 1.50 60,000 70 — 30 16 Drilling holes for grout 60,000 l.f. 1.00 60,000 60 — 40 17 Grouting cutoff and tunnel 120,000 c.f. 2.00 240,000 60 — 40 18 Placing and rolUng earth fill 3,200,000 c.y. 0.15 480,000 60 — 40 19 Excavation, tunnel 21,000 c.y. 10.00 210,000 60 — 40 20 Concrete, tunnel lining 7,350 c.y. 60.00 440,000 60 — 40 21 Concrete, portals and channel 10,000 c.y. 32.00 320,000 60 — 40 22 „ intake tower 10,500 c.y. 40.00 420,000 60 — 40 23 „ spillway 18,000 c.y. 32.00 576,000 60 — 40 24 „ power house substruct. 9,000 c.y. 48.00 432,000 50 — 50 25 „ retaining wall 2,000 c.y. 40.00 80,000 60 — 40 26 Reinforcing steel 3,000,000 lbs. 0.10 300,000 40 50 10 27 Penstock steel 2,400,000 lbs. 0.25 600,000 40 50 10 28 Trash racks and frames 500,000 lbs. 0.25 125,000 40 50 10 29 Head gates, frames, hoists 400,000 lbs. 0.50 200,000 40 50 10 30 Gate house and bridge l.s. — — 40,000 50 40 10 31 Spillway gates, 5 @ 50x20 500,000 lbs. 0.30 150,000 40 50 10 32 „ „ hoists 5 each 4,000 20,000 40 50 10 33 HydrauUc machinery 42,000 h.p. 22.00 924,000 20 , 80 34 Electrical machinery 30,000 kW 38.00 1,140,000 20 80 35 Additional butterfly valves 2 each 50,000 100,000 20 80 36 Electrical controls l.s. — — 100,000 20 , 80 37 Substation complete l.s. — — 250,000 20 80 38 Power house superstructure 300,000 c.f 1.00 300,000 60 30 10 39 Crane complete I.s. — — 100,000 20 60 20 40 Living quarters l.s. — 300,000 40 50 10 41 Transmission line 5 mi. 15,000 75,000 50 30 20 42 J) JS 168 mi. 10,000 1,680,000 50 30 20 43 >> J> 34 mi. 8,000 272,000 50 30 20 44

Subtotal 19 mi. 6,000 114,000 50 30 20

14,235,000 45 Engineering and contingencies

Total hydro plant and trans. 20% 2,875,000

system 17,110,000 49-0 12-6 38-4 46 Distribution system*

Total 8,600,000 50

49-3 30

18-4 20

* Exclusive of Rangoon 1952 system and initial diesel program.

ELECTRIC POWER 599 Initial Development

Total Power (Par. 1(4)) 75 % Sales

Ultimate Development

Ultimate Development

Total Power (Par. 1(4)) 75 % Sales

Cost per kWh at Load Center kWh Mills Pyas

118,000,000 9-44 4-48 88,500,000 12-60 600

•065 X 21,610,000= SI ,405,000

Cost per k Wh at Load Center k Wh Mills Pvas

139,000,000 10-10 4-80 104,000,000 13-50 6 43

The foregoing cost comparison is based on firm power computed for the minimum years of record and on capacity factors which can be attained with the installation of the steel mill, irrigation pumps or equivalent industrial loads as detailed in Tables XIX-8 to XIX-11 inclusive. Secondary power is not large and has been neglected in the economic analysis presented above. The value of power for design of pipe line, tailrace and other hydraulic features should be taken at 4-5 pyas per kWh.

t. Distribution Costs Details of the proposed distribution system cannot

be foreseen but it is believed that 7-5 pyas (1-57 cents) per kWh is an ample allowance for a new system containing about 25% domestic load as given in Tables XIX-5 and XIX-6 for 1958. The allowance has been reduced to 7-0 pyas for 1962 and 6-5 pyas for 1966, when loads are greater and system in¬ efficiencies have been reduced. The annual cost for 1958 to 1966 and the initial investment are computed as follows:

Domestic and Bulk Sales k Wh per year

1958 1962 1966

Capitalized at 12%

Year 1958 1962 1966

92,000,000 143,000,000 193,000,000

@

Pyas 7-5 7 0 6-5

Annual Cost in Kyats 6,900,000

10,000,000 12,530,000

Investment in Kyats Investment in Dollars 57,500,000* 12,100,000 83,300,000 17,500,000

104,300,000 22,000,000

*Of this sum K16,700,000 or $3,500,000 will be provided under the initial diesel program for Pegu, Tharrawaddy and Henzada distribution systems.

Capitalization for the distribution system has been based on capital recovery with interest at 4-25 %.

Amortization factor—20 year life -075 Operation and maintenance -045

Total annual cost

u. Electric Rates

120

The proposed domestic electric rates as given in Tables XIX-15 and XIX-16 {see pp. 600 & 601) range from 40 pyas per kWh for outlying towns and villages to 30 pyas per kWh for Rangoon-Insein metropolitan area in 1958. It is estimated that these rates can be reduced to 30 and 22 pyas respectively by 1966. The present rates are 75 pyas for outlying towns and 50 pyas

for Rangoon. All purpose power, power, bulk power and the steel mill would receive rates of 20, 15, 14 and 10 respectively in 1958 and 16, 12, 10 and 8 respectively in 1966. A Government Rate Board should establish rates for the market area based on the recommendations of the Electricity Supply Board and the managers of the distribution systems.

V. Ownership and Operation The Government of Burma should own and

operate the hydroelectric plant and transmission system. It is understood that the Electricity Supply Board will be the government agency which will control all engineering, construction and operating contracts. The distribution system should be owned and operated by a private management firm financed by low interest government loans for aU major instal¬ lations. It is believed that the sale of energy and appliances can be most successfully expanded by private initiative, assuring larger profits to the Government and incentive income to the private owner. The franchise to operate the distribution system should be awarded to the highest qualified bidder.

w. Recommendations In view of the favorable factors indicated in this

Report, i.e., satisfactory physical conditions for generation of low cost power and ample projected markets in a prosperous region able to absorb the output, it is recommended that the preliminary investigations and design proceed at once. If con¬ ditions are found satisfactory, detailed design and construction should be expedited, in order to meet the estimated demands of the market area at the end of 1957.

2. MYINGYAN-MANDALAY POWER PROJECT

a. General The Government's objective is to supply low cost

power as soon as possible to the Myingyan-MeiktUa- Mandalay area. In the latter city a power shortage exists which has been partially met by reconditioned steam units installed in 1952. At Meiktila a large army headquarters is under construction and partiaUy occupied. Also this is the center of an important irrigated area where pumping loads are anticipated. Southeast of Meiktila power will be dehvered to the proposed Yamethin irrigation development, which is described in Chapter IX on Irrigation. In the Myingyan area the heavy industry planned includes zinc reduction, sulphuric acid production and possibly a fertilizer plant. The most economical source of power in the near future is a steam electric plant located near Myingyan. The plant would use low cost coal transported to the steam plant by barge on the


TABLE XIX - 15

ESTIMATED INCOME AND COST OF ENERGY—1952 to 1966 incl. (Including Steel Mill, Pegu, Henzada and Irrigation Pumping)

1952 1958 1962 1966

Steam Capacity Hydro Capacity

25,000 kW 35,000 kW 30,000 kW

35,000 kW 85,000 kW

35,000 kW 140,000 kW

Annual Revenue Sales

in Thous. kWk

Est. Rate

Pvasper kWh

Annual Revenue Thous. Kyats

Sales in

Thous. kWh

Est. Rate

Pyasper kWh


Sales in

Thous. kWh

Est. Rate

Pyasper kWh


Sales in

Thous. kWh

Est. Rate

Pyasper kWh


Bulk Power, Rangoon Steel Mill, Rangoon All Purpose Power, Rangoon Power, Rangoon Departmental, Rangoon Public Lighting, Rangoon Lighting, Rangoon

Other Bulk Outside Rangoon Irrigation Pumping

11,000

7,400 5,200

250 900

12,250 1,000

160

28-4 25 0 18-75

0 55-8 75-0

1,760

2,100 1,300

50 0

6,840 750

29,000 27,500 10,800 6,600

800 4,200

31,600 3,900 2,600

13,000

140 100 20 0 15-0 150

0 300 40 0 15-0 20-0

4,060 2,750 2,160

990 120

0 9,480 1,560

390 2,600

39,900 37,000 13,500 8,000 1,200 6,000

45,400 5,400 3,600

21,000

120 9-0

18-0 15-0 15-0

0 25-0 35-0 12-0 180

4,790 3,330 2,430 1,200

180 0

11,350 1,890

430 3,780

50,800 46,500 16,200 9,400 1,600 7,800

59,200 6,900 4,600

29,000

10-0 8-0

16-0 12-0 12-0

0 22-0 30-0 10-0 160

5,080 3,720 2,590 1,130

190 0

13,020 2,070

460 4,640

Total Sales 38,000 12,800 130,000 24,110 181,000 29.380 232,000 32,900

Annual Operating Costs Output

in Thous. kWh

Cost in

Pyas per kWh

Annual Cost

Thous. Kyats

Output in

Thous. kWh

Cost in

Pyasper kWh

Annual Cost

Thous. Kyats

Output in

Thous. kWh

Cost in

Pyasper kWh

Annual Cost

Thous. Kyats

Output in

Thous. kWh

Cost in

Pyasper kWh

Annual Cost

Thous. Kyats

Steam Plant Exist. Dist. System Pegu Hydro Plant Paunglaung Hydro Plant New Dist. System

Total Cost

43,500 43,500

14-35 5-75

20-10

6,250 2,500

31,500 43,500

118,000

106,000

14-40 5-75 4-48

6-50

4,550 2,500 5,290

6,900

29,000 43,500

139,000 40,000

164,500

14-00 5-75 4-80 4-00 6-08

4,060 2,500 6,680 1,600

10,000

30,000 43,500

139,000 98,000

223,500

13-00 5-75 4-80 4-00 5-61

3,900 2,500 6,680 3,900

12,530

43,500 8,750 149,500 19,240 208,000 24,840 267,000 29,510

Chindwin and Irrawaddy Rivers from the proposed Kalewa mine. Power would be moderate low cost; Burmese coal would be used; and proposed heavy industrial loads would be located adjacent to the power plant. Mandalay and Meiktila are tied in by short transmission lines in order to guarantee sizable loads quickly after completion of the project. It is estimated that the selected capacity of 30,000 kW will meet the demand until about 1960 at which time low cost hydroelectric power should be available from the future Paunglaung River project near Pyinmana.

b. Location

The site of the proposed power station is about 20 miles southwest of the town of Myingyan on the banks of the Irrawaddy River. At this point high ground above river flood levels, navigation facilities for coal handling and ample water for the condensers are available. About a 40-ft. pumping lift would be

required from low water to ground level at the plant. The intake would be located on the cutting bank of the river to avoid siltation and the outlet pipe would be submerged in order to recover a part of the pumping hft by siphon action.

c. Access Railroads and all-weather highways should be

extended to provide access to the site of the power station from Myingyan. Regular river steamer service is available via the Irrawaddy. Ease of shipping by both land and river is one of the principal reasons for locating the development at the selected site where zinc ore, coal and finished products can be readily transported.

d. Market Area The power development is intended primarily to

serve the proposed industrial plants near Myingyan

Single Circuit Transmission Line, 132 KV Yegyo s^^ \

— Double Circuit Transmission Line Ingyinzu ■... - , .,, ifw MEIKTILA .. Secondary Transmission Line, 33 K.V

/' ' • —" / Thabyewa

Ylndow"

SCALE l"« 14 MILES ( APPROX.)


MYINGYAN-MANDALAY POWER PROJECT

MAP SHOWING TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION LINES. KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO. NEW YORK RANGOOli DR.BY.^ J/' DATE PLATE CK.BY.^-^7^ MAY 53 NO. 14

THAZI

Nyaungyan I

■ Shanywa

Yanaung

Pyawbwe

Mindon

Sbweda

Ywadan"^^

YAMETHIN

To Sin the >y

96

ELECTRIC POWER TABLE XIX - 16

ESTIMATED INCOME AND COST OF ENERGY—1962 and 1966 (Including Steel Mill, Pegu, Henzada and Irrigation Pumping)

Assuming no future hydro development after completion of the Pegu River Development

601

1962 J966

Steam Capacity Hydro Capacity

35,000 kW 45,000 kW

40,000 kW 45,000 kW

Annual Revenue Sales in

Thousand kWh

Est. Rate pyas per

kWh

Annual Revenue in Thousand

Kyats

Sales in Thousand

kWh

Est. Rate pyas per

kWh

Annual Revenue in Thousand

Kyats

Bulk Power, Rangoon Steel Mill, Rangoon All Purpose Power, Rangoon Power, Rangoon Departmental, Rangoon Public Lighting, Rangoon Lighting, Rangoon

Other Bulk Outside Rangoon Irrigation Pumping

39,900 37,000 13,500 8,000 1,200 6,000

45,400 5,400 3,600

21,000

12-0 10-0 19-0 15-0 15-0

0 25-0 38-0 14-0 19-0

4,790 3,700 2,570 1,200

180 0

11,350 2,050

500 3,990

50,800 46,500 16,200 9,400 1,600 7,800

59,200 6,900 4,600

29,000

10-0 9-0

18-0 14-0 14-0

0 25-0 38-0 12-0 18-0

5,080 4,190 2,920 1,320

220 0

14,800 2,620

550 5,220

Total Sales 181,000 30,330 232,000 36,920

Annual Operating Costs Output in Thousand

kWh

Cost in pyas per

kWh

Annual Cost Thousand

Kyats

Output in Thousand

kWh

Cost in pyas per

kWh

Annual Cost Thousand

Kyats

Steam Plant Exist. Dist. System Pegu Hydro Plant New Dist. System

69,000 43,500

139,000 164,500

12-20 5-75 4-80 6-08

8,420 2,500 6,670

10,020

128,000 43,500

139,000 223,500

10-30 5-75 4-80 5-61

13,180 2,500 6,670

12,540

Total Cost 208,000 27,610 267,000 34,890

and the existing markets at Mandalay, but would also serve Meiktila, Yamethin and smaUer communities along the route of the proposed transmission line. Mandalay is an important manufacturing and raU¬ road center, the distributing point for consumer goods arriving from south Burma and from outside. It is the concentration point for agricultural and mining products from Upper Burma. Meiktila and Yamethin are centers of an important agricultural area where irrigation is dominant. Rice, tobacco, sugar, hogs and poultry are major products. The region is largely flat to rolhng, about 50% being arable and under cultivation. Paved highways and railroads connect all towns along the transmission hne route. The market area is bounded on the north and west by the Irrawaddy, on the south by the Pegu Yomas, and on the east by the Shan escarpment (see map on Plate 14). The population of the area is estimated to have been

about 2,100,000 in 1952. The annual income in 1938-39, corrected for the price increase since that time, is estimated at K45 crores.

e. Existing Power Plants Within the market area the foUowing power plants

are operated by the Electricity Supply Board: Capacity in Kilowatts

1939 1952 Myingyan 150 131 Meiktila 40 163 Kyaukse 39 68 Sagaing 56 53 Mandalay 1,145 1,508 Yamethin 44 56

The 1952 rates were Pyas 75 per kWh, 6- to 12-hour service per day, except Mandalay where 24-hour service is given and a sliding scale prevails, Pyas 75 to Pyas 63 per kWh. The Burma RaUways operates an


1,150-kW steam plant at Myitnge and a 96-kW diesel plant at Mandalay. The principal load is the carriage and wagon buUding shop at Myitnge.

f. Prospective Loads The principal power loads now anticipated for 1957

and 1962 are summarized below: No. Description Demand in Kilowatts.

1951 1957 1962 1. Domestic 618 5,745 9,589 2. Ice Plants — 350 420 3. Burma Railways 590 850 1,200

4. Zinc Reduction 7,000 11,700 5. Sulphuric Acid 1,000 1,500 6. Other Manufactures 1,500 2,500 7. Port Mechanization 300 500

8. Yamethin Pumps 600 1,320

Total 1,208 18,145 30,299

For detaUs of the above summary see Table XIX-17, "Estimated Power Requirements—Man¬ dalay Division and Sagaing Town."

TABLE XIX - 17 UPPER MANDALAY DIVISION AND SAGAING TOWN

ESTIMATED POWER REQUIREMENTS

1951 (Actual) 1957 (Estimated) 1962 (Estimated) 1967 (Estimated)

Annual Population Annual Population Annual Population Annual Population kWhjcap. (Thousands) kWhIcap. (Thousands) kWhjcap. (Thousands) kWhjcap. (Thousands)

Mandalay 3-1 190 15 230 20 280 25 340 Sagaing 4-9 15 10 22 15 30 20 40 Myingyan 4-9 34 15 42 20 50 25 60 Meiktila 6-6 19 10 25 15 30 20 • 36 Yamethin —. 35 10 42 15 50 20 60 Kyaukse — 8 10 9 15 12 20 16

DOMESTIC POWER REQUIREMENTS

Thous. Thous. Thous. Thous. kW Load kWh kW Load kWh kW Load kWh kW Load kWh

Location max. Factor per year max. Factor per year max. Factor per year max. Factor per year Demand Sales Demand Sales Demand Sales Demand Sales

Mandalay 356 19 585 1,970 20 3,450 2,560 25 5,600 3,240 30 8,500 Sagaing 44 19 73 125 20 220 206 20 450 366 25 800 Myingyan 76 26 168 288 25 630 456 25 1,000 570 30 1,500 Meiktila 54 27 124 114 25 250 206 25 450 274 30 720 Yamethin 44 — Incomp. 320 15 420 428 20 750 550 25 1,200 Kyaukse 44 — J5 68 15 90 103 20 180 146 25 320 Rural 0 — 0 2,860 15 3,760 5,630 20 9,880 9,480 20 16,580

BULK POWER REQUIREMENTS

Mandalay Ice . _ 250 60 1,310 300 60 1,570 400 60 1,960 Myingyan Ice — — — 50 60 262 60 60 315 80 60 395 Yamethin Ice — — — 50 60 262 60 60 315 80 60 395 Burma Railways 590* 11 544 850 20 1,490 1,200 30 3,150 1,500 30 3,950 Myingyan Zinc — — — 7,000 60 36,800 11,700 80 82,000 14,500 80 101,700

„ Sulphxir — — — 1,000 40 3,600 1,500 50 6,570 2,000 50 8,760 Other — — — 1,500 30 3,940 2,500 30 6.570 3,000 30 7,890

Port Mechanization — — — 300 30 790 500 30 1,310 1,500 30 3,930 Yamethin Pumps — — — 600 17 890 1,320 19 2,200 2,200 20 3,850 Sinthe Pumps — —■ — 800 19 1,330 1,570 25 3,430 2,800 25 6,120

Total Bulk 590 — 544 12,400 50,674 20,710 107,430 28,060 138,950

Bulk and Domestic 1,208 18,145 59,494 30,299 125,740 42,686 168,570 Max. Simultaneous Incomp.

' Installed capacity 1,250 kilowatts.

ELECTRIC POWER 603 g. Paunglaung Hydroelectric Project

An investigation has been made of several sources of hydroelectric power to supply the Myingyan- Mandalay area. The most economical and sunplest project to construct is the Paunglaung River project near Pyinmana. DetaUs of this project are discussed in para. G of this chapter. From this project power can be supplied at the load centers for Pyas 4-0 per kWh for the initial development and Pyas 3-5 per kWh, ultunately after completion of upstream regulatmg dams. The mitial Paunglaung power project should be completed m 1960 in order to avoid the addition of a fourth turbine and generator at the steam plant. This development is indicated in Table XIX-21 {see p. 609). If Paunglaung power is not avaUable by 1960 the additional unit must be provided at the Myingyan steam station, assuming market growth as shown in Table XIX-17.

h. Kalewa Coal If the Kalewa coal project is promptly approved

and unplemented, a dependable supply of coal wUl be avaUable. The coal wUl move to the steam plant via river barges. If developed as planned, coal can be

TABLE XIX - 18 MYINGYAN-MANDALAY POWER PROJECT Comparison of Existing and Proposed Steam Plants

Ahlone Mandalay Proposed Name of Plant Power Power Myingyan

Station Station Power Station

Location Rangoon Mandalay Myingyan

Rangoon Elect. Elect. Operating Co. Elect. Tram Supply Supply

and Supply Board Board

kWh Generated 1952 46,500,000 77,500,000* No. of Turbo

Alternators 2 2 3 Capacity Each, kW 10,000 550 10,000 Voltage 6,600 400/440 6,600 Power Factor 0-9 0-8 0-8 R.P.M. 3,000 1,000 3,000 Steam Pressure 425 213 600 Steam Temperature 780 518 825 Year Manufactured 1949 World War —

No. of Boilers 4 II 2 3

Steam Rate, Ibs./hour per boiler 60,000 10,000 120,000

Type of Fuel Coal or oil oU coal Fuel Rate Ibs./kWh

(coal rating) 1-65 3-3 1-25* Cost of Coal, Ks/Ton 90 — 42-0* Cost of Oil Ks/Ton 161 — _ BTU/lb., Coal 12,100 — ll,000t

*Estiniated for 1957. fKalewa Coal.

dehvered to Myingyan starting in 1957 at a price of approximately K42 per ton in the stock pUe (see Table XIX-18).

i. Recommendation of Steam Plant The Myingyan steam plant is a moderate low cost

power development with relatively short transmission line to nearby cities to be maintained and protected from vandalism. It is intended to serve proposed industrial plants near Myingyan and existing markets at Mandalay, Meiktila and Yamethin. The power plant, transmission and distribution systems can be completed by December 31, 1956, to utUize Kalewa coal and to supply the new industrial plants which should be completed at that time. The development lends itself to incorporation in a more extensive power system connected to the proposed Paunglaung River project, but untU the latter is constructed the Myingyan steam station wUl serve the Mandalay Division industrial and domestic markets. Both steam and hydroelectric power are essential in the near future, the one to operate as a base load plant from which it would be relatively efficient and the other to carry base load and peaks, being equaUy efficient for either purpose. Accordingly, it is concluded that field investigations at Myingyan should be com¬ menced as soon as possible and that construction should be scheduled for 1956 completion.

j. Technical Details (1) Power Station Site

The site selected is on the east bank of the Irrawaddy about 20 mUes southwest of Myingyan where river navigation is most favorable. The site is on high ground that has offered resistance to erosion by the river. It is on a cutting bank which wUl avoid sUtation at the proposed dock and pump intake. The site comprises 20 acres, half of which is reserved for coal handling and storage. The other half provides space for the proposed power generating station with additional space for expansion. Tracks would lead from the turbine room and the ash hoppers to the dock. RaUroad and highway connections from Myingyan would be constructed for the movement of ore to the zinc reduction plant and for general hauhng.

(2) Fuel Handling A bulkhead type dock of sufficient height to clear

the maximum flood by five feet would acconomodate the coal barges. On the dock would be instaUed a track mounted crane and conveyor belts to move the coal to the stock pile. The storage area would approximate a 140-degree sector, 350 ft. radius, served by a drag scraper located at the


center of the arc. This would permit the storage of nine months' supply at 12 ft. depth. The scraper would feed to a vertical lift bucket conveyor, which dumps onto an overhead horizontal belt feeding the coal hoppers and pulverizers. The pulverizers should be capable of supplying 13 tons per hour to each boiler. If low cost fuel oU becomes avaUable at Myingyan, conversion of the boilers to fuel oil can be readily accomplished (see Plate 15 for the general layout of steam plant).

(3) Steam Generation The boiler should be of the water tube type fed

by 357° F. water from the preheater. Each boUer in conjunction with economizers and superheaters would be capable of continuously evaporating 120,000 lbs. of water per hour into steam at 600 lbs. per sq. in. gauge pressure at the superheater. The superheater would be integral with the boiler and designed to produce a final steam temperature of 850° F. at the maximum boiler rating. Forced draft and induced draft fans wUl be designed to provide air and to draw waste gases from the boUer when steaming at its maximum continuous rating. Grit catchers for the stack wiU be included together with accessories for the collection and disposal of grit. Soot blowers pro¬ vided at necessary points on the boilers, superheaters and economizers would be connected to a flue dust suction system leading to a central dust hopper. Ash hoppers under each boUer would discharge into a conveyor system leading to a central ash hopper. The central hoppers would dispose directly into dump cars mounted on a track leading to the dock. The stack should be of the self-supporting steel type, designed to clear the highest portion of the power¬ house structure (see Plate 16 for the "Steam and Electrical Diagram for One Unit").

(4) Boiler Feed Water Feed water would be supplied from tube weUs.

Make-up water would pass through an evaporator heated by bleed steam from the turbines and saturated steam from the boilers. Thence water from the evaporators and from the feed heaters would enter the deaerators, after three stages of heating supphed by main and bleed steam. Two boiler feed pumps in parallel would supply each boiler, one motor- operated and the other turbine-operated. Each pump should be of the centrifugal type capable of delivering 120,000 lbs. per hour of feed water against a pressure of 720 lbs. per sq. in.

(5) Turbo Alternator Sets Three turbine generator units would be provided

initially. Each turbine would be of sufficient capacity to drive the generator continuously at the specified

rating when supphed with steam at 600 lbs. per sq. in. gauge pressure and 825° F. temperature at the turbine stop valve and when exhausting into a 2-inch vacuum. Each generator should have a maximum continuous rating of 10,000 kUowatts, at 80% P.F., 3,000 r.p.m., 3 phase, 50 cycles, 6,600 volts.

(6) Condenser Water The condenser water intake should be located in a

wet well at the outer corner of the dock. Three mixed- flow axial pumps should deliver 11,000 gaUons per minute each against a net head of 25 ft. when running at full speed. The head is based on recovering part of the gross head by siphon action. At the intake, trash racks to remove coarse materials should be installed flush with the dock face to be largely self cleaning. The water conduit should be of such diameter as to avoid sUtation. Each condenser should have double inlets arranged for reversing the flow and flushing out the sUt. Condensers would be of the horizontal surface type placed under the turbine exhaust flange, designed for the steam to flow over and the water through the tubes.

(7) Substation An outdoor substation would be provided with the

main transformers located near the powerhouse and switch gear in the powerhouse. The initial capacity would be 30,000 kW with space for expansion. Voltage would be stepped up from 6.6 to 132 kV at the transformer bank.

(8) Transmission Lines Initial lines should consist of a 132-kV 30,000-kW

double circuit from the power station to Myingyan and a single circuit loop from Myingyan passing north-eastward to Mandalay thence south through Myitnge and Kyaukse to Meiktila and thence returning to Myingyan. A branch line across the Ava Bridge would serve Sagaing. A double circuit line would lead from MeiktUa to Yamethin. In future it would be connected to the proposed Paunglaung hydroelectric development by a double circuit 132-kV line. The towns along the loop system would receive continuous service, uiUess outages occurred simultaneously at two points in the loop. The pro¬ posed zinc reduction plant should be located adjacent to the power station and would be served with a 6.6. kV line leading from the powerhouse. Conversion to direct current would be provided by the zinc plant. AU transmission lines would be adjacent to existing or proposed highways and railroads, crossing generally flat rice lands through which no clearing would be required.

my/^/Ai^

IRRAWADDY RIVER

WEIGHER

Âm///Âmy/^//m:m^^ '^/ty/z&fiiMm

NARROW GAUGE RAILS

FROM PUMP HOUSE

CIRCULATION WATER

PUMP HOUSE"

MAX FLOOD LINE PLUS 5 FT.

C.W. SUPPLY PIPE

SUBMERGED OUTLET

I C.W. RETURN PIPE

L \ \

FLUE DUST SUCTION SYSTEM

\ ASH CONVEYOR \ FIRING FLOOR \ \ n

ANNEX FOR FEED HEATERS,ETC,

THREE 10,000 KW. TR. A. SETS

SWITCHGEAR, LAVATORIES

HOPPER

ETC.''^ /D ^ ^ ^TRANSFORMERS

[SWITCH H0U8EI

SECTION A-A


MYINGYAN MANDALAY PROJECT

GENERAL LAYOUT OF PROPOSED STEAM PLANT

KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO NEW YORK RANGOON DR. BY /"^/^DATE PLATE CK. BY <S^T MAY 53. NO 15

ELECTRIC POWER

TABLE XIX - 19


Estimated Cost—Initial Installation (U.S. Dollars)

605

Percentage No. Description Quantity Unit Unit Cost

Cost Local Sterling U.S.

1 Investigation and Design I.s. $

300,000 20 40 40 2 Land Purchase 20 acre 200 4,000 100 — 3 Clearing and Grading 10 acre 500 5,000 80 — 20 4 Access Road 1 mi. 10,000 10,000 70 20 10 5 Water Front Riprap 3,000 s.y. 5-00 15,000 60 20 20 6 Sheet Pile Dock 250,000 lbs. 0-50 125,000 40 10 50 7 Dock Crane l.s. — — 45,000 20 60 20 8 Belt Conveyor 500 l.f. 40-00 20,000 40 — 60 9 Drag Line l.s. — — 30,000 20 60 20

10 Coal Pulverizers l.s. — — 120,000 40 —" 60 11 Power Station, Foundation 30,000 s.f. 7-00 210,000 50 — 50 12 Power Station, Superstructure 1,120,000 c.f 0-50 560,000 60 30 10 13 Boilers and Stack 360,000 Ibs./hr. 4-25 1,530,000 40 30 30 14 Boiler Auxiliaries l.s. — — 150,000 40 50 10 15 Piping 300,000 lbs. 0-25 75,000 40 50 10 16 T.A. Sets and Condensers 3 each 600,000 1,800,000 30 — 70 17 Turbine Room Crane I.s. — — 50,000 20 60 20 18 Condenser Water l.s. — — 120,000 50 — 50 19 Induced Draft System l.s. — — 80,000 40 50 10 20 Oil Pumping and Heating l.s. — —■ 20,000 30 60 10 21 Electrical Controls l.s. .—■ — 100,000 20 20 60 22 Living Quarters l.s. — — 200,000 40 50 10 23 Flood Protection

Subtotal

2,000 l.f. 50-00 100,000 60 20 20

5,669,000 24 Substation l.s. — — 250,000 20 —• 80 25 Transmission Line 181 mi. 8,000 1,450,000 50 30 20 26 >s s> 63 J» 15,000 945,000 50 30 20 27 9t 99

Subtotal

5 J? 6,000 30,000 50 30 20

8,344,000 28 Engineering and Contingencies

Total Power Station and T.L.

20% 1,656,000

41-0 22-4 10,000,000 36-6 29 Distribution System

Grand Total

3,030,000 50

43-1

30

24-2

20

13,030,000 32-7

(9) Distribution System The present distribution system at Mandalay is

maintained and administered by the Electricity Supply Board. DetaUs of the proposed new distribu¬ tion system in Mandalay, Myingyan, MeiktUa and other communities would be determined after ob¬ taining further field data. Like the Pegu system and

R.B. n—8

for the same reasons the Myingyan distribution system should be developed under the close control of a private management firm. The franchising and financing of the distribution system should be handled as recommended for the Pegu project (paragraph E-l-v of this chapter).

HIGH VOLTAGE CIRCUIT BREAKERS

T I 3CTJ: 3CT> 3CTJ:

OUTGOING OUTGOING FEEDER FEEDER

I AUX, POWER

f LOW VOLTAGE SERVICE AUXILIARY PANEL BOARD BUS Y

X I T *~X

JRANSF'MER^ 3 CT >^ DOUBLE C

} SECOND- f ARY V^NA^

3PT <''

1 AIR CIRCUIT *)

BREAKERS ^

Y Y I 1 I

LOW VOLTAGE BOILER AAUXILIARY^ÂNELBOARO BUS

AIR CIRCUIT 5^ V* BREAKERS

T T

"1—L

SURGE PROTECTION

LEGEND

COND.a FEEDWATER

CIRC. WATER

AIR LINES

=^^ SUPERHEATED STEAM

BLEED STEAM OR HIGH VOLT. ELECT. LINES

SATURATED STEAM OR LOW VOLT ELECT UNES

CONDENSER

\6ENERAT0RN

-W REACTOR

3CT DISCONNECT SWITCH

TO I ATMOSPHERE I

, PRIMING , CONDENSATE. EJECTOR n PUMP A

■ ^ dy DRAIN

-■ n TO WASTE I M I * I

TURBINE

BOILER FEED PUMPS



STEAM AND ELECTRICAL DIAGRAM FOR ONE UNIT


DR.BY^-J'v^DATE PLATE |^ CK.BY^;//;/- MAY 53 NO- iD

606

ELECTRIC POWER 607

k. Construction Materials

(1) Local purchase For estimating purposes it is assumed that local

purchases wUl include dock fenders and facing timber; water front riprap; cement, aggregates, brick and tUe for the powerhouse; framing, roofing and lumber for Uving quarters.

(2) Purchase from Countries in the "Soft Currency" Area

This may include structural steel, dock crane, drag hne excavator, boUers, turbine room crane, plumbing and electrical fixtures, reinforcing steel, sump pumps, substation, transmission and distribution equipment, and steel erection equipment.

(3) Purchase from the United States This may include sheet pUing, condenser water

pumps, belt conveyors, pulverizers, turbines and generators, earth moving equipment and concrete plant.

1. Contracts

Contracts for design, construction, supervision of construction and operation should be handled in the same manner as for the Pegu hydroelectric project (paragraphs E-l-n, o, p and q of this chapter). Design and specifications should be completed in nine months, but the dock and powerhouse layout should be accomphshed in three months to expedite foundation work. For this work the engineering fees should conform with the standards of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers or their equivalent.

m. Estimated Costs

Quantities and costs are based on incomplete data including an aerial mosaic of the industrial site at Myingyan and the Burma Survey (1 inch = l mile) maps for location of the transmission lines, (see table XIX-19, "Estimated Cost—Initial InstaUa¬ tion"). Excavation, concrete and steel costs are based on prices for simUar work recently completed in Burma. BoUers, turbines, generators and electrical controls are estimated from prehminary quotations from American and British manufacturers. A con¬ tingency and engineering factor of 20% has been aUowed in addition to a fee of approximately 3% for investigation and design. Utut charges for the distribution system are assumed as foUows:

Pyas per k Wh Zinc Reduction Plant 1 -0 Sulphuric Acid and Fertilizer Plants 2-0 Other Consumers 8 -0

The last item is somewhat greater than the present

costs for the Rangoon metropolitan area, because of the more scattered communities to be supphed. The annual charges capitalized at 12% give the total estimated cost of the distribution system presented in Table XIX-19. The over-aU cost of steam station, transmission line and distribution system are con¬ servative in comparison with the actual cost of simUar projects completed recently in other countries.

n. Production Costs The estimated annual cost of power at the load

center is computed as foUows:

CAPITAL RECOVERY WITH INTEREST AT 4-25%* Life in

Description Years Factor Investment Annual Cost % %

Boilers, Elect. Controls 20 -0752 2,200,000 165,000

Steam Turbines, etc. 22 -0714 2,400,000 171,000 Trans. Lines 35 -0555 2,425,000 134,000 Civil Eng. Works 50 -0491 2,975,000 146,000

Capital Recovery Charges 616,000

Capital Recovery Charges (balance brought forward) $616,000 Labor Cost 77,000 SuppUes, Repairs, Contingencies 21,000 Transmission Line Maint. (1 -5 % of Trans. Line 36,000

Investment) Fuel Cost (1957 market)

42-0 1 -25 X X 59,494,000 X 1-3 = 381,000 4-75 2,240 Total Annual Cost $1,131,000

Cost per kWh at load center:

1,131,000^(59,494,000x1-15) = 16-52 mUls or 7-88 pyas

* Interest has been assumed at 4 % for 75 % of the total investment and 5 % for the remainder.

Future costs are as foHows: 1962 1967

Plant capacity (v/ithout hydroelectric development) 40,000 kW 50,000 kW

Capital recovery charges Labor, supplies, etc. Fuel cost Transmission line maint.

1822,000 $1,025,000 116,000 137,000 806,000 1,080.000 48,000 60,000

$1,792,000 $2,302,000 Cost per kWh at load center, mills 12-37 12-62

pyas 5-90 6-01

o. Distribution Costs Without complete detaUs it is beheved that 8 pyas

(1-68 cents) per kWh is ample allowance for a new distribution system containing about 50% domestic load as given in Table XIX-I7 for 1957. The allow¬ ance has been reduced to 7-0 pyas for 1962 and 6-5 pyas for 1967 when loads are greater and system inefficiencies have been reduced. The annual cost for


1957-1967 and the initial investment are computed as follows:

1957 Zinc Plant K 3,68,000 Sulphur and Other Mfg. 1,51,000 General Sales 12,10,000

K 1962

6,60,000 2,10,000

21,40,000

K 1967

7,10,000 2,30,000

32,70,000

Annual Cost K 17,29,000 K 30,10,000 K 42,10,000 Investment at 12% Kl,44,00,000* K2,51,00,000 K3,51,00,000

„ in dollars $3,030,000 $5,280,000 $7,390,000 Capital Recovery with interest at 4-25 %

Amortization—20 year life -075 Operation and Maintenance -045

Total Cost -120

*Of this amount K71,79,000 or $1,510,000 is provided in the initial diesel program for supply of the Meiktila area.

p. Electric Rates

The proposed domestic rates as given in Table XIX-20 range from 50 pyas per kWh for rural (villages of 2,000 to 8,00() population) to 40 pyas, urban, in 1957. It is estimated that these rates can be reduced to 40 and 30 pyas respectively by 1967. The present rates are 75 pyas for all towns except Manda¬ lay, where the foUowing rates exist.

First 100 units Pyas 75 per kWh

Second „ „ „ 69 „ „

All other „ „ 63 „ „

TABLE XIX - 20


ESTIMATED REVENUE & COST OF ENERGY—1957 to 1967 inclusive

(All steam power development without benefit of the future Paunglaung Hydro development)

1957 1962 1967

Plant Capacity 30,000 kW 40,000 kW 50,000 kW

Sales in Est. Rate Annual Sales in Est. Rate Annual Sales in Est. Rate Annual Annual Revenue Thous. Pyasj Revenue Thous. Pyasj Revenue Thous. Pyasj Revenue

kWh kWh Thous. K kWh kWh Thous. K kWh kWh Thous. K

Domestic, Urban 5,060 40 2,030 8,430 35-0 2,950 13,040 30 3,910 Rural 3,760 50 1,880 9,880 45-0 4,450 16,580 40 6,640

Ice Plants 1,834 25 460 2,200 20-0 440 2,750 15 410 Burma Railways 1,490 25 370 3,150 20-0 630 3,950 15 590 Zinc Plant 36,800 5 1,840 82,000 4-5 3,690 101,700 4 4,060 Sulphuric Acid 3,600 10 360 6,570 9-0 590 8,760 8 700 Other Plants 3,940 10 390 6,570 9-0 590 7,890 8 630 Port Mechanization 790 25 200 1.310 20-0 260 3,930 15 590 Irrigation Pumping 2,220 25 560 5,630 20-0 1,120 9,970 15 1,490

Total Sales 59,494 8,090 125,740 14,720 168,570 19,020

Sales in Cost in Annual Sales in Cost in Annual Sales in Cost in Annual Annual Operating Cost Thous. Pyasj Cost Thous. Pyasj Cost Thous. Pyasj Cost


Capital Recovery — — 2,920 — — 3,910 — 4,870 Labor, Supplies, etc. — — 470 — — 550 —. — 650 Fuel Cost — — 1,810 — — 3,830 — — 5,140 Trans. Line Maintenance — — 170 — — 230 — — 290 Zinc Plant Distribution 36,800 1 370 82,000 0-8 660 101,700 0-7 710 Sulphuric and Other 7,540 2 150 13,140 1-6 210 16,650 1-4 230 General Distribution 15,154 8 1,210 30,600 7-0 2,140 50,220 6-5 3,270

Total Costs 7,100 j 11,530 15,160

ELECTRIC POWER

TABLE XIX - 21 MYINGYAN MANDALAY POWER PROJECT

ESTIMATED REVENUE AND COST OF ENERGY—1957 to 1967 inclusive (Steam electric station supplemented by hydroelectric power from Paunglaung development)

609

1957 1962 1967

Steam Capacity 30,000 kW 30,000 kW 30,000 kW Hydro Capacity — 40,000 80,000

Sales in Est. Rale Annual Sales in Est. Rate Annual Sales in Est. Rale Annual Annual Revenue Thous. Pyasj Revenue Thous. Pyasj Revenue Thous. Pyasj Revenue


Domestic, Urban 5,060 40-0 2,030 8,430 350 2,950 13,040 30-0 3,910 Rural 3,760 50-0 1,880 9,880 45-0 4,450 16,580 40-0 6,640

Ice Plants 1,834 25-0 460 2,200 20-0 440 2,750 15-0 410 Burma Railways 1,490 25-0 370 3,150 20-0 630 3,950 15-0 590 Zinc Plant 36,800 5-0 1,840 82,000 4-5 3,690 101,700 4-0 4,060 Sulphuric Acid 3,600 10-0 360 6,570 9-0 590 8,760 8-0 700 Other Plants 3,940 10-0 390 6,570 9-0 590 7,890 8-0 630 Port Mechanization 790 25-0 200 1,310 20-0 260 3,930 15-0 590 Irrigation Pumping 2,220 25-0 560 5,630 20-0 1,120 9,970 15-0 1,490

Annual Operating Cost Sales in Thous. kWh

Cost in Pyasj kWh

Annual Cost

Thous. K

Sales in Thous. kWh

Cost in Pyasj kWh

Annual Cost

Thous. K

Sales in Thous. kWh

Cost in Pyasj kWh

Annual Cost

Thous. K

Steam Plant Capital „ „ Labor, etc.

Fuel Cost Trans. Line Maintenance Hydro Plant Zinc Plant Dist. Sulphuric and Other General Distribution

77,400*

36,800 7,540

15,154

2-33

1-0 2-0 8-0

2,920 470

1,810 170

370 150

1,210

86,200*

68,500t 82,000 13,140 30,600

2-33

4-0 0-8 1-6 7-0

2,920 480

2,010 230

2,730 660 210

2,140

100,000*

105,2001 101,700

16,650 50,220

2-33

4-0 0-7 1-4 6-5

2,920 500

2,330 290

4,210 710 230

3,270

Total Costs 7,100 11,380 14,460

Units generated in steam plant. t Net supplied by hydro at load center

There is no rural supply at present. Small industries such as sugar mills, pumping plants, ice plants and port mechanization would receive a rate of 25 pyas per kWh initiaUy and 15 pyas in the future. Large industries, sulphuric acid and fertilizer plants would receive a rate of 10 pyas per kWh initiaUy and 8-0 pyas in the future. The zinc reduction plant would receive a rate of 5-0 pyas per kWh initially and 4-0 pyas in the future. As recommended for the Pegu project a Government rate board should establish rates for the Myingyan-Mandalay area based on the recommendations of the Electricity Supply Board

and the managers of the distribution systems.

q. Ownership and Operation

The steam station and transmission system like the Pegu power plant and transmission line should be owned and operated by the Government of Burma with the Electricity Supply Board controUing all engineering, construction and operating contracts. The distribution system, financing, marketing and granting of franchises should also be handled as for the Pegu system.


r. Conclusion

In view of the favorable conditions for the genera¬ tion of moderate low cost power using Kalewa coal and the ample prospective markets in a prosperous region able to absorb the output, it is recommended that the prelhninary investigations and design pro¬ ceed at once. If conditions are found satisfactory detaUed design and construction should be expedited to meet the estimated demands of the market area at the end of 1956.

3. SAINGDIN FALLS HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

a. General

In developing the Saingdin FaUs power project the Government's objective is to supply a substantial block of low cost power for domestic and industrial use in an area which is now predominantly agricult¬ ural. Industrial loads wUl include Government sponsored pulp and paper factories, jute bag factories, brick and roof tile plants, irrigation and domestic water supply and carbide and other chemical plants. Secondary benefits from the Saingdin Reservoir would include a large year round supply of clear water for domestic, industrial or irrigation uses. Minor flood control and navigation benefits would be realized also. Considerable Government support for the project has been generated due to the rapid postwar development in the Chittagong area of East Pakistan about 100 miles northwest of the power site. There is also strong local support with ample income to pay the annual power bUl.

b. Location

The site of the proposed development is at Saingdin Falls on the Saingdin River about 50 miles north of Akyab and ten miles east of Buthidaung, headquarters for Government activity in northern Akyab District. The Falls are located six miles upstream from the junction of the Saingdin and Mayu Rivers, where both are tidal estuaries. The tidal condition extends to the FaUs, which are 70 ft. in height. Map studies, field reconnaissance and discussion with residents of the district indicate no other falls in the Akyab District of equal volume and height. A natural storage basin 35 mUes in length at the 150-ft. contour above low water also favors the site. AvaUable storage will carry through a drought extending over a period of several years.

c. Access

SmaU boats provide access from Akyab to the FaUs via the Mayu and Saingdin Rivers. At normal low water the governing depth for navigation is about

four feet. Air service to Akyab is provided by the Union of Burma Airways (Douglas DC-3 planes), there being four flights a week from Rangoon. Regular coastal shipping service is avaUable between Rangoon and Akyab. Seagoing ships caU at Akyab for rice and rice products during rice shipping season. Akyab has an excellent deep water port to receive ocean ships but heavy cargo must be transferred by lighter from ship to shore or to the dam site. The district is isolated from central Burma by the Arakan Mountains and there are are no motorable roads or raUroads connecting the two regions.

d. Market Area

The Akyab District and adjacent areas totalling about 8,000 square miles comprise the market area for the Saingdin Falls power project. About 25 % of the area is arable and under cultivation. Most of the remaining 75 % is rolling to rugged and not suitable for agriculture. The hiUs and mountains are generaUy covered with forests which include extensive areas of dense bamboo suitable for the manufacture of paper. The area is bounded on the north by Pakistan; on the east by the Arakan Mountains; and on the south and west by the Bay of Bengal (see Plate 17).

e. Existing Development

The population of the Akyab District is 840,000 and that of the market area is somewhat greater. The income of the area in 1938-39, corrected for increase in the price level since that time, is estimated at K25,00,00,000. The per capita income was slightly (perhaps 5 %) higher than for Burma as a whole. The population is engaged principaUy in the production of rice and its export to India. Fruit, vegetables, poultry, tobacco, fish, bamboo products and brick are produced for local use. Bazaars are stocked with cheap cloth, low cost merchandise and a few canned foods. Movement of goods and food is normaUy by river steamers, sampans and dugout canoes. Surplus earnings appear to be spent on ornaments ranging from rough tin bangles up to gold and precious stones: and on costly pagoda temples and reUgious shrines.

f. Future Development

(1) Pulp and Paper

The Government is actively promoting the con¬ struction of a pulp and paper mUl, using the local bamboo as pulp wood. Complete investigation by experts has verified that the bamboo supply is ample to sustain a total output of at least 100 tons per day.

92/20 93


SAINGDIN FALLS HYDRO PROJECT

MAP OF MARKET AREA

AND TRANSMISSION LINE

KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO NEW YORK RANGOON

DATE PLATE MAY, 53 NO.

Water shed area.C^^lx^^^^ Reservoir area.

-Transmission line •■ Ail weather road.

Jeepoble In dry season.

ELECTRIC POWER 611 The present and anticipated worid demand including substantial needs within Burma assure an ample market for the output. Tenders for the design of the first instaUation have been received and a contract wUl be awarded in the near future for this work.

(2) Jute

Experimental cultivation of jute has been successful. Test bales have been sent to Japan for spinning and weaving in order to plan a buriap mill. It is probable that burlap bags can be economicaUy produced in Akyab District and the expenditure of K.4,40,00,000 per year (1951 estimate) of foreign exchange for imported bags avoided. A project report has been submitted on the jute miU project.

(3) Brick and TUe

AU roofing tUe for Burma is imported. Common brick is of poor quahty. TUes can be produced in Akyab area and the quahty of brick greatly unproved in Government operated plants, saving foreign exchange and the necessity for stucco work on the exterior of the rough brick waUs, now standard practice throughout Burma. It is probable that hoUow waU tile can be produced to back up brick veneer or to construct lightweight partition walls. Salt glazed vitrified sewer pipe can be made in the same plant.

(4) Chemicals

Production of carbide, caustic soda, chlorine and other basic chemicals is under consideration by the Government. The estabUshment of such new industry is favored by the presence of raw materials, limestone and salt at Kyaukpyu with ocean haul of 100 miles to Akyab and low cost electric energy from Saingdin FaUs. Substantial quantities of these products will be used by the welding operations, paper factories and fertilizer industry.

(5) Pumping

Dry weather irrigation and domestic water supply can be developed from the Saingdin reservoir, from natural ponds and old river channels located in the Mayu delta, and from wells. Pumping loads will become a major factor in the power system during the dry season. Pumps for drainage and for filling storage ponds during the wet season wiU tend to even up the annual load curve.

(6) Rubber

It is probable that rubber plantations can be developed successfuUy on the foothills adjacent to the rice and jute lands. It is understood that experimental plantations by the Government will be started in the near future.

g. Prospective Load The principal power loads now anticipated for

1962 are summarized below: ESTIMATED 1962 MAXIMUM DEMAND

No. Description Demand in kW 1. Domestic 3,708 2. Ice Plants, Port Mechanization, etc. 775 3. Rice Mills 3,500 4. Paper Factories 10,000 5. Jute Bag Factories 800 6. Brick and Roof Tile Plant 400 7. Carbide Plant 1,500 8. Pumping Loads 3,000 9. Caustic Soda, Chlorine 2,600

10. Paper Factory (Steam generation) 15,000

Total Demand 41,283 For detaUs of the above summary refer to Table

XIX-22 {seep. 612) "Estimated Power Requirements, Akyab District".

h. Technical DetaUs (1) Rainfall

For five stations in the Akyab District and three stations in the Chittagong District (Pakistan) for the eyars 1901 to 1952 inclusive, the annual rainfaU is shown in Table XIX-23 {see p. 613). The data were obtained from the Meteorological Department or from the Government of Pakistan through that Department. At Akyab the rainfall varied from a maximum of 323 inches in 1918 to a minimum of 135 inches in 1925. At Chittagong it varied from a maximum of 153 inches in 1927 to a minimum of 67 inches in 1907. The weighted average for the Saingdin Falls watershed varies from a maximum of 262 inches in 1918 to a minimum of 11 1 inches in 1933 (see Table XIX 25, p. 615). Theissen's method has been used to determine the weighted average when records of adjacent stations are available. For 1901-1906 and 1947-1952 it was necessary to construct a rainfaU relation curve, Akyab vs. Saingdin watershed in order to approximate the rainfaU over the watershed for those years. For 1939-1945 the rainfall over the watershed was approximated by a rainfaU relation curve, Chittagong vs. Saingdin. (2) Stream Flow

Daily gauge heights at Saingdin FaUs have been recorded from May 1, 1952, to date. The gauge was installed and current meter measurements were made by experienced personnel of the Electricity Supply Board. A local village headman was employed to read and record the gauge heights. The stage- discharge curve is given on Plate 18. Based on the gauge readings and the discharge curve, an estimate of runoff for 1952 is given (Table XIX-24, p. 614) and the runoff" factor is computed to be 55.7%.


TABLE XIX - 22 ESTIMATED POWER REQUIREMENTS, AKYAB DISTRICT

(Including the Paper Factory without Steam Generation)

1951 (Actual) 1957 (Estimated) 1962 (Estimated) 1967 (Estimated)

Annual kWhjcap.

Population Annual kWhjcap.



Population

Akyab Buthidaung Ponnagyun Maungdaw Rathedaung Rural

4-2 38,000

800,000*

15 10 15 10 10

2

50,000 15,000 10,000

8,000 7,000

830,000

20 15 20 15 15

5

60,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000

890,000

25 20 20 15 15

8

70,000 35,000 25,000 20,000 20,000

950,000

DOMESTIC POWER REQUIREMENTS kW kWh kW kWh kW kWh kW kWh

Location max. Load per year max. Load per year max. Load per year max. Load per year Demand Factor Sales Demand Factor Sales Demand Factor Sales Demand Factor Sales

Akyab 89 20 159,388 428 20 750,000 547 25 1,200,000 667 30 1,750,000 Buthidaung — — — 114 15 150,000 214 20 375,000 320 25 700,000 Ponnagyun — — — 86 20 150,000 183 25 400,000 229 25 500,000 Maungdaw — — — 61 15 80,000 128 20 225,000 171 20 300,000 Rathedaung — — — 53 15 70,000 86 20 150,000 171 20 300,000 Rural — — — 1,265 15 1,660,000 2,550 20 4,450,000 4,330 20 7,600,000

Total Domestic 2,007 2,860,000 3,708 6,800,000 5,888 11,150,000

BULK POWER REQU IREME NTS

Akyab Ice Plants — — 50 50 219,000 100 50 438,000 150 50 656,000 „ Cold Storage — — — 75 60 394,000 150 60 788,000 250 60 1,310,000 „ Rice Mills 2,328t _ 2,500 30 6,560,000 3,500 30 9,190,000 4,500 30 1,1,800,000

Port Mechanization — — —• 110 20 193,000, 250 20 436,000 500 20 438,000 Paper Factories — — — 5,000 50 21,900,000 10,000 50 43,800,000 15,000 50 65,600,000 Jute Bag Factory — — — 400 40 1,400,000 800 40 2,800,000 1,200 40 4,200,000 Brick and Roof Tile — — 200 40 700,000 400 40 1,400,000 600 40 2,100,000 Carbide Plant — — — 700 50 3,060,000 1,500 50 6,600,000 2,500 50 10,900,000 Caustic Soda — — — 1,300 50 5,690,000 2,600 50 11,400,000 4,000 50 17,500.000 Pumping Loads — — 1,500 25 3,280,000 3,000 25 6,600,000 4,500 25 9,800,000 Buthidaung Ice Plants — — 30 50 131,000 50 50 219,000 100 50 438,000 Ponnagyun Ice Plants — — — 30 50 131,000 50 50 219,000 100 50 438,000

,, Docks — — — 85 20 149,000 175 20 306,000 400 20 700,000

Total Bulk — — — 11,980 43,807,000 22,575 84,196,000 33,800 125,880,000

Domestic 89 — .—, 2,007 2,860,000 3,708 6,800,000 5,888 11,150,000 Bulk 2,328t — — 11,980 43,807,000 22,575 84,196,000 33,800 125,880,000

Grand Total 2,417 — Incomplete 13,987 46,667,000 26,283 90,996,000 39,688 137,030,000

Max. Simultaneous De¬ mand at Generators 13,000 41-Ot 25,000 41-St 37,000 42-33:

(In eluding the Paper F actory with Steam Generat ion)

Domestic 89 20 159,388 2,007 — 2,860,000 3,708 6,800,000 5,888 11,150,000 Bulk 2,328 — — 11,980 — 43,807,000 22,575 84,196,000 33,800 125,880,000 Paper Factory (Steam) — — — 15,000 50 65,600,000 15,000 65,600,000 15,000 65,600,000

Grand Total 2,417 — Incomplete 28,987 112,267,000 41,283 156,596,000 54,688 202,690,000 §

Max. Simultaneous De¬

* Estimated. t Based on 1941 Installations. I System load factor. § Demand approaches capacity of hydro plant and estimated sales exceed available power supply, therefore paper factory electric

boilers should be replaced with coal boilers about 1966.

ELECTRIC POWER 613 TABLE XIX - 23

SAINGDIN FALLS PROJECT

Annual, Monthly Maximum, Daily Maximum Rainfall in Inches at Selected Stations

Burma 1 1

Pakistan

Year Akyab Rathe¬ Buthi¬ Kyauk Pal¬ Cox Chitta¬ Lama daung daung taw etwa Bazaar gong

1901 206-1 151-3 — 144-3 144-7 88-1 _ 1902 189 0 192-1 — — 125-6 160-5 124-5 1903 232 6 178-8 —. .— 108-6 122-9 95-3 1904 187 4 190-0 — — 136-9 134-7 95-7 _ 1905 235 5 251-1 — — 138-4 149-9 140-8 1906 176 8 165-9 158-7 — 140-9 136-6 101-4 1907 210 8 182-9 148-8 — 109-6 96-1 67-1 1908 204 7 140-8 133-7 — 118-5 133-4 95-3 1909 233 9 174-0 186-4 — 127-1 145-1 141-2 1910 217 9 173-7 147-2 — 103-7 100-6 98-6 1911 209 5 185-2 215-1 159-7 131-4 146-6 122-7 1912 235 8 264-8 158-8 133-3 111-3 131-1 103-5 1913 213 8 216-7 186-2 138-1 116-0 147-4 143-3 1914 236 3 143-4 202-0 154-8 137-8 137-9 110-3 1915 248 5 183-1 219-5 209-5 163-2 140-0 138-8 1916 269 0 156-5 206-9 101-5 126-6 150-7 114-8 114-3 1917 225 1 132-0 204-5 162-8 132-5 150-3 104-0 124-9 1918 323 5 148-0 329-7 262-0 199-4 217-6 125-5 126-4 1919 239 4 171-7 251-1 178-4 119-2 149-9 124-8 119-2 1920 224 5 200-8 226-3 139-2 104-7 137-2 87-9 110-7 1921 222 4 207-5 232-1 210-0 137-1 140-5 123-3 145-1 1922 233 9 197-8 225-7 114-1 120-3 124-4 78-2 106-7 1923 259 8 204-6 219-4 186-3 156-4 147-8 136-8 163-9 1924 252 6 202-7 210-9 189-8 150-0 164-2 133-1 116-4 1925 134 6 198-6 126-5 158-2 125-4 124-2 132-8 97-2 1926 245 1 205-9 192-4 184-5 162-0 158-4 121-3 133-7 1927 155 6 170-1 185-2 144-2 119-0 120-0 153-4 94-4 1928 203 4 169-6 199-2 146-1 125-8 103-6 109-8 104-4 1929 213 0 159-3 208-9 143-6 131-9 130-5 110-6 119-4 1930 197 1 148-4 156-6 143-8 122-1 139-4 90-5 101-1 1931 203 2 143-2 154-4 138-6 139-5 142-6 108-7 97-5 1932 185 1 163-0 156-4 178-8 140-1 140-7 117-5 110-5 1933 169 4 107-9 129-6 195-1 194-5 100-3 120-9 99-6 1934 168 8 153-1 143-6 161-1 147-5 142-5 117-0 123-1 1935 162 7 138-5 163-1 149-3 109-6 108-5 91-4 83-6 1936 159 2 177-4 165-3 166-6 133-2 143-3 104-0 139-8 1937 176 4 216-4 204-7 184-1 161-7 176-7 118-6 141-3 1938 215 4 191-2 173-3 137-9 123-8 151-7 122-9 120-6 1939 156-0 108-1 138-7 1940 148-2 123-0 125-1 1941 193-2 117-3 148-3 1942 154-1 97-5 111-5 1943 148-4 92-8 91-9 1944 116-5 94 0 89-4 1945 167-9 106-4 106-1 1946 1947 205-3 1948 241-8 1949 181-2 1950 177-3 1951 208-3 13M 1952 217-5 164-5 1953

Average 211-5 177-6 186-2 160-4 130-7 141-7 112-3 116-8 Max. Month 62-1 77-7 71-2 81-7 53-6 Max.

(3) Regulated Flow The annual rainfall data for 1901-1952 at Akyab

and Saingdin watershed weighted average are given in Table XlX-25, together with the computed annual runoff" based on a 50% runoff" factor. The runoff" modified by storage would have yielded a minimum of 1,430,000 acre feet per year. After deducting 40,000 acre feet for evaporation an average daily flow of 1,910 cusecs would have been maintained during the driest period of record, 1929-1947 inclusive, using 820,000 acre feet of reservoir capacity. As shown on the area capacity curve, Plate 19, the drawdown, spillway crest to minimum reservoir, would have been about 35 ft. in order to utilize the stored water. Plate 20 shows graphically the informa¬ tion given in Table XIX-25.

(4) Firm Power Continuous firm power is computed as foUows:

Pool Elev. 230 TaU Water Elev. 10 Gross Head 220 ft. Av. Head 220-35_=202- 5 ft. Net Head (95 %)= 192 ft.

2 Continuous Power 1,910 x 192=24,500kW.

IT Initial Output 40,000 kW at 50% station capacity

factor 20,000x8760=175,000,000 kWh at station ■9X 175,000,000= 157,000,000kWh at load center.

Ultimate Output * 60,000 kW at 41 % station capacity factor 24,500x8760=214,000,000 kWh at station •9x214,000,000=192,000,000 kWh at load center.

* A fourth unit of 20,000 kW may be added at some future date if justified by the water supply or capacity factor.

(5) Penstock Size The normal maximum demand from three units

will be 4,680 cusecs based on 60,000 kW ultimate installation, and 192 ft. average net head. For a 20-ft. diameter penstock the maximum velocity would be 14.9 ft. per sec. at average head, or 16.3 ft. per sec. at extreme low water for the 175 ft. minimum net head and 5,140 cusecs maximum demand. If a fourth unit should be installed the velocities would be increased 33% to 19.8 and 21-7 ft. per sec. respect¬ ively. It is concluded that the 20-ft. diameter penstock is a conservative selection based on present estimates of the size and type of market. It is in accordance with economic standards of design for short pen¬ stocks, which require 15 to 20-ft. per sec. velocity under the condition of normal head and output.

(6) Diversion Tunnel The year 1952 produced peak flows of 19,000

cusecs in June and again in July. RainfaU for 1952 appears to have four-year frequency based on the "RainfaU Duration Curve," Plate 21, and can be


TABLE XIX - 24

SAINGDIN FALLS PROJECT

RainfaU and Runoff for Calendar Year 1952

Jan.- Apr.

May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

RainfaU* 2-79 19-14 36-35 66-44 41-43 28-98 18-77 3.63 NU Runofff

1 430 1,820 5,860 17,060 3,570 2,550 2,180 1,280 2 430 1,530 5,400 7,820 3,250 1,820 2,780 1,170 3 430 1,530 3,000 11,235 3,250 1,530 1,400 1,280 4 430 1,680 3,000 15,605 3,000 1,400 1,680 1,170 5 430 1,680 4,600 14,630 3,000 1,060 1,820 1,170 6 730 1,680 3,000 13,660 3,000 2,350 2,000 1,060 7 ^ 730 1,680 2,350 12,205 6,360 2,000 2,350 1,060 8 o 620 2,000 2,180 10,265 5,000 1,680 1,680 940 9 > 730 1,530 10,750 10,750 4,200 1,820 1,400 430 10 ^

o^ 520 1,280 8,300 12,205 4,200 2,000 1,280 430 11 v. 520 1,170 3,250 8,300 9,770 5,860 2,350 430 12 a 340 1,680 3,570 4,600 3,860 5,400 2,780 430 13 g 250 2,550 3,860 3,250 7,820 4,600 2,000 430 14 C3 160 2,180 8,300 2,180 3,860 3,860 1,680 430 15 o 80 1,680 7,350 6,360 2,350 2,350 1,530 430 16 3 830 3,570 4,200 3,860 4,200 2,780 1,280 430 17 § 620 2,550 3,860 3,860 2,550 2,350 1,060 430 18 O o 430 3,570 3,000 3,860 2,180 1,680 1,400 430 19 ^ 340 2,780 3,860 3,860 2,180 1,530 1,280 430 20 ® 250 1,680 3,250 3,250 3,000 1,280 1,060 430 21 09

^ 340 2,000 2,780 3,000 9,770 1,400 940 430 22 CO

1,170 1,820 3,250 2,550 9,770 1,170 830 430 23 1—1 1,060 1,280 4,600 1,680 8,300 940 1,170 430 24 »—1 1,060 1,400 13,175 1,400 5,860 730 1,060 430 25 830 1,530 12,205 2,780 8,780 1,680 940 430 26 830 4,600 13,660 9,270 6,840 2,780 940 430 27 830 5,860 15,120 16,575 3,860 2,550 830 430 28 1,170 6,000 18,515 13,660 3,250 2,350 830 430 29 1,060 6,000 19,000 7,820 2,780 2,550 730 430 30 1,820 19,000 13,660 6,000 3,570 2,000 730 430 31 3,000 — 17,545 5,000 — 1,680 — 430

* 1952 Rainfall at Akyab t 1952 Runoff, Saingdin Falls

Weighted Average Rainfall. Saingdin Watershed (based on Rainfall Relation Curve) 865,900x2

217-53 inches. 865,900 day second feet. 164-5 inches or 13-7 feet.

-. Rimoff Factor= 13-7x640x354' =55-7%

tised as a basis for determining the capacity of the diversion tunnel. For a 25-ft. diameter concrete lined tunnel with a velocity of 40 ft. per sec. the diversion capacity would be 19,700 cusecs and with 50-ft. velocity, 24,500 cusecs. As to the Pegu plant, these velocities wiU be dependent on cofTerdam pond levels at the time of a possible construction flood in the wet season, and construction schedules should provide for completion of the earth dam to a point above the danger level, during the dry season.

(7) Field Investigation Seventeen diamond drUl holes have been com¬

pleted and the cores are avaUable at the Electricity Supply Board, Rangoon Office. Core logs are on file at the foUowing Government offices:

(a) Resident Engineer, Saingdin FaUs {b) Electricity Supply Board, Rangoon (c) Geological Department, Rangoon {d) Knappen Tippetts Abbett Engineering Co.,

Rangoon

ELECTRIC POWER 615

TABLE XIX - 25

SAINGDIN FALLS PROJECT (354 sq. mi. Watershed) RainfaU and Runoff for Calendar Years 1901-1952

Annual Rainfall Thousand Acre Feet per Year Net Year Cusecs

Con¬ Akyab Saing¬ In¬ Make Deple¬ Yieldf din flow* up tion tinuous

1901 206-14 158" 1,490 1,490 1,990 1902 189-03 146 1,380 50 50 1,430 1,910 1903 232-55 173

►t 1,630 — 50 0 1,580 2,110

1904 187-37 145 1,370 60 60 1,430 1,910 1905 235-50 175 1,650 — 60 0 1,590 2,120 1906 176-79 149 1,410 20 20 1,430 1,910 1907 210-71 128-5 1,220 110 130 1,430 it

1908 204-72 125-9 1,190 240 370 1,430 19

1909 233-92 155-9 1,470 — 40 330 1,430 if

1910 217-85 124-5 1,180 250 580 1,430 1»

1911 209-51 171-8 1,620 —190 390 1,430 1912 235-80 134-5 1,270 160 550 1,430 >» 1913 213-83 150-0 1,420 10 560 1,430 1914 236-29 169-2 1,600 —170 390 1,430 if

1915 248-51 1900 1,800 —370 20 1,430 1916 269-02 165-5 1,560 — 20 0 1,540 2,060 1917 225-06 167-3 1,580 — — 1,580 2,110 1918 323-48 262-5 2,390 — — 2,390 3,220 1919 239-43 183-5 1,730 — — 1,730 2,320 1920 224-53 163-5 1,540 — — 1,540 2,060 1921 222-40 183-3 1,730 — — 1,730 2,320 1922 233-93 170-9 1,610 — — 1,610 2,160 1923 259-77 186-9 1,770 — .— 1,770 2,370 1924 252-55 178-5 1,690 — — 1,690 2,260 1925 134-55 126-0 1.190 240 240 1,430 1,910 1926 245-06 176-5 1,670 —240 0 1,430 ,j

1927 155-45 150-9 1,420 10 10 1,430 >J

1928 203-36 161-5 1,530 — 10 0 1,520 2,030 1929 212-98 169 0 1,600 — — 1,600 2,140 1930 197-12 138-5 1,310 120 120 1,430 1,910 1931 203-22 146-0 1,380 50 170 1,430 J3

1932 185-07 147-5 1,390 40 210 1,430 ,j

1933 169-40 111-3 1,050 380 590 1,430 )I

1934 168-82 145-0 1,370 60 650 1,430 i»

1935 162-74 135-2 1,280 150 800 1,430 t>

1936 159-20 148-9 1,410 20 820 1,430 5»

1937 176-38 182-5 1,720 —290 530 1,430 » 1938 215-43 147-4 1,390 40 570 1,430 ss

1939 rl08-12 158- 1,490 — 60 510 1,430 it

1940 122-98 165 1.560 —130 380 1,430 >9

1941 117-28 162 1,530 —100 280 1,430 f>

1942 §■ 97-54 152 ■II 1,440 — 10 270 1,430 ») 1943 92-77 150 1,420 10 280 1,430 ft

1944 93-76 151 1,420 10 290 1,430 f*

1945 J 06-45 157. 1,480 — 50 240 1,430 „ 1946 — - — — — 1,430 J*

1947 205-33 157' 1,480 — 50 190 1,430 1,910 1948 241-83 178 1,680 —190 0 1,490 1.990 1949 181-17 141

■*

1,330 100 100 1,430 1,910

1950 177-25 138 1,300 130 230 1,430 1,910

1951 208-29 159 1,500 — 70 160 1,430 1,910

* Inflow based on 50% runoff fartor. t Including evaporation of 40,000 Ac. Ft./Yr. X Proportioned from Akyab rainfall. § Chittagong rainfall. II Proportioned from Chittagong rainfall.

A map showing the location and depth of the drUl holes is in preparation for reference of above hsted Government offices and for use in the detaUed design of the structures. The map shows 5-ft. contours of the dam, power house, spUlway and borrow pit areas.

The results of driUing indicate the presence of massive sandstone under the dam and power house area with hard blue shale in the tunnel site. The left abutment is deeply weathered and wiU require a deep cutoff trench and grouting to prevent seepage. The saddle spUlway wUl be founded on hard shale at a depth of 60 ft. below ground surface.

Ten test pits have been excavated in the borrow area (see Plate 22) indicating ample quantities of clay sUt and shale for the earth dam. Samples and logs are avaUable as for the core borings.

(8) Earth Dam In view of the avaUabiUty of earth fiU materials

and the long haul for suitable concrete aggregates, a roUed earth fiU wiU be more economical than a concrete gravity dam. Other favorable factors are the existence of a natural saddle beyond the right abutment for economical spiUway construction and the angUng position of the faUs which permits by¬ passing them with a short tunnel and a long taUrace channel in ledge rock below the faUs. The rock from the taUrace excavation is suitable for slope protection on an earth dam, but not sufficiently durable for good concrete aggregates. The dam section has been estimated at one in three upstream slope, one in two downstream, with 30-ft. top width to accommodate an access road. The centre portion of the dam would be clay sUt containing weathered shale from the borrow pit upstream of the tunnel intake. The zoning, riprap, cutoff and grouting procedures would closely resemble those recommended for the Pegu dam.

(9) Outlet Works The left abutment location was chosen for the

outlet works in order to by-pass the faUs with a minimum length of tunnel and discharge channel (see Plate 22). The tunnel would be located in shale or sandstone, and its construction and that of the penstock would be simUar to the Pegu construction. At the downstream end three lateral ten-foot diameter pipes would lead to three turbines in the powerhouse, each protected by a ten-foot diameter penstock valve. The 20-foot pipe would be reduced in stages to 10-feet in passing the laterals and the discharge end would be controUed by two ten-foot valves in tandem. The tunnel discharge channel would be concrete lined for 450 feet below the outlet portal.

DISCHARGE IN THOUSANDS OF SECOND-FEET I 2 3 4 5 6 7 e 9 10 II 12 13 14 IS 16

I- Ul Ul

S 8

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NO. DATE GAUGE READING DISCHARGE RIVER STAGE

1 SEP 1 1952 6 • 68 3280 FALLING 2 „ 2 ' 6- 56 3100 STATIONARY 3 .. 4 , 6- 48 2692 " 4 " 6 1 6- 49 30 1 6 « t

5 '. 7 ' 7- 43 656 8 RISING 6 .1 7 . 7- 50 68 2 4 STATIONARY 7 ., 8 9 7-13 5068 PALLING 8 9' 9 . 6 89 4 128 STATIONARY 9 ., 9 , 6- 85 4020 FALLING 10 "11 . 8- 08 95 1 2 STATIONARY



AKYAB DISTRICT

STAGE-DISCHARGE CURVE KNAPPEN TiPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO. NEW YORK RANGOON

616

2

< O

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u -I bJ

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340

320

300

280

260

240

220

200

180

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

3000

CAPACITY IN THOUSAND ACRE-FEET

2500 2000 15 00 1000 500 1

-^

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> y i kCT IVE ST OR IQE ->-> ^^ CZ/n..

^ y 1

^ y\ ^-v

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/

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70

AREA IN THOUSAND ACRES



RESERVOIR AREA-CAPACITY CURVE KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO. NEW YORK RANGOON

DR. BY,'^•^'^ DATE PLATE IQ CK.BY. C/Vr MAY 53. NO- 1*7

617

1910 1920 YEARS

1930 1940 1950

2500

2250

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2000

1750

I 500

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SHAOINe INDICATES WATER FROM STORAGE

YIELD J,430jOOO A/p



ANNUAL RUNOFF HYDROGRAPH

KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO NEW YORK RANGOON DR.BY./f--^-;^ DATE PLATE CK. BY. CAfr MAY 53 NO 20

615

UJ 250

»

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PER CENT OF TIME ( 52 YEARS RECORD )


ANNUAL SAINGDIN WEIGHTED AVERAGE

RAINFALL DURATION CURVE KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO NEW YORK RANGOON

DR. BY £'J/^ DATE PLATE CK. BY C?>/7" MAY 53. NO

619

21


(10) SpiUway (13) Substation

About I mUe west of the dam site there is a natural saddle in which the spillway channel would be excavated as shown on Plates 22 and 23. There would be a concrete apron and slope paving at the control to prevent erosion and low flash boards to increase discharge at all stages during a spillway design flood. Analysis has been made of several hypothetical floods showing the dominant factor of surcharge storage in every case (see Plates 24 and 25, Flood Hydrographs and Mass Curves of Reservoir Inflow and Outflow). For the maximum assumption, 16-5 inches runoff in 24 hours and a peak flow of 12,000 times the square root of the drainage area, there will be over five feet of freeboard at maximum reservoir level, (top of dam, el. 245-0) assuming all turbines and sluice valves closed throughout the flood. After such a flood, 210 days would be required to empty the surcharge volume if turbines and valves remain closed, and 14 days if opened to release an average of 8,500 day second feet. The spillway channel outlet has a favor¬ able location about 2^ miles downstream from the powerhouse and tailrace.

(11) Powerhouse

Two 28,000 horsepower-at-normal-head vertical Francis turbines directly connected to 20,000 kW water wheel generators would be provided initially. The power house substructure founded on rock below the falls would include the draft tube for a third unit of 20,000 kW, and in future could be extended to accommodate a fourth unit in line with the others supplied by a penstock from the ten-foot sluice valve. With 70 inches of rain in a month, indoor equipment is indicated. In other respects the power¬ house construction would closely resemble that planned for the Pegu project.

(12) Tailrace

To provide a low level outlet for powerhouse and sluice discharge, a long tailrace would be excavated in rock, as shown on Plate 22 having an estimated width of 75 ft. The width is subject to detailed economic study, comparing annual fixed charges with annual value of increased energy at 3-5 pyas per kWh. It should be noted that the taUrace excava¬ tion is the principal source of firm rock for riprap and slop protection on the dam. Therefore, the cost of increasing the width or depth will not be totally charged against the cost of increased energy, as long as the rock produced can be used advantageously in the dam.

An outdoor substation would be provided with the main transformers located at the powerhouse and the switching structure on rock west of the outlet channel. The initial capacity would be 40,000 kW with layout to permit extension to add 20,000 kW in the future and possibly another 20,000 kW in the distant future. Voltage would be stepped up from 13-8 to 66 kV at the transformer bank. A double circuit 60,000 kW line would lead westward to supply Mayu VaUey communities, the proposed paper factory and Akyab. A future 20,000 kW line would lead eastward to supply the Kaladan Valley.

(14) Transmission Line

Initial lines would consist of 66,000-volt 60,000-kW double circuit from the power station to a junction five miles south of Rathedaung, as shown on Plate 17. From the junction one 40,000-kW double circuit line would supply Ponnagyun and the proposed paper factory at Kyaukseik; and one 20,000 kW double circuit line would supply Akyab. Secondary lines would supply Buthidaung, by a 3,000-kW single circuit and Hponnyoleik with 1,000 kW. Future hnes would extend from Buthidaung to Maungdaw and possibly from the power station eastward to the Kaladin Valley. The latter line would be located in rugged, jungle-covered terrain without existing access roads. All other lines would be adjacent to existing jeep roads or navigable water routes, in generaUy flat rice lands with no clearing required.

(15) Distribution System

DetaUs of the proposed distribution system must be determined after further field studies. Develop¬ ment, franchising and financing should be handled as recommended for the Pegu project.

i. Construction Materials and Equipment

(1) Earth FUl

The borrow area for the earth dam would be located just upstream from the tunnel intake in the left abutment. It contains ample quantities of clay sih with fragments of weathered shale suitable for rolhng into the impervious portion of the dam. The haul would be downhUl for most of the material and the distance would vary from 1,000 to 2,000 ft. The construction of haul roads would not be difficult. A temporary bridge over the tunnel intake channel would be required.

I- UJ UJ u. 5 18^ -I UJ > UI 16

DISCHARGE OVER SPILLWAY CREST IN THOUSAND CUSECS 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26

14 UJ (C u

3: J 10 a.

Ul 8 > o CD < 6

QC UJ

UJ 2

O 0 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26

W.S.L.OF RESERVOIR

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SPILLWAY CONTROL POINT EL. 0 0 (ASSUMED EQUAL TO 0,D.230) -A

BW!l^v.^/,v^^V/'AV^-'>^vÂw^'^^/'AV/'Av.^/^^wA^/yAV/V^v-Âw^^^^^^^

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SPILLWAY CHANNEL APPROACH CHANNEL

SKETCH SHOWING LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF APPROACH a SPILLWAY CHANNEL

SKETCH SHOWING C.S.OF SPILLWAY CHANNEL MINISTRY OF NATIONAL PLANNING


SECT'S a RATING CURVES SADDLE SPILLWAY.


DR.BY. ^-^ DATE PLATE CK.BY. fST/Yr" MAY,53. NO. 23

R.B. II—9 621

240

O < O o o

0£ 81 SS

CURVE I.

0-1-J^""^---

LENfr to t

ÎME'^'IN HOURS

J3MMAH0 YAWJJiq? Cl/I

NORMAL HYDROGRAPH BASED ON PEAK INFLOW OF Qm= lO.OPQ v/A =i iflTÔOi? CUSECS AND PERIOD OF CONCtNTW^^ ilS' -HtiQftS. . / Toss.0,0 OT JAUl NORJÂJL JIYDROGRAPH MODIFIED FOR STORM WATER

~lTPIT-2r ITOtmS AND VOLUME EQUIVA- rAmM?PW;^.7 50X lO^CU.FT. OR

-'^gf2-2lLpOO ACRE-FT WITH .jj>£n.=j JJ^NCONTROLLEO

3. MODIFICATION OF JOmmZ' tmjPR&GRAPH FOR INITIAL

CURVES 2 8 3 SIMULTANEOUSLY.

CURVE 5. NORMAL HYDROGRAPH CORRECTED TO STORM WATER INFLOW VOLUME OF 224,000 AC'ffE FT. IN 24 HOURS AND PEAK INTENSITY OF FLOOD mJEEPJTi} 187,000

CURVE

CUSECS.

DMIMMAJq JAMOITAH ^0 Y«T3IM(M

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SPILLWAY DESIGN FLOOD HYDROGRAPH

KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO. NEWYORK RANGOON OR BY ^JTj^ DATE PLATE CK BY tSyyr MAY 53. NO 24

m2

300 y -^

CURVE SHOWING RELATION BETWEEN STORM

WATER INFLOW INTO RESERVOIR , OISCH A RGE

OVER SPILLWAY, TURBINE AND PENSTOCK

/ /

280 r' /

/

260 SLUICE, AND RISE OF FLOOD WATER ABOVE

/ SPILLWAY CREST. INFLOW FROM FLOOD

HYDROGRAPH CURVE Tv" /I /—

240

UJ UJ 220

1

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TIME IN HOURS FROM COMMENCEMENT OF STORM

10

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MASS CURVE INFLOW-OUTFLOW


OR. BY^f-^ DATE PLATE CK, BY C^r MAY, 53 NO. 25

623


(2) Gravel and Broken Stone

Pervious material to form the shells or filtering portions of the earth dam can be obtained from two sources: {a) rounded gravel from branch streams in very limited quantity and {b) shale outcrops on both abutments upstream or downstream from the dam. The latter should be the principal source of pervious material as the available quantity is large and the shale is resistant to disintegration if protected from drying. It should be mixed, graded, and zoned as for the Pegu dam.

j. Other Features

Slope protection, materials, equipment and pro¬ cedure for contracting should also be handled as for the Pegu project. Quantities and costs based on con¬ siderations similar to those discussed for the Pegu project are given in Table XIX-26 "Estimated Costs—Initial Installation" {see p. 625).

k. Production Costs

The estimated annual costs of power at the load center are computed as follows:

Capital recovery with interest at 4-25%

Life Annual Description in years Factor Investment Cost

20 -0752 150,000 11,300

25 -0655 1,600,000 104,800

Electrical Controls Generators, Portion

of Substation Turbines, Butterfly

Valves, Trash Racks 35 -0555 1,630,000 90,500 Transmission Line 35 -0555 1,620,000 90,000 Civil Engineering Works

Building 50 -0491 11,080,000 543,000 Operation and

Maintenance -0127 16,080,000 204,000

Annual Cost, Initial Development (6-5%) 1,043,600

Note: Interest has been assumed at 4 % for 75 % of total invest¬ ment and 5% for the remainder.

Cost per k Wh at Load Center (Initial Development)

kWh Mills Pyas

Total power (see para. 3-h-(4)) 157,000,000 6-67 3-18 Est. sales 1957 (Table XIX-22

corrected for output at load center) 129,000,000 8-11 3-86

67% of total 105,000,000 9-95 4-74 Ultimate development 6-5%x21,280,000= $1,380,000

Cost per kWh at Load Center (Ultimate Development)

Total power (see para. 3-h-(4)) 192,000,000 7-20 3-43

The foregoing cost comparison is based on firm power computed for the minimum years of record and on capacity factors which can be attained with the installation of the paper factory and other industrial loads now available or in the planning stage. Secondary power is smaU and has been neglected in the economic analysis presented above.

The value of power for design of pipe line, tailrace and other hydraulic features will be taken at 3-5 pyas per kWh.

I. Distribution Costs

It is believed that 8 pyas (1-68 cents) per kWh is an ample allowance for the distribution costs of a new system containing about 10% domestic load as given in Table XIX-22 for 1957. The allowance has been reduced to 7-5 pyas for 1962 and 7-0 pyas for 1967, when loads should be greater and system inefficiencies reduced. The annual cost for 1957 and the initial investment are computed as follows:

kWhper year Pyas Kyats Domestic and Bulk Sales 46,667,000 @ 8-0=37,40,000 Paper Factory (Process Steam) 65,600,000 @ 0.4 = 2,62,000

Annual Cost, 1957 K40,02,000

Capitalized at 12%. Investment K3,38,00,000* ($7,100,000) for initial

Development. Capital recovery with interest at 4-25%. Amortization factor—20-year life -075 Operation and maintenance -045

Total annual cost •120 *Of this sum K21,00,000 or $442,000 will be provided under the

initial diesel program for the Akyab distribution system.

m. Electric Rates

The proposed electric rates in Table XIX-27 {see p. 626) range from 60 pyas per kWh rural (villages of 1,000-5,000 population) to 50 pyas, urban (towns of 5,000 to 50,000 population) in 1957. It is estimated that these rates can be reduced to 40 and 30 pyas respec¬ tively by 1967. The present rates are 100 pyas (urban) from the small government-operated diesel plant. No rural supply exists. Small industrial enterprises such as rice mills, pumping plants, and port mechanization would receive a rate of 25 pyas initially and 15 pyas in the future. Large industrial projects, the paper factories, carbide plant, etc., would receive a rate of 15 pyas initially and 10 pyas in the future. Otherwise rates should be estabUshed by the Government rate board as recommended for the preceding projects.

n. Conclusion

Ownership and operation should be handled as recommended for the preceding projects. As this project appears feasible in all respects, it too is recommended for immediate detailed investigation, design and construction, with construction to be completed by the end of 1957 in time to supply the new pulp and paper factory.

ELECTRIC POWER

TABLE XIX - 26 SAINGDIN FALLS HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT ESTIMATED COST—INITIAL INSTALLATION

(US Dollars)

625

No. Description Quantity Unit Unit

Cost Percentage

Cost Local Sterling us

1 Exploration and design l.s. $ 1

650,000 20 80 2 Clearing reservoir 10,000 ac. 50-00 500,000 80 10 10 3 Clear and grub dam site 40,000 s.y. 1-00 40,000 80 10 10 4 „ „ „ borrow area 60,000 s.y. 0-50 30,000 80 10 10 5 „ „ spillway 20,000 s.y. 1-00 20,000 80 10 10 6 „ „ „ town site 40,000 s.y. 0-50 20,000 80 10 10 7 Access roads 4 mi. 10,000 40,000 70 20 10 8 Excavation, cutoff trench 7,000 c.y. 4-00 28,000 70 10 20 9 tunnel portal 55,000 c.y. 3-00 165,000 70 10 20

10 „ tailrace 140,000 c.y. 3-00 420,000 70 10 20 11 „ power house 44,000 c.y. 5-00 220,000 70 10 20 12 „ spiUway 400,000 c.y. 1-00 400,000 70 •— 30 13 „ borrow pit 2,500,000 c.y. 0-60 1,500,000 70 — 30 14 CofTerdam and diversion l.s. — 200,000 70 — 30 15 Foundation, preparation dam 30,000 s.y. 2-00 60,000 70 — 30 16 Drilling holes for grout 50,000 l.f. 1-00 50,000 60 — 40 17 Grouting cutoff and tunnel 100,000 c.f. 2-00 200,000 60 — 40 18 Placing and rolling earth fill 2,300,000 c.y. 0-16 368,000 60 — 40 19 Excavation, tunnel 16,500 c.y. 10-00 165,000 60 — 40 20 Concrete, tunnel lining 4,200 c.y. 60-00 252,000 60 — 40 21 „ portals and channel 18,500 c.y. 32-00 592,000 60 — 40 22 „ intake tower 8,600 c.y. 40-00 344,000 60 — 40 23 „ spillway 15,000 c.y. 32-00 480,000 60 — 40 24 „ power house substruct. 7,500 c.y. 48-00 360,000 50 — 50 25 „ retaining wall 2,400 c.y. 40-00 96,000 60 — 40 26 Reinforcing steel 3,000,000 lbs. 0-10 300,000 40 50 10 27 Penstock steel 3,200,000 lbs. 0-25 800,000 40 50 10 28 Trash racks and frames 400,000 lbs. 0-25 100,000 40 50 10 29 Head gates, frames, hoists 360,000 lbs. 0-50 180,000 40 50 10 30 Gate house and bridge l.s. — — 30,000 50 40 10 31 Hydraulic machinery 56,000 h.p. 20-00 1,120,000 20 — 80 32 Electrical machinery 40,000 kW 30-00 1,200,000 20 — 80 33 Additional butterfly valves 2 each 50,000 100,000 20 — 80 34 Electrical controls l.s. .— — 120,000 20 — 80 35 Substation complete l.s. — .— 300,000 20 — 80 36 Power house superstructure 250,000 c.f. 1-00 250,000 60 30 10 37 Crane complete l.s. — — 90,000 20 60 20 38 Living quarters l.s. — --- 300,000 40 50 10 39 Transmission Line 56 mi. 15,000 840,000 50 30 20 40 »» 99 29 mi. 10,000 290,000 50 30 20 41 99 99

Subtotal

30 mi. 6,000 180,000 50 30 20


20% 2,680,000

Total Hydro plant and trans¬ 16,080,000 48-4 11-3 40-3 mission system

43 Distribution system

Total including dist. system

6,658,000 50 30 20


TABLE XIX - 27

ESTIMATED INCOME AND COST OF ENERGY—AKYAB DISTRICT (Including Paper Factory with and without the Steam Generation Load)

1957 1962 1967

Hydro Capacity kW 40,000 60,000 60,000

Est. Rate Annual Est. Rate Annual Est. Rate Annual Annual Revenue Pyas per Revenue Pyas per Revenue, Pyas per Revenue,

kWh Kyats kWh Kyats kWh Kyats

Domestic, Urban 50 6,00,000 40 9,40,000 30 10,63,000 „ Rural 60 9,95,000 50 22,20,000 40 30,40,000

Bulk, Rice Mills 25 16,40,000 20 18,40,000 15 17,70,000 „ Paper Factories 15 32,90,000 12 52,60,000 10 65,60,000 „ Carbide Plant 15 4,60,000 12 7,92,000 10 10,90,000 „ Caustic Soda 15 8,40,000 12 13,70,000 10 17,50,000 „ Pumping 25 8,20,000 20 13,20,000 15 14,70,000 „ Other 25 8,30,000 20 13,20,000 15 15,40,000

Total excl. Steam Generation 94,75,000 1,50,62,000 1,82,83,000 Steam Generation 2-5 16,40,000 2-5 16,40,000 2-5 16,40,000 Total including Steam Generation 1,11,15,000 1,67,02,000 1,99,23,000

Annual Operating Costs ■

Power Plant (6-5%) 50,20,000 62,00,000 66,30,000 Distribution System 8-0 37,40,000 7-5 68,20,000 7-0 95,80,000

Total Annual Cost Without Steam Generation 87,60,000 130,20,000 162,10,000

Net Profit—Steam Generation 7,15,000 20,42,000 20,73,000

Dist. System added for Steam Gen. 0-4 2,62,000 0-4 2,62,000 0-4 2,62,000 Total Annual Costs

With Steam Generation 90,22,000 1,32,82,000 1,64,72,000

F. KALEWA MINE POWER PROJECT

1. DESCRIPTION

A preliminary study has been made of the power requirements at the proposed Kalewa mine and adjacent communities. The estimated population, domestic and bulk demand, and sales, are given in Table XIX-28 {see p. 327), and summarized as follows:

1957 1962 1967 Max. demand at

generators, kW 3,600 4,200 5,000 Estimated sales in kWh 13,224,000 15,449,000 17,819,000

The requirements for the mine have been taken from the Kalewa Coal Project Report dated April 1953. Other bulk requirements are proportioned from existing markets at Rangoon and Mandalay. The estimated domestic sales are based on per capita use at other small communities in Burma. In order

to provide moderate spare capacity it is concluded that the initial installation should consist of three 2,000-kW generators. Substation and 33-kV trans¬ mission lines to Kalemyo and Mawlaik should be provided to bring low cost power to the principal towns of the Upper Chindwin. The estimated cost is here summarized:

1957 1962 1967 Generating Capacity in kW 6,000 6,000 8,000 Estimated Cost of Power

Station Estimated Cost of

Transmission Lines

Total Cost

1,575,000* $1,840,000* $2,080,000*

330,000 440,000 550,000

$1,905,000 $2,280,000 $2,630,000

Of the amounts indicated by (*) $1,575,000 are included in the Kalewa Coal Project Report for the mine power plant. The same plant will supply the mine city and adjacent communities as distant as Mawlaik, 35 miles to the north.

ELECTRIC POWER

TABLE XIX - 28 KALEWA COAL MINE AND ADJACENT AREA—ESTIMATED POWER REQUIREMENTS

627

■ ■

1957 1962 1967

1 1 1 Annual Population Annual Population Annual Population

kWhjcap. kWhjcap. kWhjcap.

Mine City 15 10,000 20 12,000 25 15,000 Kalemyo 10 3,000 15 4,000 20 5,000 Zinaung 10 2,000 12 2,500 15 3,000 Kalewa 10 1,000 12 1,500 15 2,000 Mawlaik 10 3,000 15 4,000 20 5,000 Rural 2 30,000 5 40,000 8 1 50,000

1 1957 1962 7967

Thous. Thous. Thous. kWMax. Load kWhper kWMax. Load kWhper kWMax. Load kWhper Demarui Factor year Sales Demand Factor year Sales Demand Factor year Sales

Domestic Power Requirements Mine City 86 20 150 110 25 240 194 25 375 Kalemyo 23 15 30 34 20 60 57 20 100 Zinaung 15 15 20 23 15 30 26 20 45 Kalewa 8 15 10 14 15 18 23 15 30 Mawlaik 17 20 30 27 25 60 46 25 100 Rural 46 15 60 152 15 200 304 15 400

Total Domestic 195 300 360 608 650 1,050

Bulk Power Requirements Mine City Ice 30 60 158 40 60 210 50 60 262 Piunping Stations 50 30 131 60 30 158 75 30 197 Military Post 10 40 35 15 40 53 20 40 70 Mining Operations 3,500 40 12,250 4,000 40 14,000 4,500 40 15,750 Processing Plant 50 80 350 60 80 420 70 80 490

Total Bulk 3,640 12,924 4,175 14,841 4,715 16,769

Bulk and I>omestic 3,835 13,224 4,535 15,449 5,365 17,819

Max. Simultaneous

• System load factor.

2. PRODUCnON COSTS The estimated annual cost at the load center is

computed as follows: Capital Recovery with Interest at 4-25%

Life Annual Item in years Factor Investment Cost

Boflers and % % Electrical Controls 20 •0752 460,000 34,600

Steam Turbines 22 •0714 500,000 35,700 Transmissioa Lines 35 •0555 330,000 18,300 CivU Eng. Works

Item Annual Cost

Labor Cost 27,000 Supplies, Repairs, Contingencies 10,000 Transmission Line Maintenance (1 •S % of

Trans. Line Costs) 5,000 Fuel Cost (1957 market)

25-0x1-25x13,224,000x1-3 50,500

4-75x2,240

Cai»tal Recovery Charges 118,800 Cost per kWh at the load center (1957) 211,300-^(13,224,000x 115) = 13-9 miUs or 6-64 pyas

ECONOMIC AND ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT OF BURMA 628

3. CONCLUSION

The power requirements estimated in Table XIX-28 lead to the recommendations that a 6,000-kilowatt steam plant be installed at the mine, and that trans¬ mission lines be provided to Kalemyo and Mawlaik with service to intermediate communities. Domestic rates should start at Ps 50 per kWh by 1957, and can be reduced to Ps 30 per kWh by 1967 if the anticipated load growth is realized. Ice plants, pumping, and small industrial consumers should receive a rate of Ps 25 per kWh, reducing to Ps 15 by 1967. The mine rate for bulk power should be Ps 8-0 per kWh reduc¬ ing to Ps 6-0 by 1967.

G. OTHER HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

1. PAUNGLAUNG RIVER PROJECT

a. Description A near future project recommended for completion

in 1960 is the Paunglaung River Hydroelectric Station near Pyinmana (see Plate 1). Since the cost per kWh at load center is low in spite of the long transmission lines, Paunglaung power will substantially reduce costs when introduced into the proposed Rangoon- Pegu system (see Table XIX-15) and the Myingyan- Mandalay system (see Table XIX-21). In addition to these systems, large potential markets exist in the upper Sittang Valley and in the Irrawaddy from Pakokku to Bassein. The Paunglaung project will produce ultimately 750,000,000 kWh per year at a cost of about Ps 3- 5 per kWh at the load center without benefit of secondary power sales. This can be reduced to about Ps 3-0 per kWh if secondary power is sold atP0-8perkWh.

b. Irrigation Benefits

The Paunglaung project has sizable irrigation benefits due to diversion of wet season flows into the proposed Yezin storage reservoir through a high level canal. For this reason the project has been included as part of the proposed Yamethin com¬ prehensive irrigation development, which involves several new storage reservoirs, canals and pumping plants. Low cost power for pumping is an essential part of the Yamethin scheme. The minimum height of the Paunglaung dam has been determined by the level of the Yezin full reservoir. Accordingly the spillway crest will be El. 485.

c. RainfaU

For eight stations surrounding the Paunglaung watershed the annual rainfall is shown in Table XIX-29 {see next page) for the period of record, 1901 to 1952 inclusive, except for the years 1939 to 1946.

The weighted average for the watershed varies from a maximum of 68 inches in 1927 to a minimum of 38 inches in 1920. Pyinmana appears to have the average characteristics of the watershed, and is selected as a control station for the construction of a rainfall duration curve (see Plate 26). The plate also shows the relative position of the 1952 rainfaU at Pyinmana.

d. Stream Flow

Daily gauge heights April 10, 1952, to March 31, 1953, are available for the Kyidaung and Kawma ViUage gauges near the mouth of the Paunglaung River. The gauges were instaUed and stream flow measurements at Kyidaung were made by experienced personnel of the Irrigation Department regularly stationed at Pyinmana. Daily gauge readings were made by the same organization. The stage-discharge curve is given on Plate 27, and the daily discharges are given in Table XIX-30 {seep. 633).

e. Regulated Flow

Plate 28 contains a study of the 1952 record. The computed runoff" modified by storage and evaporation would have yielded a minimum of 2,000 cusecs con¬ tinuous flow which is taken as a basis for estimating firm power. For area-capacity curve, see Plate 29. From an inspection of the Pyinmana rainfaU record it wiU be seen that eight years show 10% (or less) below the 1952 rainfaU and four years show from 10 to 20% below. For the years 1919, 1920 and 1934 the rainfaU is even lower and for such years resort must be had to steam or other hydroelectric sources of power. For aU other dry years it is estimated that the minimum annual flow wiU total from 10 to 20% below 1952 and that the low flow months wiU yield about 25% less than 1952. It is believed that this large volume of low flow is due to beneficial effect of ground water storage. Accordingly, the minimum regulated flow is taken at 25 % below the computed 1952 yield.

f. Available Power

Continuous firm power is computed as foUows: Pool El. 485, TaUwater El. 270, Gross Head 215 ft. Average Head 215-22-5= 192- 5 ft. Net Head (95 %)=

183 ft. 183

Continuous Power 1,500 X-TJ= 18,300 kW.

Initial Output 40,000 kW (g 46% station capacity factor.

18,300 X 8760= 160,000,000 kWh at station 0-9 X 160,000,000=144,000,000 kWh at Load Center.

ELECTRIC POWER 629

TABLE XIX - 29 FUTURE PAUNGLAUNG HYDRO DEVELOPMENT

Annual Rainfall in Inches at Selected Stations

Year Yamethin Tatkon Pyinmana Yedashe Thandaung Loikaw Yawnghwe Kalaw Weighted Average*

1901 44-9 62-5 — 1902 34-9 — 45-4 — — — — — — 1903 30-8 — 62-2 — — — — — — 1904 34^4 — 63^7 — — — — — — 1905 35-7 — 55-7 — 118-9 — — — — 1906 27-6 — 43^9 — 217-4 — — — — 1907 39-6 — 52-2 — 269^2 56-6 — — — 1908 37-8 — 51^3 — 237^6 53-9 _— — — 1909 52-5 — 64-4 74-6 303^9 66^1 59-6 57-2 — 1910 44-6 — 71-8 63-3 212-9 41 ^2 54-8 45^8 —

1911 31-2 _ 54^1 66-0 244-0 49-7 45-4 51-0

1912 34^3 — 53-7 69-4 219-1 46-2 42-2 50-0 — 1913 38-7 .— 54-9 — 231-2 — — — — 1914 34-6 — 56-3 57-0 224-1 43-9 41-2 54-8 — 1915 36-5 — 60-6 60-1 220-2 41-8 48-6 540 — 1916 49-9 40-1 60-1 63-3 208-7 51-4 76-2 53^3 52-9 1917 45-0 44^2 74-1 105^2 232-6 49-5 43-9 59^8 63-2 1918 35 0 26-2 55^2 66-7 260-6 49-5 48-9 51-3 47^1 1919 34-3 37-5 41-2 67-0 225-1 38-5 39-9 48^6 43-0 1920 23-7 29-5 40-5 47-2 184-2 40-3 37-0 43-0 38-1

1921 32^8 38-8' 57^0 57^5 212-1 63-0 49-7 44-1 51-3 1922 39-4 40-0 54-5 61-6 223-3 40-2 49-9 54-6 48-8 1923 41-6 33-8 52-5 95^1 203^3 36-4 4M 53-1 49-2 1924 30^7 35-9 54^7 78-0 250^0 35-1 49-2 43-9 47-2 1925 38-2 42-1 63-9 54^4 192^0 46-1 49-8 50-6 52^5 1926 46-3 58^5 68^2 65-7 210^6 38-2 47-2 55-0 58-5 1927 40-8 60-5 77^8 84^3 238^0 57-4 52-2 64-1 68-1 1928 37-7 50-3 74-9 83-5 218^9 38-5 42-9 66-9 61-7 1929 37^6 49-4 60-7 96-6 — 44-6 46-8 52-6 57-2 1930 35^9 35-7 47-5 71-7 — 45-8 56^2 46-2 46-2

1931 34-7 32^9 45-5 65-6 _ 32-1 40-8 33-5 40-5 1932 35-5 29-9 55-6 53-8 — 37-1 43-8 45-3 44-2 1933 34-9 43-0 49^0 83-5 — 40-5 51-1 42-4 48^4 1934 45-5 42^1 42^8 116-4 — 43-2 37^9 45-3 50-5

1935 36-1 34-5 55^7 123-6 — 48-3 39-2 50-8 54-9

1936 28-8 28-9 51-0 71-0 — 46-2 46-0 60-2 47-0

1937 49-6 39-1 47-4 81-3 — 54-4 53-3 61-6 51-5

1938 34^6 31-6 51-4 69-6 — 47-2 43-1 53-4 47-3

1947 48-5 _ 64^2 .—. — — — —

1948 34^5 — 60-1 — — — — — —

1949 — — — — — — — — —

1950 47-7 — — — — — — — —

1951 45^8 45-9 62-9 — — — 45^0 — —

1952 36-5 38-8 54-4 82-8 —■ 39-3 — 45-0 49-1

♦ Weighted average for Paunglaung Watershed


Ultimate Output 80,000 kW (a^ 34% station capacity factor. 27,500x8760=241,000,000 kWh at station 0-9x241,000,000=217,000,000 kWh at Load Center. Secondary Power 45,000- 18,300=26,700 kW. Initial Secondary 26,700x5850=156,000,000 kWh at station. 0-9 X 156,000,000=140,000,000 kWh at Load Center. Ultimate Secondary (Not Computed) In determining ultimate output it was assumed that the continuous firm power could be increased 50% by the addition of upstream storage reservoirs. A fifth unit of 20,000 kW would be added at some future date if justified by the water supply or capacity factor.

g. Penstocks The normal maximum demand from each unit will

be 1,640 cusecs based on 20,000 kW per unit at a 183-ft. average net head. For a 12-ft. diameter pen¬ stock, the maximum velocity would be 14.5 ft. per sec. at average head, or 16-5 ft. per sec. at extreme low water for the 161-ft. minimum net head and 1,860 cusecs maximum demand. Accordingly five 12-ft. penstocks would be installed in the concrete dam, and would be located to supply the powerhouse at the downstream toe of the dam. In view of the narrow canyon site (see general layout Plate 30), the powerhouse would occupy the entire width of the river, and the spillway would be located in a natural saddle in the left abutment.

h. Diversion The year 1952 produced a flood of 26,4(K) cusecs

during the wet season. This is considered a normal year. The four year frequency flood would be 30,800 cusecs based on proportionate annual rainfalls at Pyinmana (see Plate 26) and would be 41,700 cusecs based on Meyers rating, 10% of maximum*. It is concluded that a construction flood of about 41,700 should be anticipated during the wet season and about 5,000 during the dry season from December to June inclusive.

* Meyers maximum equals 10,000 times the square root of the drainage area (1,741 square miles), or 417,000 cusecs.

i. Estimated Cost Quantities and costs are based on incomplete data

including a topographic survey of the dam site, reconnaissance survey by the Burma Geological Department, and stream flow measurements from April 10 to date at Kyidaung viUage near the dam site. Rainfall records are available for about 50 years at eight communities surrounding the watershed.

The reservoir capacity and the transmission line location have been determined from the Burma Survey maps, one inch to one mile, with 50-ft. contour interval. The cost estimate is given in Table XIX-31, "Estimated Cost—Initial Installation" {see p. 636). Excavation, concrete, and steel prices are based on cost of similar work recently completed in Burma. Hydraulic and electrical machinery are estimated from preliminary quotations by American manu¬ facturers. A contingency and engineering factor of 20% has been aUowed, in addition to a fee for detailed exploration and design of approximately 4-0% of the total.

j. Production Costs The estimated annual cost of power at the load

center is computed as follows: Capital recovery with interest at 4-25''/,

Life in Annual Description Years Factor Investment Cost

Electrical Controls 20 -0752 150,000 $ 11,300

Generators and Portion of Substation 25 -0655 1,800,000 118,000

Turbines, Racks, etc. 35 -0555 1,500,000 83,200 Transmission Line 35 -0555 5,510,000 306,000 Civil Eng. Works

Buildings 50 -0491 11,840,000 582,000 Operation and

Maintenance -0119 20,800,000 247,500

Note: Interest has been assumed at 4% for 75% of the total investment and 5 % for the remainder.

♦Initial Development •065x18,800,000=51,223,000

Cost per kWh at Load Center:

kWh Mills Pyas Firm Power (par. f.) 144,000,000 8^50 4^051 75% Sales 108,000,000 11^32 5-39

If secondary can be sold at 0-8 pyas per kWh (1 ^68 mills)

Selling 100% of secondary power, 140,000,000 (g 1-68 = $235,000

Cost of firm power 1,223,000-235,000 = 6-85 mills 3-26 pyasf

144,000,000

Selling 50% of secondary power 70,000,000 (g 1-68 = $117,500

Cost of firm power

1,223,000-117,500 = 7-7 mills 3-66 pyas

144,000,000

* The total cost of the initial development is reduced by $2,000,000 credit due to irrigation benefits from diversion of flood waters into the proposed Yezin reservoir.

t Delivered at Pyinmana the cost would be Pyas 3-02 per kWh without benefit of secondary power sales or Pyas 2-25 if all the secondary is sold at Pyas 0-8 per kWh.

10 20 30

PERCENT OF TIME 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

76

72 tn UJ X O 68

O liJ UJ u X llJ

tc o

o Ui

64

60

56

52

< t 48

< tc

44

40

36

f\

\

\ in 1 \

\ ^LA \

-I

< Li.

< a. CM \ h.

\ ^SL

^

0> 1

PYINMANA GAUGE

'(42 YEARS F f7\

ECORD)

P AUNGLA JNG WEI 3HTED A VERAGE 3 "V

^ (24 YEARS RECOR ?> _)

< u. •J' ^ <

CM lO

A


PYINMANA GAUGE AND PAUNGLAUNG WATERSHED

RAINFALL DURATION CURVE KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO. NEW YOjjK^^-? RANGOON w- DR. BY ^ -ya DATE CK.BY. (;% r MAY, 53.

PLATE NO. 26

631

20

16 Ul UJ u. 14

- I 2

I-

UJ

UJ o

<

DISCHARGE IN THOUSANDS OF SECOND- FEET. 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

<' .^

y '^

^ ^

^' *

* '

^" ^

• X

'

> ^

-^ *

\ y ^^_

^ '^

^ y- \ ^ /

/' (^ f (^ (§ y <

y r / h V ^

NO DATE GAUGE

READING DIS¬

CHARGE RIVER STAGE

I 5- (0-52 10^ 3 10,978

2 16-10-52 9 8 10,652

3

4

19-10-52 90 9,199

28-10-52 89 8,857

5 28-11-52 64 5,544

6

7

19- 12-52 5^5 3,722

15- 1-53 48 2,812

8 31 - 1-53 5-0 2,903

9 10-4-52 3-0 991


PAUNGLAUNG RIVER HYDRO PROJECT

STAGE-DISCHARGE CURVE PAUNGLAUNG AT KYIDAUNG VILLAGE KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO. NEWYORK^ RANGOON

632

ELECTRIC POWER

TABLE XIX - 30

FUTURE PAUNGLAUNG HYDROELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT

1952-1953, Rainfall and Runoff at Dam Site

633

Feb.-Mar. April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.

RainfaU* 2-24 0 VIA 6-41 12-40 11-48 10-83 8-51 0-74 0 0-34

1 1,000 3,360 6,330 18,190 20,090 14,025 10,540 4,690 2 1,000 3,360 6,170 17,000 18,000 12,975 9,580 4,690 3 1,000 3,750 6,970 16,400 16,400 13,150 8,935 4,545 4 <4J

CO 1,000 3,750 5,705 18,380 14,920 11,575 8,440 4,545 5 "d 730 4,400 5,835 19,140 14,025 10,540 7,945 4,545

6 S" 1,500 4,140 4,270 17,000 13,675 10,540 7,780 4,545 7 2,000 2,880 4,835 14,560 12,800 10,540 7,615 4,400 8 1,500 2,000 4,400 14,380 12,275 10,700 7,450 4,400 9 1,000 2,000 4,270 13,850 19,140 13,150 7,615 4,270 10 CO 1,000 1,000 1,500 4,270 14,025 23,900 14,920 7,615 4,270 '*-'.

11 1,000 730 1,500 5,270 14,560 21,040 13,675 7,450 4,140 •d 12 s 1,000 730 1,000 6,970 15,640 18,570 12,975 7,130 4,010 § 13 CN

t—( II

1,000 1,000 1,000 6,810 14,380 17,200 13,325 6,970 4,010 of 14 II

o 1,000 1,000 1,300 5,705 17,200 17,800 11,925 6,650 3,880 II 15 o o 1,000 730 2,000 5,850 19,140 16,600 10,380 6,490 3,880 2,810 8

16 ® 1,000 .730 2,000 6,490 17,400 15,100 11,925 6,490 3,880 CO

® 17 (A 1,000 370 2,330 7,138 16,200 14,025 10,380 6,330 3,750 s. 18 4 1,000 370 1,500 7,615 15,100 12,800 10,060 6,170 3,750 19 S 1,000 730 2,000 10,060 15,820 13,500 9,260 6,010 3,750 1—I

20 1 1,000 1,500 1,800 12,975 15,280 18,950 9,260 5,850 3,620 m ^

21 1 1,300 2,000 1,800 10,380 14,740 26,400 11,750 5,850 3,620 w

22 ■-B 1,300 4,835 1,500 10,060 14,025 25,000 11,225 5,705 3,620 23 1,000 2,330 1,800 10,220 13,500 22,220 10,060 5,560 3,620 24 1,000 1,500 2,000 11,400 13,675 19,710 9,420 5,415 3,620 25 S 1,000 1,500 3,100 11,400 15,460 17,400 9,420 5,270 3,620

26 M

1,000 1,800 4,270 11,400 17,200 22,430 9,100 5,125 3,620 27 1,000 2,330 3,880 11,925 18,000 19,330 9,420 5,125 3,490 28 730 2,550 4,835 17,600 17,200 18,000 8,935 4,980 3,490 29 730 2,550 5,705 22,640 15,460 14,920 9,260 4,835 3,490 30 730 2,770 6,490 ??,?70 21,420 13,850 10,700 4,835 3,490 31 1,000 3,360 20,850 20,800 11,750 3,360 2,900

* Annual Rainfall, Pyinmana

t Anntial Riinoflf, Paunglaung River at Dam Site

Runoff Factor 2,366,798x2 =93-2%. 4-56x640x1741

(Based on Pyinmana rainfaU over the entire watershed).

54-7 inches or 4-56 feet.

2,366,798 d.s.f.

1200 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan

1000

X 1- z O 800

tc

1- uj eoo IU u.

Ui tc o <

O 400 z < 3 o X t-

f 200 CAPACITY OF UNITS (INITIAL )

/~ POWER _^

YIELD. 120,000 A . F.

v/ffmm/ wmmm. ̂mmmA ■^SECONDART

f \

w//////M/ / ' ^-FIRM PO "7 n

(1952)


PAUNGLAUNG HYDRO PROJECT

MONTHLY RUNOFF AT DAM SITE.

KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO NEW YORK ^

DR. BY.^^' DATE PLATE CK. BY. ^T/VT" MAY, 53. NO.

RANGOON

28 634

800

z o 700 1- < o 650 UJ o z 600 < z 550 tc o 500 UJ > o 450 03 <

4 00 z o H 350 < ■>

UJ 250

700

CAPACITY IN THOUSAND ACRE-FEET 600 500 400 300 200 100

, c .^^^ ̂^

^^>y^ ^-^ _,^

.^^-^8,00'0 AC.FT ÂCTIVE STORAGE

y'^ SPI

^ ■^^ , /^ . -UWAT UKC.SI

^■^^Sis-^ El. 485.

y ^ , r ' N^ El. 440

y /

\

/ \

2 3 4 5 6

AREA IN THOUSAND ACRES

WATER SHED AREA= 1741-5 SQ. MILES

ASSUMED BED LEVEL AT DAMSITE = 270 O.D.


PAUNGLAUNG RIVER HYDRO PROJECT

AREA-CAPACITY CURVE PAUNGLAUNG RESERVOIR.

KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO NEW YORK _ RANGOON

-^^ DR. BY.-^v^ DATE PLATE «Q CK. BY. <:;>/7" MAY. 53. MO. fc^

635


TABLE XIX-31 PAUNGLAUNG HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

Estimated Cost—Initial Installation (US Dollars)

No. Description Quantity Unit Unit Cost Cost

1 Exploration and Design l.s. $

800,000 2 Clearing Reservoir 2,000 acre 50-00 100,000 3 Access Roads 3 mi. 10,000-00 30,000 4 Cofferdam 1,000 l.f. 150-00 150,000 5 Excavation, Dam Foundation 50,000 c.y. 3-00 150,000 6 Foundation Preparation, Dam 15,000 s.y. 2-00 30,000 7 Drilling Holes for Grout 24,000 l.f. 1-00 24,000 8 Grouting Cutoff 36,000 c.f. 2-00 72,000 9 Mass Concrete 420,000 c.y. 15-00 6,300,000

10 Penstocks, 5 @ 150x500 375,000 lbs. 0-40 150,000 11 Excavation, Spillway 240,000 c.y. 1-00 240,000 12 Excavation, Powerhouse 40,000 c.y. 5-00 200,000 13 Concrete, Powerhouse 7,500 c.y. 40 00 300,000 14 „ Channel Lining 2,000 c.y. 3200 64,000 15 „ Spillway Lining 5,000 c.y. 32-00 160,000 16 Reinforcing Steel 800,000 lbs. 0-10 80,000 17 Trash Racks and Frames 480,000 lbs. 0-25 120,000 18 Headgates, Frames, Hoists 360,000 lbs. 0-50 180,000 19 Headworks Crane Ls. — — 20,000 20 Hydraulic Machinery 56,000 h.p. 20-00 1,120,000 21 Electrical Machinery 40,000 kW 35-00 1,400,000 22 Electrical Controls l.s. — ' — 120,000 23 Substation Complete Ls. — — 300,000 24 Powerhouse Superstructure 250,000 c.f. 1-00 250,000 25 Crane Complete l.s. — — 90,000 26 Living Quarters

Subtotal

l.s. 300,000

12,750,000 27 Transmission Line

Subtotal

230 mi. 20,000-00 4,600,000


Grand Total

20% 3,450,000

2. BAWGATA PROJECT

a. Description

The Bawgata hydroelectric project is located near Kyaukyi, lower Sittang watershed (see Plate 1). Surveys were commenced by the Hydroelectric Survey Board during the 1948-49 dry season and were violently interrupted by the Karen insurrection. The initial and ultimate costs for the project are about equal to the Paunglaung project based on pre¬ hminary estimates. The latter has irrigation and flood control benefits in addition to power, whereas the former provides power only. The Paunglaung project does not involve flooding villages and farm lands whereas Bawgata is objectionable because of such

damages. Accordingly the Bawgata field investiga¬ tions and construction should be deferred untU Paunglaung project is well advanced.

b. Estimated Costs The initial installation at the upper site would

consist of 40,000 kW under 950 ft. average net head requiring three miles of pipe line and a concrete gravity dam 100 ft. high. The cost would be about $17,500,000 including transmission line. The ultimate installation at the upper site would be 90,000 kW at a cost of approximately $29,300,000. At the lower site the final installation would consist of 60,(XX) kW under 650 ft. average net head requiring five miles of pipe line and costing about $21,200,000 including

SCALE IN FEET


PAUNGLAUNG HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

GENERAL LAYOUT OF DAM AND POWER STATION

KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO NEW YORK, RANGOON.

DR BY; ^ CK BY: c^/^r

DATE MAY 1953

PLATE NO. 30

APPENDIX NO. 2

ELECTRIC POWER 637

additions to the transmission hne. The third stage of the development would consist of the Yunzahn diversion dam, 140 ft. high, and a four-mile long tunnel feeding to a powerhouse at the head of the Bawgata reservoir. The installation would include 40,000 kW under 700 ft. average net head and the total including dam, tunnel and transmission Une would be $15,500,000. Three combined projects would produce 630,000,000 kWh per year at the load center at a cost of 8- 34 mills or 3- 97 pyas. The markets for this power would be the Rangoon area, the Sittang Valley and the Irrawaddy from Prome to Bassein.

3. BALU CHAUNG PROJECT (LOIKAVÔ

a. Description A small, low-cost project for near future develop¬

ment can be undertaken at Loikaw on the Balu Chaung. For location see Plate 1. The initial installa¬ tion should be about 3,000 kW to supply Mawchi Mine, Loikaw, Taunggyi and the proposed Lough Keng zinc development. If a heavy demand is created at the zinc mine the initial plant can be expanded in easy stages to about 25,000 kW utilizing the upper site, five irules from Loikaw. Utilization of the upper site involves a canal 2J miles in length with initial capacity of 500 cusecs (ultimate 2,500 cusecs) in order to develop 200 ft. of head. Short penstocks approximately 800 ft. in length would connect the canal forebay to the powerhouse. No dam is required in the initial development, but one may be constructed in the future to supply pondage for daily fluctuation in water demand. The dam would be about 20 ft. high in the deepest part of the river.

b. Middle and Lower Falls A reconnaissance was made in January, 1952 of the

middle falls, indicated on the Burma Survey topo¬ graphic maps to be 600 ft. in height. The faUs are 15 miles from Loikaw and difficult of access. Only a distant view could be had in the time allotted for the reconnaissance. A third fall 600 ft. or more in height exists downstream from the middle falls, but could not be approached due to rugged canyon walls and lack of jeep trails. The middle and lower falls are too inaccessible for consideration in the near future. There is a total fall of 2,200 ft. from the head of the upper falls to the foot of the lower falls in a distance of ten miles. This would provide 130,000 kW continuous power without river regulation other than that now supphed by Inle Lake. This would be exceptionally low cost power, but large markets and large power installation are needed to justify the ex¬ pense of exploration, access road and transmission hne.

R.B. n—10

c. Field Work

In September, 1952 a staff gauge was installed at Loikaw Bridge to determine the minimum flow. Preliminary levels were taken at that time to deter- min the elevation of a possible regulating pond which would not cause excessive backwater at Loikaw Bridge. It was found that very httle fall exists from the bridge to the dam site, and the regulating pond would be limited in volume. Therefore a dam site must be sought above Loikaw, possibly near Inle Lake, in order to obtain large storage for seasonal regulation of the river. However this is not a near future problem in view of the natural regulation now existing. Since June, 1953, a location survey has been in progress for the canal intake and alignment, forebay and penstock layout, and powerhouse location.

d. Estimated Costs

For the initial instaUation at the upper site, including 2J mUes of canal, 3,000 kW capacity, and 150 mUes of transnussion line, the cost is estimated at approximately $1,800,000. Assuming 50% load factor, the cost per kWh at the load center would be 9-92 mUls or 4-73 pyas. The cost can be substantiaUy reduced if the load factor is improved or if a larger market and installation can be developed. Since the power site is over 300 mUes from Rangoon it cannot be considered as an economic source for the Rangoon area. At some future date it may be interconnected with the central transmission system by way of the Mawchi-Toungoo Road or the proposed Loikaw- Pyinmana Road in order to supplement the Paung¬ laung and Bawgata hydroelectric plants at times of drought or excessive market growth.

4. LAMPHA CHAUNG (MOULMEIN SUPPLY)

a. Description

A possible highhead project for future develop¬ ment exists on the Lampha Chaung 55 miles east of Moulmein. Aerial photos have been made indicating a rocklined gorge downstream from a natural storage basin at El. 3,000 controUing 11 sq. miles of drainage area. Apparently a 200-ft. concrete arch dam could be constructed with gross storage of about 32,000 acre feet. This would control the average annual output, and would yield about 86 cusecs of continuous flow. Some 2,500 ft. of net head could be developed with a four-mile pipe line, using two powerhouses if stage development were desired. Based on the total net head a continuous output of 19,500 kW could be obtained.


b. Estimated Costs

For the initial instaUation including concrete arch dam, two miles of pipe Une, 1,340 ft. net head, 16,000 kW capacity, and 55-mUe transmission line, a preliminary cost estimate is $6,200,000. Assuming 50% load factor and the entire output salable, the cost at load center would be Ps 2-96 per kWh. The output is computed to be 64,500,000 kWh delivered at Mouhnein, Bilugyun, and possibly Thaton. The above analysis indicates a highly favorable power site and it is recommended that field investigations be commenced when security conditions permit.

5. NAMTU RIVER PROJECT, MAYMYO

a. Description

At the Pyaungsho Rapids, Namtu River, about 20 miles east of Maymyo, there is a large potential source of power. In an eight-mile length the river drops nearly 300 ft., affording some 75,000 kW of continuous power without construction of a storage dam. The low flow is reported to be 3,000 cusecs, an estimate consistent with the very large drainage area. A major hairpin bend in the river alignment permits the eight-mile reach to be developed by a canal about five miles in length. A moderate installa¬ tion of 25,000 kW could be economically justified for the initial development. This could be expanded by regular stages as more power is needed. The project would adequately serve the northern Shan States and the Mandalay Division for many years. In view of its inaccessibility, it has been given priority later than the Paunglaung and Loikaw developments.

b. Estimated Costs

The initial installation, including five mUes of canal, 25,000 kW capacity under 275 ft. net head, and 120- nule transmission Une, would cost $9,900,000 based on preliminary studies, aerial photos and topography from Burma Survey maps. Assuming 50% load factor the cost per kWh at the load center would be 5-88 mUls or 2-80 pyas. This site could be developed at low cost without a storage dam up to 75,(XX) kW and with a low diversion dam for daily regulation could serve up to 150,000 kW based on 50% load factor.

6. MU RIVER HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS

A possible source of intermittent "secondary" power wiU exist at proposed irrigation projects in the Mu River region. Map study and information available on irrigation plans indicate the following characteristics:

Relative Priority / II III

Power house location West Side Storage Canal Wetto Dam Dam

Approximate continuous flow, c.f.s. 1,200 4,000 5,000

Average net head, feet 70 48 38 Approximate continuous

power, kW 5,600 12,800 12,660 Initial installation, kW 10,000 20,000 20,000 Cost including trans, line

to Monywa $2,400,000 $5,600,000 $6,100,000 Output at load center,

kWh 46,500,000 106,500,000 105,000,000 Cost at load center.

miUs/kWh 3-36 3-42 3-77 Cost at load center,

The output would be useful when a large power system, which can accept energy whenever the irriga¬ tion system can release water, has been developed. Accordingly the instaUations should be given a priority later than the Myingyan steam plant and Paunglaung hydroelectric plant. The construction of the Mu River plants would also be dependent on completion of the Mu River irrigation dams which are recommended in the irrigation chapter of this Report.

7. EXPANSION OF EXISTING HYDROELECTRIC PLANTS In Table XIX-4 "Initial Diesel and Hydro Plants

at 36 towns," the following hydroelectric planning by the Electricity Supply Board is noted: Item 23, Mogok, existing hydroelectric plant to be surveyed for expansion. Item 25, Panghai E'Hang, purchase from Burma Corporation, Namtu. Item 33, Tavoy, From Anglo-Burma Tin, Hpaungdaw plant, increase height of dam.

When security conditions permit, these existing plants should be examined for enlargement and the addition of storage reservoirs so that firm power may be obtained. Two of the plants, Namtu and Hpaung¬ daw are weU located for interconnecting with the proposed network and wiU serve an extended area. This would appear to justify considerable expansion of the Namtu plant to serve Mandalay and the Hpaungdaw plant for Moulmein at times of shortage at other plants or to accommodate excessive growth not now foreseen. It is probable that the small (420 kW present capacity) Mogok plant wiU remain isolated, as interconnection would be costly.

Some discussion has been had in regard to enlarge¬ ment of the Maymyo hydroelectric plant from 448 kW to about 650 kW. If found economical, this should be done, and interconnection should be made to the Lashio-Mandalay proposed transmission Une.

ELECTRIC POWER

However, this smaU increment cannot be considered as an early temporary solution of the Mandalay shortage, where the near future demand has been estimated to be as high as 12,800 kW (see Table XIX-3).

639

H. PROPOSED EXPANSION OF BASIC TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

1. MYINGYAN, CHAUK, MAGWE, PYINMANA The Rangoon and Mandalay loop transmission

Unes should be completed under the Pegu hydro¬ electric project and the Myingyan steam plant project, respectively, by the end of 1957. The Sittang Valley transmission line should be completed under the Paunglaung project by 1960. Coincident there¬ with, or immediately following the Paunglaung project, there should be completed a 132-kV line from Myingyan to Chauk, Magwe, and Pyinmana in order to bring Myingyan power southward to the oil fields and the populous Magwe district. Con¬ versely, Paunglaung power would move to that area over a short efficient connection giving depend¬ able service from two sources to Magwe District (see Plate 1 for location and Table XIX-32 {see p. 641) for estunated 1961 demand). The existing steam plant at Chauk, 11,300 kW capacity, should be interconnected to supply additional power from Magwe to Mandalay. If the completion of the Paunglaung project is delayed beyond 1960, the date proposed in this Report, then power from Chauk will in all probability become a necessity for the Mandalay division.

2. THE SATTHWA, PROME, LETPADAN LINE

This should be constructed as soon as possible after the Myingyan, Magwe, Pyinmana line in order to bring Paunglaung power to towns on the middle Irrawaddy and the Prome railroad. Also this line is required preparatory to extending service into the delta, and probably should be designed for 275 kV in view of the long transmission distance involved. A tie should be made to the 1,600-kW steam plant at Thayetmyo for interchange of power, conserving fuel when excess hydroelectric power is available.

3. HENZADA, BASSEIN, MAUBIN, RANGOON

In order to bring low cost hydroelectric power to large potential markets in the delta, a 275 kV loop should be constructed from Henzada through Bassein and Maubin to Rangoon. Large diesel plants which are to be installed under the initial program will be placed in reserve after about ten years of active use. Such plants will serve as standby for protection against transmission line outages or delays in completing extensions to growing new load centers.

4. PAYAGYI, THATON, MOULMEIN, TAVOY

These towns should be connected to the basic network in order to interchange power from the proposed Rangoon loop and the proposed Lampha and enlarged Hpaungdaw hydroelectric stations. The lighter loads make it possible to utilize 132 kV even though the transmission distance is long. Also power sources and markets are distributed along the proposed line, a condition that results in smaller losses and lower design voltage than for a long line with power plant at one end and market at the other.

5. THE MYINGYAN, YE-U, SHWEBO, SAGAING LINE

This line should be constructed when the Mu River irrigation project is undertaken in order to supply power for pumping as well as for domestic loads. Ultimately the small hydroelectric plants described in par. G.6 of this chapter would be connected to this loop. In view of relatively small loads and markets interspaced with power sources the 132 kV design is believed suitable.

6. YE-U, WETTO, KATHA

When the Mu River power plants are completed, it will be necessary to construct a line from the loop described in the preceding paragraph to the power plants near Wetto. Possibly an extension to Katha can be justified to serve that town and other commu¬ nities along the railroad.

7. MANDALAY, MAYMYO, LASHIO

When a dependable source of power has been developed at Pyaungsho Rapids on the Namtu River, or storage has been provided at the existing Namsan FaUs plant, a connecting line should be provided from Mandalay to Lashio. A tie should be made to Maymyo hydroelectric plant for interchange of power.

8. THE MAWCHI, LOIKAW, TAUNGGYI, LOUGH KENG LINE

This is included in the Balu Chaung hydroelectric project in order to reach all possible markets with low cost hydropower. At a future date the extension from Taunggyi to Maymyo should be constructed. This will assist the Mandalay-Lashio system if short¬ ages occur and wiU provide power during initiation or enlargement of the Pyaungsho Rapids project.

9. LOILEM TO NAM PANG HYDROELECTRIC STATION

If the low cost hydroelectric power on the Nam Pang is developed to serve the eastern Shan States, a transmission line should be constructed along the Keng Tung road to tie in with the basic network at Loilem.


Estimated 1961 Proposed Peak Demand Installation,

inkW kW 500 800

1,700 2,000 500 800

1,300 2,000 300 500 300 500 300 500 200 300

1,900 2,500 1,100 1,500

I. DIESEL PLANTS FOR OUTLYING TOWNS

Certain remote towns should be supplied by diesel plants for many years to come. Ultimately, these towns would be the recipients of power units no longer needed in the central Burma system. Proposed instaUations and estimated peak demands are summarized from Table XIX-32 {see next page):

Town

Victoria Point Mergui Sandoway Kyaukpyu Ramree Cheduba Homalin Singkaling Hkamti Myitkyina Bhamo Keng Tung

The estimated demand is based on increases in popu¬ lation and standards of living resuUing from the current industrial program. Smaller installations Usted in Table XIX-4 should be regarded as "stop gap" provisions to be completed in the next few years.

J. LARGE HYDROELECTRIC SITES FOR FUTURE STUDY

On the Nam Teng River, 50 miles southeast of Loilem, there is a large power source. The river has a minhnum flow of 1,000 cusecs and faUs 800 ft. in 15 miles. Apparently this is less favorable for low cost power than the Balu Chaung at Loikaw, where the faU is more concentrated (2,200 ft. in ten miles), the access is not so difficult, and transmission distance is less. A concentrated fall of 396 ft. is reported for the Nam Teng which should be compared with a 600 ft. concentrated fall on the Balu Chaung.

On the Nam Pang River, just downstream from the Keng Tung road, there is a major power source. The low flow is 2,000 cusecs and the fall is 800 ft. in 15 miles. For reasons given above this is less favor¬ able than the Balu Chaung power site, but appears equal to the Nam Teng. Field investigations and stream flow measurements will be required to make a choice between these two power sites.

On the Mon River above the Mezali irrigation- structure there is an excellent source of power, well located to serve central Irrawaddy markets supple¬ menting the Paunglaung and Bawgata developments. At present this is not favored due to insurgent activity and probable flooding of rice lands. Field investigation should be undertaken when the need for additional power in that area develops.

K. STREAM FLOW MEASUREMENT

A hydrologic division should be created within the Government organization to collect, pubUsh, and distribute river discharge measurements and other hydrologic data. This division should install staff or recording river gauges, and make sufficient stream flow measurements to cahbrate each gauge. Rating curves and tables should be published periodicaUy along with daily gauge heights. The division should install rain gauges in critical drainage basins and near prospective power sites to supplement the scattered gauges already in operation at the principal towns and vUlages. The division should be attached either to the Electricity Supply Board or Irrigation Department. A list of suggested gauging stations for power use follows:

River Location River Gauge Rain Gauge

Pegu Zaungtu Existing Existing Pegu Taikkyi „ „ Saingdin Saingdin Falls „ „ Paunglaung Near mouth „ Not required Balu Chaung Loikaw „ Existing Bawgata Chaung Kyaukkyi Re-establish Re-estabUsh Lampha Chaung Near mouth Establish Establish Hpaungdaw Near „ „

Chaung powerhouse Namtu Near mouth ,, Not required Nam Yao Namsan Falls „ Establish Mu Wetto Nam Pang Keng Tung „

Road

L. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Early investigations of potential hydroelectric power in Burma by B. Raikes are summarized in Table XIX-1. The prewar and existing power system are detailed in Table XIX-2 indicating that much work is yet required to restore prewar facilities and production. In the last column of the table is given the estimated future demand based on the statements of local business men and power plant operators. These are long range needs predicated on require¬ ments for electrification of existing enterprises and substantial lighting and water supply installations. Table XIX-3 contains the "build-up" for the estimated future demand.

2. A plan for immediate expansion of the existing power system by installation of new diesel and hydro¬ electric facihties in 36 towns has been prepared by the Electricity Supply Board. The construction would require about three years. It will assist in early com¬ pletion of several portions of the longer range developments presented in this Report without appreciable waste of labor and materials, and is endorsed as meriting approval and prompt imple¬ mentation.

ELECTRIC POWER

TABLE XIX - 32

ESTIMATED ENERGY USE AND PEAK DEMAND, 1961

641

Million kWhj Year Assumed Peak Proposed Installation District or State Load

Factor Demand

kW .M^^^tyn t\..'t \^ 1 Jb..r^l.4tl^

Domestic Bulk Total kW Type Location

Arakan Division Akyab 6-8 139-4 146-2 47-0 41,000 60,000 Hydro Saingdin Kyaukpyu 0-5 2-9 3-4 30-0 1,300 2,000 Diesel Kyaukpyu Sandoway 0-5 0-4 0-9 20-0 500 800

j> Sandoway Pegu Division

Pegu 2-8 12-0 14-8 28-0 6,000-| *30,000 Steam Rangoon Hanthawaddy 1-9 9-5 11-4 28-0 4,700 45,000 Hydro Pegu River Insein (rural) 0-8 5-5 6-3 25-0 2,600 . 140,000 »» Paunglaung Rangoon-Insein 50-0 90-3 140-3 42-2 38,000 (Pegu-Rangoon Loop) Tharrawaddy 2-7 4-7 7-4 28-0 3,000j 1 1 Prome 2-6 3-3 5-9 25-0 2,700 Satthwa-Prome-Letpadan Line Toungoo 2-6 4-3 6-9 25-0 3,200 Paunglaung-Pegu Line

Irrawaddy Division I Bassein 3-8 7-6 11-4 25-0 5,200 Henzada-Bassein Loop Henzada 3-3 17-2 20-5 28 0 8,400 Spur from Pegu-Rangoon Loop Myaungmya 2-1 4-4 6-5 25-0 3,000 Henzada-Bassein Loop Maubin 2-0 4-4 6-4 25-0 2,900 JJ J) 5,

Pyapon 2-0 4-4 6-4 25-0 2,900 )> J> 55

Tenasserim Division Amherst 3-7 9-1 12-8 28-0 5,200' Thaton 2-6 3-9 6-5 25-0 3,000 - 16,000 Hydro Lampha Ch. Tavoy 1-4 16-5 17-9 50-0 4,100 J Mergui 1-4 1-5 2-9 20-0 1,700 2,000 Diesel Mergui

Magwe Division'^ Magwe 2-4 28-4 30-8 60-0 5,900 * 11,300 Steam Chauk Minbu 1-4 1-8 3-2 25-0 1,500 * 11,300 99 55

Thayetmyo 1-4 5-5 6-9 60-0 1,300 * 1,600 55 Thayetmyo Pakokku 2-1 4-3 6-4 25-0 2,900 Spur from Myingyan-Mand. Loop

Mandalay Division Mandalay 10-6 12-7 23-3 30-0 8,900^ Kyaukse 0-6 0-7 1-3 21-0 700 30,000 Steam Myingyan Meiktila 1-3 3-2 4-5 26-0 2,000 [ t40,000 Hydro Paunglaung Yamethin 1-9 12-2 14-1 22-0 7,300 (Myingyan-Mandalay Loop) Myingyan 2-4 110-2 112-6 50-0 25,700j

Sagaing Division Sagaing 1-5 3-4 4-9 21-0 2,700 Spur from Myingyan-Mand. Loop Shwebo 1-5 3-4 4-9 20-0 2,800 Mu River Loop Myitkyina 11 2-3 3-4 20-0 1,900 2,500 Diesel Myitkyina Bhamo 0-6 1-3 1-9 20-0 1,100 1,500 >» Bhamo Upper Chindwin 0-7 11-2 11-9 50-0 2,700 6,000 Steam Kalewa Lower Chindwin 1-9 2-6 4-5 20-0 2,600 Mu River Loop Katha 1-5 1-3 2-8 20 0 2,200 J) »)

Eastern States Northern Shan States 2-4 52-8 55-2 60-0 10,500 §12,000 Hydro Namsan Southern Shan States 2-8 53-8 56-6 60 0 10,800\

2,200/ 18,000 T oilra'w

Kayah State 0-6 7-2 7-8 40 0 )> i—(WlR,tl W

• Existing steam plants. t Paunglaung to have 80,000 kW capacity by 1962. X Myingyan-Magwe-Pyinmana transmission line to be constructed about 1960 will bring cheap power to Magwe Division. § Existing hydro supplemented from Mandalay-Lashio transmission line.


3. Three large power plants for immediate develop¬ ment are discussed in detail. The market estimates are based on planned industrial expansion near each of the three developments and the improved standards of living and power use always attendant on such expansion. These estimates are lower than those given in Tables XIX 2 and XIX 3 but will closely coincide if the growth trend is extended for another ten years. It is significant that the local people in central Burma are demanding more electric power than the contemplated program will provide in the near future, if the industrial projects are completed on schedule. For example in the lower Pegu division and Henzada the reported demand totals about 75,000 kW including the proposed steel mill and irri¬ gation pumping, whereas the proposed supply wiU be 60,000 kW in 1957 and 75,000 kW in 1960, leaving no spare capacity whatever. In the Mandalay Division and Sagaing Town the reported demand totals about 45,000 kW including the proposed Myingyan zinc plant, whereas the proposed supply will be 30,000 kW in 1957 and 40,000 kW in 1962. It is apparent that a sizable market exists which will largely absorb the output of the proposed power stations without regard to the early completion of major industrial projects such as the steel mill or the zinc reduction plant.

4. Preliminary studies and physical data for each of the three power plants are included together with the estimated construction costs and costs of power production. A plan of implementation is included covering immediate field investigation and design plus near future construction to be completed in 1956 for the steam plant and 1957 for the two hydroelectric plants. Early construction of those power plants is recommended subject to thorough field investigation of each project to indicate the soundness of the adopted design.

5. A plan for extension of the proposed Kalewa mine power plant and transmission system to supply neighboring communities is described. Such an extension is recommended in order to widen the markets and usefulness of this power plant.

6. Other hydroelectric plants recommended for continued investigation and probable future con¬ struction are the following:

a. Paunglaung River near Pyinmana b. Balu Chaung near Loikaw c. Bawgata Chaung near Kyaukkyi d. Lampha Chaung (Moulmein supply) e. Namtu River, Pyaungsho Rapids

f. Mu River dams and canal (proposed irrigation system)

g. Namsan FaUs plant, Namtu (expand) h. Hpaungdaw plant, Tavoy (expand) i. Mogok hydroelectric plant (expand) The Paunglaung project should be given first

priority in view of its accessibility and usefulness in serving large potential markets. The Balu Chaung project should be given high priority as a source of low cost power for the Kayah and southern Shan States including the proposed Lough Keng zinc development,

7. The proposed transmission system shown on Plate 1 includes an initial loop serving Pegu, Rangoon and Henzada, a second loop in the Mandalay Division, and a line from Saingdin Falls to Akyab and the proposed paper factory. Expansion of the initial system will require construction of the Paung¬ laung hydroelectric plant and the Sittang Valley line from Yamethin to Pegu. The following additional transmission lines are proposed:

a. Myingyan, Chauk, Magwe, Pyinmana b. Satthwa, Prome, Letpadan c. Henzada, Bassein, Maubin, Rangoon d. Payagyi, Thaton, Moulmein, Tavoy e. Myingyan, Ye-U, Shwebo, Sagaing f. Ye-U, Wetto, Katha g. Mandalay, Maymyo, Lashio h. Mawchi, Loikaw, Taunggyi, Lough Keng i. Loilem to Mao Pang hydro station (future)

Items a, b and c should be given top priority in order to bring low cost hydroelectric power to the central Irrawaddy and Delta markets in the near future.

8. Diesel plants are proposed for remote towns as a permanent supply, subject to a review of the local hydroelectric resources in each case. It is recom¬ mended that the diesel installation be enlarged when necessary by the addition of units made available from the central Burma power system.

9. Stream flow measurements and supplemental rainfall measurements for hydro-power purposes should be systematically collected, published and distributed to the several government agencies engaged in planning and construction of river projects. It is recommended that the function be assigned to the Electricity Supply Board, or to the Irrigation Department, or to the proposed new Ministry of Engineering Services (see par. A.3 of Chapter XXV).

PART VII

INDUSTRY

CHAPTER XX

INTERRELATION OF INDUSTRIES

A. RANGE OF ESDUSTRIES

The industries to be considered in the economy of Burma range from small scale to large scale, from extractive to manufacturing, and from state owned to privately owned. The mineral industries and forest industries described in Chapters XXI and XXIV, respectively, are both extractive and manufacturing in nature. Their prominence stems partly from the fact that they exploit some of the raw materials which are sources of the country's economic independence. The manufacturing industries treated in Chapter XXII and the smaU scale industries discussed in Chapters XXIII and XXIV contribute the large body of productive enterprise required to free essential consumer products from the burden of round-the- world shipping costs and to provide support to each other and to other projects of the development program.

B. COMMON ECONOMIC FACTORS

1. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CORPORATIONS

Both government and private initiative are import¬ ant to accelerated industrial development. Govern¬ ment operations have the advantage that centralized planning affords in meeting recognized needs with scaled remedial measures, but are hmited by the rigidity and inertia of centralized administrations which cannot respond, expand, multiply, or contract freely with changing local conditions. Private initiative enjoys the converse characteristics in that it responds spontaneously to favorable conditions, and exploits automatically the latent managerial and promotional talents scattered throughout the population. The program presented here contemplates the optimum utUization of both pubhc and private productive resources.

2. EXPANSION EFFECTS

The expansion of trades, services, handicrafts and small scale industries can be expected to develop in some measure spontaneously hi response to the implementation of tax, tariff", credit and marketing pohcies recommended elsewhere in the Report. Their further expansion depends upon the introduc¬ tion of cooperative enterprises, educational pro¬ grams, extension services and faciUties for obtaining equipment. In these fields Ues much of the "slack"

in the economy which will be taken up by the first manifestations of increased consumer purchasing power.

At a casual glance, the interdependence of various industries and services would seem to deny the possibihty of finding a starting point for develop¬ ment. Each industry appears to depend upon some other for one or more key elements, and all depend upon improved transport, communications, economic poUcies, and trained specialists in order to get off to a healthy start. If the program had to be undertaken in isolation from the rest of the world, the difficulties could not be overcome for many years. Fortunately, however, Burma's favorable foreign exchange balance permits the purchase of both services and capital resources from outside. When a start has been realized in enough industries, a regenerative cycle or "chain reaction" should reduce materiaUy the require¬ ment for further contributions from overseas.

3. SELECTION

More directly, many specific industries and some improved Uving factors wUl depend entirely upon other industries for either raw materials or finished products. In the succeeding chapters, therefore, projects recommended for early action have been selected not only for economic feasibUity but for their mutually complementary nature or because they would immediately satisfy a grave consumer need. General industrial projects have been grouped into a First-Year Plan, an Intermediate Plan, and a Long-Range Plan (see Section D, Chapter XXII).

C. COMMON REQUIREMENTS

1. RESOURCES

Basic requirements for most of the projects dis¬ cussed in the succeeding chapters are electric energy and a fuel supply both adequate in quantity and reasonable in unit cost. Provisions for meeting these requirements are developed in Chapters XIX and XXI, respectively, Another essential to the success of the program is experienced management and operating personnel to assist in construction and operation of plants and projects. Ways and means of meeting this requirement are outUned in Chapters VII and XXV.

Other resources required by industry include the 645


raw materials, minerals, and agricultural products required by each industry appropriate to its nature. Some of these will be locally available. Some must be imported.

2. STEPS IN IMPLEMENTATION

To initiate and bring into operation an industrial project in such a way as to insure that it will be sound economically, administratively, and functionally, it is necessary that the project evolve through successive stages of maturity.

a. Preliminary Plans Preliminary plans, sometimes parts of master

plans, are generaUy prepared from scanty data. They may or may not be based on data sufficiently reliable to guarantee feasibility of the project. The elements of this comprehensive Report are in the preliminary planning class.

b. Investigations for Design Before funds for other than investigational pur¬

poses are committed, sufficient additional data should be obtained to leave no doubt as to feasibility. Such data should confirm necessary resources and marketing estimates, confirm suitabihty of site and access to the site, establish a feasible management and operating plan, and confirm the feasibility and costs of plant design and construction. If only a little additional information is required and can be obtained by existing agencies, and if the information confirms feasibility, the design organization can be selected. If more information is required, a planning and investigations group may have to be assembled to obtain it.

c. Designs and Specifications When decision has been made to proceed with the

project, the agency that is to detail the designs and

specifications and supervise construction must be selected. At the same time, existing agencies may proceed with such collection of detaUed data as can be anticipated. Upon establishment of the design agency, that agency must be given expedited support in assembhng such additional data as it may require.

The design organization will need to have foundation information, hydrographic and climatic information, sources and costs of materials, transport facilities, and complete information on raw materials and marketing problems. If field investigations are to be extensive, they should be supervised by field forces of the design and construction organization.

d. Construction and Operations

Depending upon the nature of the project, the design organization may or may not be the same organization that will construct or that wiU operate the completed plant. These decisions can probably be made early and largely on the basis of information contained in this or various project reports, supple¬ mented by any additional data that may be required.

The design organization should in any event super¬ vise the erection of the plant whether constructed by contract or otherwise. It should also specify, approve, inspect, and test equipment to be purchased or erected and installed. Specifications for equipment must be as carefully drawn and rigidly correct as for any part of the works.

Operations may be performed by management contract with a different firm from the design firm, with the same firm, or with trained Burmese personnel if available. Contractual arrangements should be explicit with respect to requirements for training the permanent operating staff. Other more general criteria for proper implementation of projects are cited in Chapter XXV.

CHAPTER XXI

MINERAL INDUSTRIES

A. GENERAL GEOLOGY

A thorough knowledge of the general geology of any country is essential to the successful exploration, evaluation and development of its mineral resources. Although the knowledge attained to date in Burma is considerable, it is far from thorough or even adequate, Accurate geological mapping, the basis of all other geological work, has covered comparatively Uttle of the whole area of the country.

The four principal physiographic provinces are the central basin, the Arakan Yoma, the Arakan coastal strip, all extending in a north south direction, and in the east the Shan Plateau extending southward to include the Tenasserim mountain ranges. There are five recognized tectonic lines which are the major structural features. All have a north south trend. Intrusive magmas have followed these lines of weak¬ ness in the earth's crust, and the metallic ore deposits associated with or closely connected with the intrusives have been governed and localized by them. In the west the intrusives generally vary from ultra- basic to basic whUe in the east they are acidic.

Field work undertaken during the course of the present survey at Kalewa, in the Naga Hills tract, in the southern Shan State, the Kachin State, the Kayah State and the Tenasserim Division have con¬ tributed to a better knowledge of these mineralized areas. The additional information developed may be found in the several development project and field examination reports previously submitted.

B. ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

1. MINERAL OCCURRENCES AND DEPOSITS Listed alphabetically hereinafter are the principal

minerals, or metals obtainable therefrom, known to occur in Burma. Excluded are radioactive and rare earth minerals; included are amber, coal and petrol¬ eum, sometimes not classified as minerals within the specialized meaning of the word. Aggregates of minerals comprising building material and road metal are mentioned separately. Reference may be made to the Preliminary Report for the location of most of the better known or more important occur¬ rences and deposits. Those having present or potential economic importance are discussed briefly under the next subheading.

Minerals Icnown to occur in Bun Alum Columbite Manganese Saltpetre Amber Copper Mica Silver Antimony Corundum Molybdenum Soda Barite Gem stones Natural gas Steatite Bauxite Gold Nickel Sulphates Beryl Graphite Ochre Sulphides Bismuth Gypsum Oil Sulphur Cadmium Iridium Oil shale Tin Chromite Iron ores Phosphates Titanium Cinnebar Jadehe Platinum Tungsten Coal Kaolin Sah Zinc

Granites, gneisses, laterite, limestones, marble, sandstones, serpentines, trap rocks, clays, sands and gravels occur, suitable for building blocks, concrete aggregates, road metal and the manufacture of cement, bricks, tiles, pottery, china and glass.

2. ECONOMIC EVALUATION

Those mineral deposits which until now have proved of greatest economic importance to Burma are notably tin, tungsten, lead-silver, and petroleum. The importance of the few minerals produced with extremely limited and superficial exploration indicates a high probabihty that the orderly development of Burma's mineral resources can provide in a relatively short time a large measure of the wealth needed to establish other industries and to achieve the improved living standards that the people seek.

Although the exploitation of its oil resources has provided part of Burma's requirements of petroleum products, the coal and coke required to serve its sohd fuel requirements have been imported. No effective effort has been made to develop domestic production. During the course of this survey, however, it has been determined that the country has at least one extensive deposit of coal, namely the Kalewa field, which can be developed to supply industrial power and probably railway locomotive fuel for the needs of the country for many years. The exploration work and utUization tests on which this determination is based are dis¬ cussed in subsequent paragraphs.

The comparatively cheap fuel and electric power which Kalewa coal could furnish would provide an essential economic base for the establishment of

647


new industries and the expansion of existing ones. For instance, the estabUshment of an electrothermic zinc refinery would become possible. In turn this would make possible the exploitation of the Lough Keng zinc deposit and the export of zinc metal instead of only concentrates and ore.

Although many of the minerals and metals listed under the preceding heading are not known to occur in quantities or concentrations sufficient to make their development and exploitation economically feasible, the discovery in certain instances of deposits which are of economic value is by no means precluded. On the contrary such discovery is likely if an orderly continuing program of exploitation and development is adopted and executed. Undoubtedly such a program would bring in new sources of antimony, manganese, tin, tungsten, lead and zinc production.

It is certain that the known reserves of oU can be extended and that increased production can be developed if Burma's domestic and export demands require it. In general, the evidence is overwhelming that Burma's mineral resources are greatly underexplored and under-developed.

C. ESTABLISHED MINERAL PRODUCTION OPERATIONS

1. BURMA CORPORATION (1951) LIMITED

The Preliminary Report stated that the Corporation planned to resume operations at the monthly rate of 8,000 tons of ore mined and miUed. To date, although noteworthy progress has been made in training indigenous mine labor, only about half this rate has been achieved. Present plans caU for expanding the tonnage mined and treated to 25,000 tons per month, this objective to be attained about two years hence.

The treatment of this larger tonnage wUl require the construction and instaUation of additional mUling facUities to treble the capacity of the present plant. To mine this tonnage wUl necessitate the recruitment, training and employment of more underground workers to nearly double the force required for a monthly rate of 8,000 tons mined. Bearing in mind the trained mine labor that may also be required for the Kalewa coalfield and the Mawchi mines, it is doubtful whether the supply of indigenous labor wiU be sufficient to permit the attainment of this objective within two years.

Should this presently proposed production rate be achieved in two years, zinc concentrates could be produced at an annual rate of approximately 66,000 tons as compared with the 22,000 ton rate on which the Myingyan zinc project is based.

2. THE MAWCHI MINES LIMITED

Mawchi mines lies in territory that continues to be held by insurgents. Any quantities of tin and tungsten concentrates being produced are believed to be com¬ paratively small and derived from the Ulegal working of scattered surface occurrences rather than from the mine proper. Such production is presumably trans¬ ported illegally into ThaUand. Efforts to regain control of the Mawchi area by the end of the current dry season were unsuccessful.

3. THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY

During the several years prior to the last World War, the annual production of petroleum in Burma was stabUized at about 275,000,000 Imperial gallons, including about 10,000,000 gaUons of petrol derived from natural gas. Some 70% of the Uquid products were exported to India. AdditionaUy, wax was made into candles for domestic consumption and exported in bulk to India and the United Kingdom.

Although smaU compared with the output in many other countries, the production provided Burma with a prominent source of employment, internal revenue and foreign exchange. At prices prevaUing during the few years prior to the war, the crude oU produced was valued at about K6,00,00,000 and the products refined therefrom in Burma were valued at about Kl 5,00,00,000

The Burmah Oil Company, Indo-Burma Petroleum and British-Burma Petroleum controUed some 97% of the prewar output, the balance being distributed among several local companies. During the war the properties of the oU companies suffered extensive damage. To achieve a more effective program for rehabihtation of the industry, the three large com¬ panies combined their production and refining holdings as the Associated OU Companies, referred to elsewhere in this chapter. In this group BOC ownership represents 76-8%, IBPC 17-0%, and BBPC6-2%.

The Associated Oil Companies resumed produc¬ tion in January 1947. Although rehabUitation was and continues to be seriously interrupted by the msurrection, a production of 25,800,000 gallons of crude was obtained in 1952. Insofar as the known and potential reserves of oU are concerned, the industry is capable of noteworthy expansion when¬ ever economic conditions warrant and civU conditions permit.

4. GENERAL

Security conditions have continued to affect adversely the tm and tungsten mining operations in the Tenasserhn Division and in the Pyinmana and

MINERAL INDUSTRIES 649

Yamethin areas. Until there is assurance of an enduring major improvement in these condhions, httle if anything can be done to implement recom¬ mendations for more effective exploration, develop¬ ment and production. Recommended modifications of mining legislation and taxation could, however, be effected in the interim.

D. FIELD EXAMINATIONS, STUDIES AND INVESTIGATIONS

1. GENERAL

AU of the recommendations of the Preliminary and Interim Reports were related to projects or activities designed to develop the country's mineral resources. Most of them entaUed field examinations and surveys, explorations, laboratory investigations, metallurgical tests, economic evaluation studies, and the formulation of development and exploitation programs. The principal areas investigated are indicated on Plate 1. Despite increased difficulties arising from civil and security conditions, important results were achieved as hereinafter summarized.

2. THE MINERAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Following the examination and study of develop¬ ment corporations in other countries by a Burmese Mission sent overseas for this purpose, enabhng legislation was drawn up and passed by Parliament as GUB Act No. 44 of 1952 to create "The Mineral Resources Development Corporation." The Act specified the Corporation's constitution, powers and functions, and financing and accounts; specified its powers to establish subsidiary corporations; defined its general legal status; and established it as a legal entity as from November 1, 1952. The stipulated directorate, including a Director-General, was appointed, and the recruitment of administrative, technical and operating personnel was begun.

3. INVESTIGATION OF THE KALEWA COAL FIELD POTENTIALITIES

Pursuant to the recommendations made in the Preliminary Report for further field and laboratory mvestigation of the Kalewa coal field, GUB Project Proposal No. 61, "Kalewa Coal Development Preliminary Field and Laboratory Investigation" was drafted, approved by BEAC and TCA, funds allocated by the latter, and execution finally assigned in February 1953 to Pierce Management Inc. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Most of the equipment required for the project has arrived in Burma, a bulldozer for the construction of access roads having arrived at Kalewa. Some access roads to diamond

driUing sites have meanwhile been under construction, the services of two buUdozers having been obtained for this purpose from the Public Works Department. The Project Manager arrived in Burma on March 29 and the foreign driUing personnel required are expected shortly.

MeanwhUe, the prospect shaft at Kalewa was deepened, and bulk coal samples secured for ship¬ ment to the United States and Germany for low carbonization, briquetting and other utilization tests. Approximately 4,500 pounds of Kalewa coal were shipped to the United States for this purpose and 2,000 pounds to Germany. From the tests conducted in the United States, bulk samples of briquettes were received in Burma and used for combustion tests on a Burma Railways locomotive with satisfactory results. Commercial scale briquette manufacturing tests and the return to Burma of several tons of briquettes for full scale locomotive tests are part of the program of Project No. 61.

The continuing studies and investigations in Burma and in the United States will furnish the data for detailed plans and specifications for the development of the coalfield. Studies of consumer demand indicate that the mine should be developed to supply annually 400,000 tons of Kalewa coal products to meet sohd fuel requirements for transport, power, industrial and metaUurgical uses. The development plan and aU relevant data obtainable to date have been incor¬ porated in a Kalewa coalfield development project which is summarized in paragraph E-9-a. For the many detaUs not covered in this summary, reference should be made to the project report itself.

4. THE ANTIMONY PROJECT

The development of a "demonstration mine," and five other mines to be patterned thereon, was a basic recommendation of the antimony project presented in the Prehminary Report. Following the examina¬ tion of some 20 known occurrences of antimony ore, eight to ten were to be selected for exploration and prospecting to determine the best six. Accordingly, detailed field examinations were made of Mong Sang and Lebyin, two of the most important antimony- producing areas in the Shan State, and a third area near Mong Pan was reconnoitered. However, some of the reportedly most attractive deposits in Burma, in the Thaton and Amherst Districts, remained in¬ accessible because of adverse security conditions. Samples of antimony ore from the Shan State deposits were despatched by air to the United States where they were subjected to laboratory studies and analysis. The results of this work are reviewed in paragraph E-9-e. For greater detail, reference may be made


to the field examination reports and the antimony project as presently revised, reported separately, and summarized in paragraph E-9-e.

5. THE MYINGYAN ZINC PROJECT

The Lough Keng zinc carbonate ore deposit, essential to the Myingyan zinc project, was examined and a report submitted. Representative samples of ore were despatched by air to the United States for analysis and metallurgical investigation. Similarly despatched were samples of Burma Corporation (1951), Ltd., zinc sulphide flotation concentrates. All relevant data including statements and opinions regarding the long term availability and estimated cost of raw materials, notably ore, concentrates and coal; estimates of transportation costs; data on the utilization of Kalewa coal; smelter schedules; and world zinc markets and prices have been carefully studied in the light of the most recent metallurgical developments in the smelting and refining of zinc. Although it has not yet been possible to obtain the detailed topographic, hydrographic and other survey data necessary to permit determination of the best plant site at Myingyan, an initial field examination of the possibilities offered was made in May, and aerial photographs for topographic mapping purposes have been taken. Further mapping progress awaits execu¬ tion of the ground control required for photogrammetric purposes.

The results of the foregoing investigational activities are reviewed hereinafter beginning with paragraph E-9-b. Subject to final confirmation by large scale furnace tests for which appropriate tonnages of raw materials must be sent to the United States, the estab¬ lishment of a zinc refining industry using the Sterling electrothermic process is recommended. For greater detail, reference should be made to the Myingyan zinc project report.

6. AREAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Throughout the period under review field investiga¬ tions were generally restricted by security conditions, and, with few exceptions, were precluded in the Tenasserim Division, a large part of the Kayah State, and the Yamethin District.

a. Shan, Kayah and Keng Tung States

In the Shan State, examination of the Lough Keng zinc carbonate deposit confirmed the existence of 550,000 metric tons of measurable outcrop ore with an average content of 40 % zinc. Assays and metal¬ lurgical tests of ore samples sent to the United States confirmed that the ore would be amenable to treat¬ ment by the electrothermic process recommended for the Myingyan zinc refinery. The visible ore alone

is sufficient to supply the refinery's needs for zinc carbonate ores for over 15 years without taking into account possible downward extensions.

Plans for underground exploration designed to determine by hand method downward extensions of the carbonate ore and its possible transition at moderate depth into sulphide ore were prepared and submitted, together with cost estimates, to the Mineral Resources Development Corporation. The execution of this program wUl determine whether diamond drilling may be required later to disclose fully the extent and physical characteristics of the ore body.

Estimates were made of the cost of a 25-30 mile access road from Mong Pawn to Lough Keng and of the cost of equipping the property for the surface mining and transport to railhead of 40,000 tons of ore annually for 15 years. Aerial photographs were taken for topographic mapping purposes, for road ahgnments, and for use in the geological survey to be made in connection with the exploration program, and the ground survey control for photogrammetric measures is presently awaited.

Lead sulphide and carbonate ore occurrences and mining operations in the Bawzaing-Mawson, AUeg- yaung and other areas were examined. Because of lack of facihties the lead carbonate zone south of Mawson has not yet been prospected and tested as recommended in the Preliminary Report. Apart from this development possibility, no deposits of major economic importance were encountered or indicated. The principal manganese deposit in the Ho Pong area was examined, and recommendations for more efficient exploitation were made. Other manganese deposits in the area were examined also, and recom¬ mendations made to the owners for prospecting and exploration work where the showings were promising. The field examinations and recommendations are covered in reports previously submitted to Govern¬ ment.

Coal occurrences north and northwest of Taunggyi were investigated. Although some of the coal had been reported to have coking characteristics, test of samples taken did not confirm this. The seams exposed were of trivial thickness and lacking in apparent continuity of strike and dip. The conclusion was reached that economic coal deposits are unlikely to be discovered in the Shan State. SimUarly, a coal occurrence at Htai Kwe, a few miles west of Loikaw, and one at Kyebogyi, a few miles north of Bawlake, both in the Kayah State, were examined and found to be of no importance.

Antimony deposits at Mong Sang and vicinity, and at Mong Pan were examined. The former was found


sufficiently promising to justify a considerable pro¬ gram of exploration and development. On the other hand, the Lebyin mine, referred to in the Preliminary Report, was examined in detail, and the conclusion reached that it showed little if any promise.

Several occurrences of copper ore were examined in the Shan State, but none of them appeared to be promising. The occurrences reported south of Heho on the east side of Inle Lake remained inaccessible for examination because of security conditions. Although the reported occurrences of phosphate rock in the Kayah State which were examined and sampled were disappointingly low in content additional exploration appeared warranted.

Such information regarding the mineral potenti¬ afities of Keng Tung State as could be obtained from interrogating the best informed persons in Keng Tung was recorded for future reference. Although it was impossible under the circumstances to reconnoitre outside of the town of Keng Tung, it is believed that the Wah States may prove, on exploration, to have worthwhile deposits of lead and antimony ore, and that south and west of Keng Tung, along the Thai border, there may be economically attractive deposits of tungsten.

b. The Kachin State and Naga Hills In the Kachin State, the highly reputed lead-silver

ore deposit at Arahku was examined as well as a reported copper-nickel deposit at Ahkail, north of Arahku. This examination trip required considerable organization because of the lack of communications, Arahku being approximately 12 days by trail from Sumprabum. The deposit at Arahku proved dis¬ appointing and that at Ahkail valueless. Following the initial examination of Arahku, approximately 100 ft. of underground exploration was accomplished. This effectively demonstrated that the Arahku occurrence possessed no potential economic value and that further efforts to develop it should be abandoned.

An examination visit to the lead-silver deposits in the vicinity of Putao, which because of the greater local interest in Arahku had been assigned second priority, was started but abandoned prior to com¬ pletion when the examining engineer was recalled to Rangoon by Government.

In addition to these two principal investigations, showings of copper ore at Taungbalom; gold aUuvials at Myitkyina, Namma, Hpakan on the Uru River and in Nanpanmwe Chaung; iron and sulphur showings at Indawgyi Lake; coal occurrences at Pinbaw; talc occurrences near Kyungon; jade showings and workings on the Masa Hka, at Tammaw and Hpankan; garnet-bearing schists of possible

commercial value at Namtu near Myitkyina; and mica-bearing formations at Bumarang Bum were investigated by the engineer and his field assistants. None of these occurrences proved impressive except for auriferous gravels at Namma and near Myitkyina where it was recommended that the possibihty of a commercial deposit be explored by systematic sampling.

Working from Singkaling Hkamti on the Upper Chindwin River as a base, a geological reconnais¬ sance was made with the assistance of Dr. Ba Thi, acting Director of the Geological Department, of part of the Naga Hill tract to the west of the river and of a smaller strip to the east. As a result, the probabUity of important mineral deposits to the west was largely discounted.

c. Tenasserim Division Various deposits of beach sands were examined on

Tavoy, King, Tantage and Mergui Islands of the Mergui Archipelago with a view to evaluating them as possible sources of raw material for a glass manu¬ facturing industry. At least one deposit of suitable quality was found, namely, the Thegon and adjoining Panyoyo sands, although the quantity of 27,200 cu. yds. estimated to be avaUable was not as large as desired. It is believed that further examination might discover additional smaU deposits.

While it was possible to investigate and report to a considerable degree upon the status of the tin and tungsten mining industry in the Tenasserim Division by interrogating owners, operators and government officials at Mergui, Tavoy and Victoria Point, it was impossible, because of lack of security, to make more than a brief inspection of a few tin and tungsten placer areas northeast of Mergui and in the vicinity of Victoria Point. Despite this disadvantage, definite conclusions were reached regarding measures which should be taken to encourage expanded production activities once security conditions become normal. These measures are presented hereinafter in the section dealing with future mineral development.

d. Pegu District The coal occurrences at Pyinbongyi, some 40 miles

north of Pegu were investigated to the extent per¬ mitted by security conditions and found to be of a trivial extent and of no economic importance.

7. MINERAL INDUSTRY TRAINING PROGRAM

The manner in which an effective mineral industry training program could be established on a continuing basis was discussed with the Mineral Resources Development Corporation. Specific reference to the


program recommended wiU be found in subsequent sections and on the organization chart submitted to the Corporation.

E. FUTURE MINERAL DEVELOPMENT 1. GENERAL

a. Economic Potentialities

In the fiscal years 1937-1941, mineral exports accounted for 33 % of the national total. So far as the deposits exploited during this period are concerned, most of them are still capable of return to the prewar rate of production. With the higher metal prices now prevaUing, the value of mineral production would be increased greatly. While there are instances where the prewar production rate could not be maintained for many years from known reserves, there are many other instances in which no systematic effort has been made to develop the deposits to create additional reserves. Also, many of the deposits being exploited before the war are capable of an even higher rate of production if efficient operating methods are used. In important instances, also, the provision of access roads alone would make expanded production operations economically feasible.

An example of a known but undeveloped and unexploited mineral deposit is Kalewa coal. Here development and exploitation would not increase exports, but would reduce and could even eUminate the need for imports and, apart from other economic advantages more important to the country, would result in an appreciable saving of foreign exchange.

AdditionaUy, the exploitation of this source of solid fuel would result directly in an increase in the export of other minerals. With Kalewa coal, the estabUshment in Burma of a zinc refinery becomes economicaUy practicable and desirable. The zinc refinery would make possible the exploitation of the Lough Keng zinc carbonate ore deposit, which without the refinery would be economically un¬ attractive, and would thus enable the export from Burma of zinc metal. Foreign exchange earnings would thus be increased by both the increase in zinc exploitation and by the substitution of the export of zinc metal for the export of concentrates.

The economic potential in undiscovered mineral deposits cannot be readily evaluated. Considering that such a comparatively small part of the total area of Burma has been explored for mineral deposits, even superficiaUy, and that only two efficiently developed deposits of metallic minerals, namely Bawdwin and Mawchi, have made such notable contribution to the Burmese economy, there is ample reason for beheving strongly that the potential is comparatively great.

b. Development Policies In formulating national policies fundamental to a

weU-integrated, comprehensive mineral development program, the Government should strive to attain the foUowing important general objectives:

(1) The restoration of estabhshed mining opera¬ tions to their prewar level of production.

(2) The expansion of production operations when¬ ever possible by the use of the most recent and efficient mining methods and metaUurgical processes.

(3) The creation of additional reserves from known mineral deposits by systematic exploration, prospect¬ ing, and development work based on sound technical advice and geological examination of the deposits.

(4) The construction of access roads, where warranted, for facUitating the execution of (2) and (3).

(5) The development by Government of mineral production from new or hitherto unexploited deposits, and the development of new metallurgical industries where the economic value to the country is demon¬ strable but where private enterprise or capital cannot be induced to undertake such development or ex¬ ploitation.

(6) The inauguration and effective execution of a long term continuing program of systematic exploration designed to discover mineral deposits of economic value and to secure their early develop¬ ment and exploitation.

(7) The estabUshment and maintenance of a long term continuing program for educating and training— in Burma and overseas, as required—the labor, super¬ visory staff, technological and administrative staff, and personnel needed by the mineral industry (see Chapter III).

(8) Revision of the mining laws and regulations, greatly needed improvements in the administration of the mineral concessions, rules, and modifications in the form of taxation on mineral production so that the search for minerals and their development and exploitation by private individuals wiU be encouraged rather than discouraged. The contributions of private prospecting are essential in a country having un¬ explored areas as extensive as those existing in Burma, where coverage in any reasonable period of years would be beyond the capacity of any single govern¬ ment agency or corporation.

Progress towards the attaimnent of these objectives can be best effected by a combination of private enterprise and government effort, the latter exerted energetically through the media of all departments concerned with the development of mineral resources, but particularly through a strong and efficient Mines Department, an adequately staffed and competent Geological Department, and the vigorous and


effective contributions of the Mineral Resources Development Corporation. The functions, responsi¬ bihties and administration of these departments and of the Corporation are discussed and correlated in following subsections.

2. MINING LAWS AND TAXATION

The serious inconsistencies between existing mining legislation—inherited as it is from an older and distinctly different social and political establishment— and the new self-determined social and pohtical estabhshment created by the Burmese people, were noted in the Preliminary Report in which it was recommended that early attention be given this matter and the related subject of mineral industry taxation.

a. Existing Legislation

The principal existing regulations are set forth in the "Burma MetaUiferous Mines Manual, 1937," as corrected to May I, 1941, the "Mineral Concession Rules," and the supplementary manual, "The Burma Mineral Concessions Directions, 1947." Recom¬ mendations relating to these regulations and to the principles, concepts and consideration from which they arise have already been presented to Govern¬ ment in a separate study entitled "Recommended Modifications of Mining Legislation and Taxation" to which reference is particularly invited for greater detail than that contained in the subsequent sum¬ marization.

At present the lawful conduct of mineral develop¬ ment and exploitation under the two basic documents is effected through the combination of four separate devices: a certificate of approval, a prospecting license, a disc license, and a mining lease. The following comments on each device are pertinent to the recommendations which follow:

(1) The Certificate of Approval is considered to be open to abuses far more damaging than its possible beneficial contribution to the modern development of the mineral industry. It has been used by the financially able, to acquire interests in new prospects or mines without personally contributing financially to the exploration.

(2) The Prospecting License is, in effect, a modified mining permit drawn up for a specific claim or area. Prospecting licenses are issued without uniformity. As in the case of the certificate of approval, it is open to serious abuses. A large proportion of the 1951 mineral production in the Shan States came from operations conducted on claims held only under prospecting licenses, a practice believed general

R.B. II—11

throughout Burma. This is inconsistent with the generally accepted definition or connotation of the word "prospecting." and constitutes an effective impediment to that activity as usually understood.

(3) The Disc License is evidently designed to permit an individual of reduced means to conduct smaU-scale hand method mining operations on "Special Mining Area," By implication and practice it appears to convey the right to mine tin and tungsten deposits only.

(4) The Mining Lease is the basic requirement for lawfully working a mine or exploiting a mineral deposit. It is apparent, however, that despite this legal requirement a very considerable proportion of current mineral production resuhs from operations conducted under certificates of approval, prospecting licenses, and disc licenses. This may be due in part to the fact that present procedures for obtaining a mining lease are unnecessarily complex, cumbersome, and time-consuming. A lease generally denotes the grant by the owner of the right to occupancy and use.

b. Recommended Revisions

The primary modifications of existing mining legislation and mineral industry taxation believed necessary and recommended in a previous report in order to provide a sound base for a modern, equitable, and more effectively workable mining code are as foUows:

(1) The principle should be established that the mineral resources of the Union of Burma, in the broadest scope of the term, belong ultimately to the people of the Union, and that the role of the Govern¬ ment shall be that of custodian of these resources, as agent by the free wiU and in the interest of aU the people. Government shall by this enactment revoke the principle of its hereditary or ultimate ownership of all mineral resources, except that through lawfully created agents such as corporations, authorities or boards, government ownership of partial to complete interest in specific operating elements of the economy may be acquired by due process of law.

(2) The right to travel freely over the surface of the country where such travel does not involve trespass on notified areas, searching for and examining natural outcrops of rock and collecting specimens and samples of such outcrops for subsequent examination and analysis, where such collection does not involve damage greater than the trivial removal of brush and soil, should be established as a basic free and inahen- able right of every citizen of the Union, provided that the Government, acting for and with the consent


of the people, may by prior notification and demarca¬ tion, prohibit such travel and search on or within specified distances of areas or establishments created or maintained in the interest of pubhc welfare.

(3) The rules requiring a certificate of approval before issuance of a prospecting license or mining lease should be revoked, and this device should be aboUshed.

(4) The prospecting license should be revoked and provision should be made for the issuance of a mineral exploration license valid for one year which would entitle the holder to the right of annual renewal for two successive years, prior to the expira¬ tion of which the holder would have to make applica¬ tion for a mineral exploitation license if he desired to exploit the deposit.

(5) The device known as the disc license should be abohshed and certain advantages which it offers, as discussed in the separate report, should be incor¬ porated in the mineral exploitation license.

(6) The mining lease should be revoked and its broad principles embodied in a new device to be known as the mineral exploitation license, but modified appropriately to {a) sunplify and facilitate application and issue; {b) reduce the land area law¬ fully to be held under it; (c) aUow the exploitation of aU minerals whenever and wherever found in the licensed area; {d) provide for appropriate government revenue by a schedule of reasonable taxes levied on net income or profit derived from the production and disposal of mineral products, at the same time abohshing existing royalty, export and sales forms of taxation; (e) provide for termination of the license under certain conditions such as failure dUigently to exploit the holding. These recommendations are presented in greater detaU in the previously mentioned report. It is worth emphasizing here, however, that the fundamental change in concept in this latter instance should be that the State should derive reasonable revenue from profits made on the sale and disposal of minerals and metals after they have been produced, but not from the rights of the citizens to search for, develop or produce them.

Detailed implementing, clarifying and facihtating enactments wUl of course be required.

c. Anticipated Procedure

In idealized outline, prospecting, mineral explora¬ tion, and exploitation under a code based on these recommendations would develop as follows:

(1) Burmese nationals would exercise their right of free travel and search for promising mineral showings.

(2) If and when such showings were found, a mineral exploration license permitting concentrated

exploration, development, and limited smaU-scale production for renewable periods of one year over a total period of three years, would be readily obtain¬ able.

(3) If the property demonstrates further exploita¬ tion potentiafities, application for a mineral exploita¬ tion license could be made by the holder of the mineral exploration license at any time prior to expiration of the latter. If granted, the exploitation license would permit the licensee to continue explora¬ tion and to undertake formal exploitation of his deposits for a maximum period of 25 years.

d. Provisions for Foreign Capital

So far, the recommendations summarized in the preceding paragraphs have applied to the develop¬ ment and exploitation by Burmese nationals, and by the Mineral Resources Development Corporation only. However, for a very considerable period in the future, satisfactory progress toward optimum development of mineral resources will also require foreign enterprise and capital. Foreign capital wiU not ordinarily seek employment in Burma unless the rights to recover and remove the investment from the country with a fair return thereon are fully assured and protected by law. Indeed, private foreign capital, or even pubUc foreign capital is likely to be made avaUable only in those countries which by reputation and history of fair dealing provide assurance that there will be no confiscation by taxation or by imposition of import, export, and foreign exchange restrictions, or otherwise. The enactment of a mining code should therefore include appropriate safeguards for foreign capital.

3. THE MINES DEPARTMENT

a. Functions and Responsibilities

Prior to the last war the Mines Department concerned itself almost solely with the administration of the Mines Act, its principal interest being the safety and working conditions of mine labor. Ad¬ ministered by a Chief Inspector of Mines and subordinate Inspectors, the Act provided also for mining boards and mining committees which could exercise many of the functions of inspectors and act much as civil courts with respect to mining. In this latter respect, the Department's principal function was that of guarding the interest of the State by exercising control and regulation of the mineral industry. Probably it was derived from the regahan conception that the mineral resources of a country belonged to the crown, as somewhat distinct from the democratic principle that a country and its resources belong to its people or citizens.


Mineral deposits are irreplaceable and, when undergoing exploitation, are wasting assets. Inefficient or wasteful methods of development and explohation render impossible the maximum recovery of useful minerals and result in an irrecoverable loss of the country's natural wealth. It is believed therefore, that in addition to the function which it has hitherto exercised, the Mines Department should provide technical advice for small and medium sized mining operations in order to secure the adoption of efficient mining and metallurgical methods. With the same objective in view, the Department's technical advice and recommendations should govern generaUy the Government's administration and enforcement of mineral industry legislation and taxation.

To this end the staff" on the Mines Department should include several qualified mining engineers willing and able frequently to tour the mining districts, visit operations and advise operators on methods of ore development, extraction and beneficiation. They should emphasize to the operators their function of providing unbiased instruction and technical assistance and minimize their concern with administration and regulation. An auxilliary function of these engineers would be the preliminary appraisal of mineral deposits discovered in the course of the field work of the Geological Department.

In the immediately preceding section, basic changes in existing mineral industry legislation and taxation were recommended. If these recommendations are approved and implemented by Government, the Mines Department would be wholly responsible for the issue of mineral exploration licenses and responsible for prior approval of the issue of mineral exploitation licenses, final approval in the latter instance resting with the Minister of Mines. For this purpose the Mines Department would have to include a hcense section or bureau. The head of this office would be responsible to the Director for the pro¬ cessing of all license applications. Prior to the submission of an apphcation to the Director for approval or denial, the license office would effect any necessary investigation of the applicant or the area under application, using the services of the Depart¬ ment's technical staff" for this purpose as required.

In addition to the foregoing functions and responsi¬ bilities, the Mines Department should have a statistical section responsible for the current compila¬ tion and recording of all mineral production and export data. Through the Department this data should be made available to all other interested government offices and to private individuals, and care should be taken by Government to eliminate any duplication of this responsibility in other departments or agencies.

b. Administration The development of an effective Mines Department

will inevitably progress slowly if dependence is placed solely on the present availability in Burma of qualified technical personnel. Considering the requirements of the Mines Department, the Geological Department, and the Mineral Resources Development Corporation alone, as distinct from mineral industry needs, it will be some years hence, before there are available enough professionally trained Burmese geologists, mining engineers and metallurgists to carry on the full program. In determining the technical personnel requirements of these establishments, every care should therefore be taken to insure that there is not duplication of efforts, functions and responsibilities.

With these important considerations in mind an initial organization such as that outlined below is recommended. In the future, staff can be added as the need develops.

MINISTRY OF MINES THE MINES DEPARTMENT

Director Mines Technical

Inspection Assistance License Statistical Section Section Section Section

1 Chief Inspector 1 Chief Mining 1 Chief 1 Mining Engineer Licensing Engineer

Officer Analyst 2 Assistant Mines 1 Assistant

* One would normally be assigned to north and central Burma and the Shan and Kayah States and the other to the Tenasserim Division.

4. THE GEOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT

a. Functions and Responsibilities For most countries, and especially for a country

such as Burma which has mineral resources of proved economic worth, a strong and efficiently conducted geological survey or department is a wise investment. Until the separation of Burma from India in 1937, the Geological Survey of India maintained a party in Burma with permanent headquarters in Rangoon. For several reasons, including the financial crisis of 1931, the party never attained its planned strength of about 20 technical officers, but, at the time of separation, consisted of a superintending geologist, a geologist who served as technical adviser to the Warden, Burma Oilfields, an assistant geologist and a chemical assistant. When Burma separated from India the party was redesignated the "Burma Geological Department," the Government of India agreeing to lend to the Government of Burma for a period of five years the geological officers necessary


to maintain the Department at its immediate pre- separation strength of four men. This organization continued to function until the invasion of Burma early in 1942.

At Simla, in June 1944, it was decided that the Burma Geological Department should comprise one superintending geologist, six geologists and twelve assistant geologists. The Consultative Committee further recommended that the Government of India lend geologists to staff" the department until the Government of Burma could recruit and train Burmese nationals to replace them.

For various reasons this temporary staffing by the Geological Survey of India never materialized, although a Mr. E. J. Bradshaw of that Survey was released on request of the Government of Burma to accept appointment as Director, Burma Geological Department. This post he held until shortly after the inauguration of the Union of Burma in 1948. Since then the Department has functioned under an acting Director, Dr. Ba Thi (Ph.D., Industrial Chemistry), assisted in recent years by two state scholars. Dr. Kyaw Myint (Ph.D., Geology), U Min Din (M.Sc, Geology), a chemical assistant, and a small staff" of clerks and office personnel.

In considering the reconstitution and expansion of the Geological Department, there are two principal questions on which there has been a wide division of opinion and which must be resolved by the Govern¬ ment in determining its course of action. First, confronted with financing the rehabUitation and expansion of the Burmese economy, what place should the needs of this Department hold in overall planning? Second, what is to be the pohcy of recruit¬ ing technological personnel to conduct the expanded functions of the Department?

The fact that in the years immediately preceding the war, mineral exports accounted for approximately 33% of the national total, should receive serious consideration in determining what percentage should be allocated to the mineral industries from the funds budgeted for overall industrial rehabilitation and expansion. It is assumed that most of the funds allocated would be distributed between: (1) the development of production from the Kalewa coal¬ field; (2) the rehabUitation and expansion of the oil industry; (3) the fulfiUing of the Government's commitment in its participation with the Burma Corporation (1951) Ltd.; (4) implementation of the Myingyan zinc project and the necessarUy contingent development of production from the Lough Keng zinc ore deposit; (5) financing the activities of the Mineral Resources Development Corporation, through which presumably the Government would secure imple¬ mentation of most or all of the preceding items; and

(6) the reconstitution and expansion of the Geological Department and the Mines Department.

The first five of these undertakings might well absorb most of funds prudently allocable from a reasonably balanced national budget, and it is certain that they would more than exhaust the resources of national technological personnel. Despite the recog¬ nized basic importance of a Geological Department in the development of the country's mineral resources, unless funds can be made avaUable to advance the execution of the whole mineral development policy of the Government along parallel lines and simul¬ taneously, it would seem wise to secure first the rehabilitation of prewar production operations, expansion of their former rate of production where economically feasible, and the development of the most promising production potentialities presently recognized, namely, the Kalewa coalfield, the Mying¬ yan zinc project and the Lough Keng ore deposit.

Under subsequent headings, the functions and responsibUities of the Mineral Resources Develop¬ ment Corporation and the projected survey of mineral resources are discussed. The Mineral Resources Survey, as presently envisaged, would be conducted as a principal activity of the exploration division of the Corporation. The initiation and conduct of a continuing program for educating and training national technological personnel would be a chief concern of the Corporation's training division. The technological services and personnel which the Corporation would need to employ for its mineral exploration and development work would, initially, have to be obtained very largely from sources outside Burma. All of the activities of the Corporation could and should be correlated very closely with the policies and objectives of the Geological Department and all other government departments and agencies concerned with the discovery and development of mineral resources. Hence, much if not all of the exploration work accomplished would contribute specifically to the Geological Department's ultimate objectives. As suitably trained Burmese technical personnel became available through execution of the Corporation's training program, they could be absorbed by the Department until its eventual reconstitution at not less than the strength recom¬ mended by the Simla Committee was effected.

Presumably, adequate funds will be made avaUable more readily for the Corporation's activities and objectives than for those of the Geological Depart¬ ment. Therefore, it is recommended that until trained national personnel begin to become avaUable from the Corporation's training divisions, recruitment for the staff" of the Geological Department be sub¬ ordinated to the requirements of the other agencies.

G.U.B. MINERAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DIRECTOR GENERAL!

GENERAL MANAGER

ASSISTANT GENERAL MANASER

i

SEOLOSICAL DEPT

GUB. Liaison 1

1 1

r 1 1

EXPLORATION

z ENGINEERING

GUB. Liaison

D I V I SIGNS

OPERATING

MINERAL RESOURCES SURVEY

PROJECT

_L.

MINERAL RESOURCES DEPT.

KACHIN STATE

SHAN STATE

OTHER REGIONAL OFFICES

DESIGN

CONSTRUCTION

MAPPING

DRAFTING

RELATED SERVICES

S MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT

MINING SECTION

DEVELOPMENT

EXPLOITATION

CONSTRUCTION

METALLURSICAL SECTION

ASSAY LABORATORIES

ANALYTICAL LABORATORIES

ORE DRESSING LABORATORIES

CONSULATION

>- PETROLEUM SECTION

WELFARE a

PUBLIC RELATIONS

TRAINING

LABOR RELATIONS SECTION

INDUSTRIAL SAFETY SECTION

MEDICAL B SANITATION SECTION

PUBLIC RELATIONS SECTION

X TRANSPORTATION

DOMESTIC

FOREIGN

ADMINISTRATIVE ACCOUNTING

DOMESTIC

FOREIGN

SECRETARIAL AND

CLERICAL SECTION

GENERAL SERVICES SECTION

OFFICE REQUIREMENTS

HOUSING REQUIREMENTS

MOTOR VEHICLES REQUIREMENTS

MISCELLANEOUS REQUIREMENTS

T ■ I

_L

DEPARTMENTS

PURCHASING

DOMESTIC

FOREIGN

LEGAL

SALES

DOMESTIC

FOREIGN

PLATE NO. I-A


However, a director qualified in the field of geology should be appointed to coordinate the work of the present staff, to formulate specific plans for expansion and to coordinate the Department's present activities with those of the other government agencies and departments, particularly the Corporation and the Mines Department.

5. THE MINERAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

The establishment of a "Union of Burma Mineral Development Corporation" was one of the important recommendations in the Preliminary Report. Out¬ lined in that Report were the activities, functions, responsibilities, government departmental and private industrial interrelationships, and the authority that such a Corporation should have. Subsequently, legislation was enacted establishing the Minerals Resources Development Corporation as a govern¬ ment entity as from November 1, 1952.

The enabling legislation gives the Corporation wide powers which encompass most, if not aU, of the recommendations in the Report. One exception is that the Directorate is staffed only by Government oflScials. This means that there is no representation on the Board of Directors from private banking, commerce, or persons active in private mining enterprise.

Although recruitment of Corporation personnel and staff" began following its establishment as a legal entity on November 1, 1952, progress in this and other respects has been slower than expected. This may be attributable in part to the fact that the Corporation has not, as recommended, been relatively "autonomous," or operated "in every respect ... as a private enterprise ..." It had been recommended also that the executive head of the Corporation should possess "some technical know¬ ledge and wide business experience" and "should be given the widest possible latitude for carrying out the directives of the Board." Furthermore, it was emphasized that initiaUy, and for some time there¬ after, until qualified Burmese replacements could be made avaUable, the Corporation would need to employ a few foreign mining engineers and geologists, and managerial and technical consultant services.

Although, following estabUshment of the Cor¬ poration in November 1952 an organization chart (substantially as shown on Plate lA) was submitted to the Director-General, the Corporation still has no effective staff" or organization, and no executive head who can presently give it undivided or adequate attention. The Director-General of the Board, who presently acts in this capacity, has numerous other

governmental duties and responsibilities, and more¬ over appears to have been delegated too little authority and latitude of action. So far the Corpora¬ tion has employed personnel to fill the following positions only: one liaison officer, one clerk-account¬ ant, one lower division clerk, one stenographer- secretary, one typist and two peons. No suitable provision has yet been made for officers for the Cor¬ poration or for the housing of its related facilities and services such as centralized laboratories which are needed to serve the assay, ore-dressing and metal¬ lurgical testing requirements of the Corporation as well as the petrographic, mineralogical and analytical needs of the Mines Department and the Geological Department.

If the Corporation is to function effectively at any reasonably early date as the principal government entity responsible to the people of Burma for securing the development and exploitation of their mineral resources, considerably more energetic and aggressive action must be taken by the Board in organizing and staffing it for this purpose. There is no need to modify substantially any of the principal recommendations submitted in the Prehminary Report. On the contrary, the expeditious implementation of those recom¬ mendations on which no effective action has yet been taken is urged, particularly with respect to the need for engaging effective full-time management at the earliest date.

It is strongly recommended that the Board of Directors should determine policies and that the Director-General should be responsible to the Board for seeing that they are carried out. For the execution of these policies, reliance should be placed on a properly qualified and competent general manager possessing a satisfactory record of business and mineral industry experience, responsible directly to the Board through the Director-General. Con¬ currently, the Corporation should arrange for the employment of the foreign technical staff and consultant services initially required. The managerial and technical services needed can best be obtained by employing the services of a reputable and com¬ petent firm of mining engineers and consultants. Failing this, the general manager employed inde¬ pendently should be given wide latitude in choosing his own technical and administrative staff.

In addhion to the functions, activities and respon¬ sibUities implied in the Preliminary Report, there arc several additional responsibilities which the Corpora¬ tion should undertake.

First, the mineral resources survey project, pre¬ viously recommended as a separate project for reasons of expediency but not yet initiated, should at once be


undertaken by the Exploration Division of the Corporation as a continuing program, but on a con¬ siderably reduced scale.

This program should be conducted with a view to expanding its scope as fast as improvements in security conditions permit. Execution of the program should be correlated at all times with the functions and activities of the regional mineral development departments of the Corporation, which it will be noted from the organization chart are also a responsi¬ bUity of the Exploration Division, and with the Mines Department and the Geological Department.

So far as the execution of specific projects is concerned, the Corporation staffing requirements in connection with securing the execution of the Kalewa coalfield development, the Myingyan zinc project, and the development of the Lough Keng ore deposit can be much more clearly defined. In determining the minimum technical staff needed by the Corporation for all of its operations, the requirements for these specific projects and those of the Exploration Division should be carefully assessed and correlated.

6. MINERAL RESOURCES SURVEY

The Mineral Resources Survey has already been mentioned briefly in discussing the functions and responsibilities of the Mineral Resources Develop¬ ment Corporation. The plan for the survey was drafted as a GUB project proposal in AprU 1952, following the submission of the Preliminary Report and at a time when it appeared that the estal^lishment of a mineral development corporation might be considerably delayed. It was thought that pending the possibly later establishment of the Corporation, needed technical assistance might thus be made available for Burma more quickly. In implementing the project close coordination and collaboration with the Geological Department was envisaged, although it was realized that at a later date such exploration might be conducted to better advantage by the Corporation, if and when it should be established.

Essentially the objective of the project, which provided for a long-term continuing program of mineral exploration, was to increase Burma's mineral resources by the discovery of presently unknown deposits and of extensions of known deposits. Considering the recognized underexplored and under¬ developed status of the country's mineral resources, it was considered to be the one measure which, much more than any other, could make the greatest long term contribution to the social and economic welfare of Burma.

The methods of prospecting which in the past have resulted in discoveries of ore bodies have not entailed the use of elaborate equipment. Generally,

ore has been discovered when it has been apparent from rock outcrops. But in Burma, as in many tropical to subtropical countries, mineral exploration and prospecting is handicapped by physical conditions which render the routine methods of the past back¬ ward, time-consuming and insufficiently productive except where comparatively smaU areas are to be explored. With topography which renders access in many instances very difficult, forest and dense jungle-covered terrain, thick overburden, and other physical conditions which cover outcrops and ore indications, many areas which might contain valu¬ able ore deposits have never even been reconnoitred.

The project provided for a weU planned and executed progjram of mineral exploration and prospecting, employing geologists, geophysicists, mining engineers, aerial photography, the use of an airborne magnetometer and other geophysical equip¬ ment. It provided also, with the objective of eventuaUy staffing the continuing program completely with nationals, both short-term and long-term domestic and foreign training programs for Burmese technical personnel. As proposed, execution of this program over the first five years called for an estimated expenditure of $3,861,000 and Kl,23,00,000.

In drafting the program, it was necessarUy assumed that security conditions would permit its execution on the scale contemplated, and there was good reason for believing that much of the foreign technical assistance and equipment required would be pro¬ vided through TCA. More recently, up to the termination of TCA in Burma, it was stUl contem¬ plated that assistance from this source would be available, although on a necessarUy reduced scale due to the limitations imposed on the originaUy contemplated scope of activities by current security conditions.

In spite of present conditions the mineral resources survey should be initiated and conducted as a con¬ tinuing program by the Mineral Resources Develop¬ ment Corporation through its Exploration Division and Training Division, and it is recommended that appropriate provision for securing the necessary technical personnel be made by the Corporation at the earliest date with a view to expanding the scope of activities as fast as improvements in security conditions warrant.

7. REGIONAL MINERAL DEVELOPMENT

In advancing the area development projects, as recommended in the PreUminary Report, continuing investigations were made in the three principal regions of Burma which include practically all the sources of economic mineral production to date, excepting petroleum. These three broad regions are: the Shan


States, and contingent areas including the Kayah, Keng Tung and Wah States; the Kachin State, including the Naga HiUs tract, north Burma and the Upper Chindwin River country; and the Tenasserim Division. The investigations in the first two regions were conducted largely by resident mining engineers stationed at Taunggyi (Shan State) and Myitkyina (Kachin State). Security conditions in the Tenasserim Division, however, remained such that only two field investigations were made.

In the Kachin State, at the request of Government, the Consultants undertook general direction of the activities of the former Office of Mines and Industries of the Kachin State as from October 1, 1952, the date of its transfer from the Kachin State to the Ministry of National Planning and Rehgious Affairs. Thereafter, the office was redesignated the Mineral Resources Department of the Kachin State, subse¬ quently effective February 1st, 1953, all responsibUities for the Department were transferred from the Ministry to the Mineral Resources Development Corporation.

Near the end of the current field season, under date of May 11, it was recommended to the Corpora¬ tion that the Department be re-established as a regional office of the Corporation, its principal functions and responsibilities to be those of securing the exploration and prospecting of mineral occur¬ rences in the Kachin State and adjacent areas. It would not develop mineral deposits for production.

In effecting the establishment of the Mineral Resources Department of the Kachin State as a regional office of the Corporation, it was recom¬ mended that all staff and employees of the former establishment be released as soon as possible under existing government procedure, and that the regional office then engage a minimum administrative staff untU such time as a regional director could be appointed and placed in charge. Thereafter, the director would proceed with building up the organiza¬ tion as feasible and desirable.

The activities of the regional offices would fall under the Exploration Division of the Corporation, and their broad direction would be the responsibUity of the Chief of this Division. Responsible to the Chief of the Exploration Division for the local direction and operation of the regional offices would be the regional directors, resident at Myitkyina and at Taunggyi respectively, in the cases of the Kachin State and Shan State regions, and probably at Tavoy, in the case of the Tenasserim Division region. It was recommended that the regional directors be persons well qualified by technical training in mining geology, and that they should possess a suitable background of field and operating experience.

Each regional office would operate with a perma¬ nent staff which would be augmented on a temporary basis during each field season. During the monsoon season, certain of the permanent employees would receive practical training at centres to be established at Bawdwin and, as soon as practicable, at Mawchi mines.

GeneraUy, the regional offices of the Corporation would be responsible only for reconnaissance, exploration and prospecting work designed essentiaUy to discover mineral deposits of economic value, the further development of which, initially or to the production stage when justifiable, the Corporation would proceed to secure through its Exploration Division and other appropriate departments.

The Mineral Resources Survey which has been recommended as a principal activity and responsibUity of the Exploration Division of the Corporation would, of course, be coordinated with the activities of the regional offices in a manner which would prevent dupHcation of effort. The results of the survey and of the work of the Exploration Division generally would determine what other regional offices might be established advantageously.

The exploration objectives in the three principal regions referred to have been indicated generally in the preceding section. Briefly, the most important initial objectives in these regions may be summarized as follows:

a. Kachin State In the Kachin State a search should be made in the

Putao area for economic deposits of lead-sUver ores, taking advantage of the guidance afforded by the old slag dumps of early Chinese miners, and the indications resulting from geological reconnaissance of the area. The second most important area for early reconnaissance, and detaUed examination where indicated, lies in the Hukong VaUey area.

b. Shan State In the Shan State region, the antimony deposits at

Mong Sang should be carefully prospected and explored; underground exploratory workings should be driven at Lough Keng in accordance with the recommendations already submitted; efforts should be made to discover other economic deposits of manganese ore similar to that being mined at Ho Pong; and investigations should be initiated to determine whether there is any possibUity of working the lead carbonate area at Mawson on a large scale by surface mining methods. Further exploration of phosphate rock should be made in the area southwest of Loikaw.


c. Tenasserim Division

In the Tenasserim Division, once security con¬ ditions permit the resumption of normal mining operations, thorough examination and exploration of many vein deposits should indicate possibilities which owners and operators would be well advised to explore. Reconnaissance in the Dawna Range would probably disclose deposits of tin and tungsten minerals which so far have not been exploited.

8. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY

For a comprehensive discussion of the petroleum industry and its development potentialities, reference should be made to the "Report on the Economics of the Petroleum Industry in the Union of Burma" prepared by Mr. Stuart St. Clair and submhted to the Government in March 1953. In briefer form, the observations, conclusions and recommendations are discussed and summarized in the following para¬ graphs.

(a) Chauk is the only field in Burma now in production. The 1952 output was 645,000 Burma barrels of 40 Imperial gallons. Present daily produc¬ tion is less than the capacity of the wells already drilled, output being limited by refining and river transportation facUities. A new distiUation plant with a capacity of 2,700 barrels per day wiU shortly be in operation, but only the refined products from this throughput can be shipped. Therefore the present topping plant must be shut down untU additional tugs and barges can be delivered which may not be untU early 1955. Chauk has possibihtics of production from deeper sands, but it is uneconomic to prove them at this time since there is no outlet for its present potential. What is said of Chauk includes Lanywa, its sister field.

(b) Yenangyaung, the second largest producing field before the war, is in insurgent hands and has no regular production. The possibihtics of extensions to the north, south and west as weU as possible produc¬ tion from deeper sands are good.

(c) The estimated proved reserves for Chauk, Yenangyaung and the other known fields are 93,000,000 barrels. There is valid reason to believe that this estimate can be increased when security conditions prevail and a definite exploration pro¬ gram can be started. A number of areas of geologic prominence should be drilled and an equal number warrant further study. Drilling now being done near the boundary between Burma and East Bengal may throw some hght on geologic possibUities in the Arakan coastal area.

When security prevails, a complete or partial exploration program can be undertaken as con¬ ditions warrant. The areas included in the full program presented in the Report under reference are listed below, together with estimated exploration costs.

Exploration Areas

Chauk Yenangyaung Ondwe Ngashandaung Palanyon Mindegyi Yinaing Lema Yedwet Yenangyat Ainggyi Delta Area Geophysical Survey Geological Surveys

Total

Estimated Costs

K 2,55,00,000 1,13,00,000

26,00,000 16,00,000 17,00,000 22,00,000 20,00,000 20,00,000 25,00,000 24,00,000 24,00,000 70,00,000 30,00,000 18,00,000

4,50,00,000

(d) If the exploration program proposed develops a large reserve of petroleum in the Delta area, pro¬ duction costs should be relatively low, and the refined products could enter a competitive export market. Plans to rebuild the refinery at Syriam should then be made, the capacity depending upon the amount of crude oil reasonably assured.

(e) If the exploration in the upper fields is also successful, and if it is decided to move some of the crude oil to the Syriam refinery, barges and tow boats for oU transportation must be provided. The size of the Syriam refinery would depend upon whether all refining were to be done there or whether the Chauk refinery would be maintained to furnish refined products to upper Burma. The Syriam refinery may cost around K7,50,00,000 to K9,00,00,000 and the pipeline K3,00,00,000 or more.

(f) The cost of river transport of crude petroleum from the upper fields to the Rangoon area is presently prohibitive. The actual cost from Chauk area would be about Kll.OO per ton under normal security conditions with a capital investment ranging from about Kl, 10,00,000 to Kl,50,00,000 for respective quantities of from 7,500 to 10,000 barrels per day.

If the Delta drUUng is unsuccessful in opening large pools, Burma's petroleum industry is dependent upon the present estimated reserves in the upper Burma fields and the probable increase in those reserves as a result of future exploratory driUing.

In such a case, Burma would be in the following position in meeting its petroleum needs: by 1959,

MINERAL INDUSTRIES 661 the domestic requirements of petroleum products wiU be about 98,000,000 gaUons. To meet the demand for specific products such as petrol, kerosene, diesel oils and fuel oU, a crude production of 8,000 barrels per day wiU be required. On this basis the known reserves in the present fields will be depleted in some 25 years with another ten-year period of diminishing yeariy production. New pools and added reserves wiU increase the life of the upper fields commen- surately with the success of the drilling program.

To meet the 1959 demand, additional refining capacity will be necessary. The Chauk refinery of 2,500 barrels daily output wiU provide the needs, in part, of upper Burma. Addhional refining facUities wiU be required for 5,500 barrels per day. Modern equipment wUl be needed to produce diversified products and the rebuilding of a smaU unit at Syriam would be in order. The cost may be around K5,00,00,000 to K6,00,00,000, subject to changing prices of equipment and labor.

(g) The Delta area occupies a key position in the future petroleum economy of the country. If a large production should be developed, the reconstruction of the refinery at Syriam is assured and Burma's economy is strengthened because of a profitable export trade. If efforts to find oU pools in the Delta area are unsuccessful or the cost for the amount produced is prohibitive, the reserves in the upper fields are the backbone of the future oil industry in Burma.

(h) It is believed that it is economically sound for the Government to participate in the joint oil venture as it will thereby gain for itself a participation in the revenue derived from the exploitation of one of its own natural resources, and also retain a partnership with the Associated Oil Companies, an organization with wide experience in the management and admini¬ stration of the business. Under joint ownership, the exploration and development program proposed in the Report can be put into effect as soon as insurgency is queUed and security prevails in the several areas recommended, and when funds are provided. It is recommended that administration of the Gover- ment's interest in the joint oil venture be vested in the Mineral Resources Development Corporation.

(i) For the good of its own petroleum economy, the Burma Government should not hesitate longer in renewing prospecting licenses, mining leases and the extension of geophysical prospecting guarantees. The conservation of the petroleum resources of the nation are of primary interest to the Government. The applicant for prospecting hcenses and mining leases should be screened as to competency, technical and financial, to develop a valuable national resource.

In the Report referred to, it was recommended that for the encouragement of the development of all natural resources the Government should give consideration to the following incentives:

(1) Remission of import duties on equipment and suppUes used exclusively in the exploration for and development of a natural resource.

(2) Provision for a generous depletion allowance on mineral production.

(3) Provision for the early return of venture capital.

(j) Unless present estimated reserves in Burma are materially increased, the petroleum resources should be conserved for the use of the nation. In this event there should be a modified development program, one which should be expanded with the development of the economy of the country. Transportation and refining capacities should also be cut to fit the crude producing pattern.

9. SPECIFIC MINERAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

a. The Kalewa Coal Project (1) Summary

The objective of the Kalewa coal project is to provide the solid fuel requirements of Burma indigenously. To date there has been no production of solid fuel in Burma; all of the country's require¬ ments having been imported, principally from India. The Kalewa coal seams are the only ones in Burma known to show sufficient extent and quality to meet the country's requirements.

A report has been prepared and submitted to the Government entitled "Kalewa Coalfield Development and Transport of Kalewa Coal." The report sets forth objectives, reviews field and laboratory investi¬ gations to date, describes the project and its imple¬ mentation, presents estimated capital and production costs, economic justification and conclusions and recommendations. Reference is invited to this report for the many detaUs not included in the following summarized presentation.

In brief, it is proposed to establish at Kalewa a mining operation capable of producing 750,000 tons of run-of-mine coal per 300-day year. Approximately four years would be required for continued explora¬ tion, mine development and the construction and instaUation of surface plant and equipment at an estimated cost of $10,626,917 plus K2,21,34,200. A working force of about 1,400 would be employed and coal products totaUing 417,000 tons annuaUy would be prepared for distribution to various markets. Compared to the cost of importing coal under the optimum price conditions expected in the future, the use of this indigenous production would secure foreign exchange benefits of approximately


K2,22,00,000. The additional capital cost of providing river transport facilities for moving Kalewa products to market is estimated at K5,14,36,495.

Subsequent to the submission of the Kalewa project report in late June, additional weathering tests were run, in Rangoon monsoon weather con¬ ditions, on briquette No. 27. This briquette has proved satisfactory and compared favorably with commercial American briquettes when tested in United States laboratories. The severe conditions of exposure to the monsoon rains caused deterioration of the briquette to the extent that it is doubtful whether the briquette is suitable for outdoor storage and transport in Burma. The use of Kalewa coal as a locomotive fuel must remain contingent upon either improving the weathering qualities of the briquettes, under further research work being done under GUB Project No. 61, or the transportation and storage of briquettes under cover. Final implementation of the project must await results of diamond drilling and the research work on the beneficiation of the coal now under way.

It is presumed that the Mineral Resources Develop¬ ment Corporation wUl secure execution of the project, and it is recommended that it also be made respon¬ sible for the establishment and operation of all river transport facilities required for the distribution of the coal to market points. In so doing, it is strongly recommended that the Corporation engage the services of a well qualified firm which provides mining consultant, engineering and management services for implementation of the development program during the initial stages, and to direct and manage operations until suitably trained indigenous technical and supervisory personnel become available.

(2) Objective

Stated more fully than in the summary, the project objective is to provide all the sohd fuel requirements of Burma indigenously in order to secure for the country the many and diverse economic benefits which would result therefrom. These benefits are listed hereinafter in paragraph (6), economic justifica¬ tion.

The objective includes the underground develop¬ ment and equipment of a mine capable of producing 750,000 tons of run-of-mine coal per year, and the construction of all surface plant and facilities necessary for servicing underground operations and for preparing the coal for market. As the mining operation wUl be developed in sparsely populated virgin country, housing for a working force of 1,500 and all the necessary community facilities and services related thereto must be provided.

The estimated sohd fuel requirements of Burma are shown in Table XXI-I.

TABLE XXI - 1 ESTIMATED SOLID FUEL REQUIREMENTS

OF BURMA

Tonnage Estimated Consumer Requirements Tonnage Pur¬ Tonnage

chased Requirements

Prewar 1951-52 1957 1960

Present Users Rangoon Electric* 50,000 29,142 94,000 38,000 Burma Railwaysf 180,000 86,812 150,000 150,000 Inland Water Transport t 100,000 13,616 40,000 20,000 Present Industries 30,000 17,069 15,000 15,000 Rangoon Corporation — 7,763 8,000 8,000 Port Commissioners —. 1,151 5,000 5,000 Private Boat Owners —. 1,469 5,000 5,000 Miscellaneous — 5,337 — —

Total, Present Users 360,000 168,960 317,000 241,000 Projected Users

Kalewa Mine Plant§ — — 20,000 28,000 Myingyan Power Plant II — — 35,000 50,000 Antimony Project — — — 18,000 Akyab Industries — — 87,200 90,000 Myingyan Industries — — 73,350 75,000 Rangoon Industries — — 122,250 135,000 Metallurgical Plants — 31,000 33,000

Total, Projected Users — — 368,800 429,000

* Present expansion rate 30% per year will be relieved by Pegu hydroelectric in 1958.

t Present usage of wood to be supplanted; dieselization con¬ templated for main line and also certain shunting service.

t Contemplates continuance of dieselization program. § Kalewa mine and community. II Supplementing Paunglaung hydroelectric in 1960.

(3) Field and Laboratory Investigations

Based on the early field examinations and analyses of coal samples and a review of aU the information available at that time, it was recommended in the Preliminary Report that certain additional field and laboratory investigations be made. If the results therefrom proved favorable, earUest development of the coalfield for production was recommended. Surface exploration had indicated satisfactory con¬ tinuity of the coal measures along the dip to more than 1,000 ft. below the surface. The latter, however, and the other physical characteristics of the coal at depth could only be proved by diamond drUUng.

The continuing investigations pursued were out¬ Uned briefly in Section D of this chapter. The action taken in this respect and the results to date of both field and laboratory investigations are now reviewed in greater detaU. They are described stiU more fully in the project report.


In order to provide for the principal field and laboratory investigations recommended, GUB Project Proposal No. 61 for "Kalewa Coal Development, Preliminary Field and Laboratory Investigations" was drafted and approved. In accordance with the proposal, $216,500 plus K6,35,000 were obligated by TCA and GUB and in February 1953, execution of the project was assigned to Pierce Management, Inc. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

MeanwhUe, the investigations already initiated were continued as vigorously as possible. The results to date of all investigational work are reviewed in succeeding paragraphs.

(a) Field investigations. Sinking operations in the inclined prospect shaft at Thitchauk Camp were continued by the GUB Mining Adviser and coal samples of several tons taken from near the bottom of the shaft were dispatched to the United States, Germany and Japan. The proposed lines of diamond driU holes were located and partly surveyed. A ground survey party is continuing this work and in addition is making detailed topographical surveys of the proposed surface plant and community housing sites in the vicinity of Thitchauk Camp, the mine opening locations, the barge loading station along the Myittha River and, importantly, it is surveying the ground control points required for some 40,000 ft. north of the river for aerial photogrammetric mapping of the whole area.

Aerial photographs were obtained of the coalfield area extending from 12 miles to the north of the Myittha River to three miles to the south and also for a five mile strip running east along the Myittha River to include its confluence with the Chindwin River. The photographs were taken in March 1953, after earlier attempts in October and November 1952 proved unsuccessful due to atmospheric conditions. Completion of the ground control survey and topo¬ graphic mapping dependent thereon will greatly facUitate the correlation of geological indications confirming the lineal extent and continuity of coal seam occurrences observed during ground explora¬ tion work.

Additional ground exploration of the area was accomplished by a reconnaissance party which crossed from the Chindwin River to the Waya Chaung Valley some ten miles north of the Myittha River. Numerous coal outcroppings were discovered in the beds of four streams traversing the general strike of the coal measures considerably north of the previous Umit of field exploration.

The field investigations contemplated under Project 61 are under way. Essentially, the program provides for approximately 17,000 ft. of diamond drill

exploration to determine the continuity of the coal seams in workable circumstances to a vertical depth of 1,000 ft.

(b) Laboratory investigations. Laboratory investi¬ gations to determine the best methods of utilizing Kalewa coal have been conducted in the United States by Mr. C. E. Lesher of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on bulk samples obtained from the prospecting shaft. In Germany similar investigations by Kloechner- Humboldt-Deutz have been in progress.

(1) The conclusions reached from the investigations in the United States are as follows:

(a) Friability is a predominant physical character¬ istic of Kalewa coal. It breaks into pieces on handling or after weathering, the latter becoming apparent as a result of a 12-week exposure test made in Rangoon. This characteristic precludes its satisfactory use as hand-fired fuel for most industrial purposes.

{b) The coal is an ideal fuel for combustion on a spreader stoker or for burning in suspension in pulverized form. Its ease of ignition, ready release of volatile content, low ash, and combustion without smoke are important characteristics. With proper equipment it can be unqualifiedly recommended for stationary boiler firing. A combustion test was con¬ ducted at Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, in a Kewanee boUer rated at about 10,000 pounds of steam per hour using an Iron Fireman pneumatic spreader stoker which demonstrated, within the limit of coal sample available, that it can be successfully fired by a pneumatic spreader stoker.

(c) Kalewa coal must be briquetted for utilization by hand firing. Briquettes were prepared from Kalewa coal with 7 % asphalt binder which would have to be imported into Burma. These briquettes softened and crumbled on the firebed during a combustion test of a 200-pound sample on a Burma Railway locomotive in March 1953 whereas briquettes prepared from Kalewa char with 8 % of asphalt binder exhibited a superior hot strength when an equal weight of sample was similarly tested. Both briquettes displayed equi¬ valent heating quahties, maintaining steam pressure comparable to that produced by using Indian coal.

The char, obtained by distillation of Kalewa coal at 950° F., has a volatile content of about 20% com¬ pared with the 40 % volatile content of the raw coal. In the distillation process the coal yields about 8-6% by weight of tar, 48% of which is briquette pitch. As this is less than the quantity of binder required for briquetting, the shortage would have to be made up with imported petroleum asphalt.

A subsequent char briquette of adjusted granulometric composition and with 8^% pitch binder has shown adequate strength and is being further investi¬ gated for resistance to weathering, either treatment


or sheltering against rainy season ravages appearing indicated. Weathering tests in Rangoon reflect a 12% degradation of this briquette after two weeks exposure.

The preparation of several tons of char briquettes for return to Burma for full scale locomotive test is contemplated in the continuing execution of Project No. 61.

(d) Metallurgical char with less than 10% volatile matter can be made by calcining the 20 "^ volatile content char described in (c). It wiU have low ash, low sulphur and a high fixed carbon content. In every way it will be a desirable carbon for zinc ore reduc¬ tion, making possible the establishment of a zinc refining industry in Burma.

{e) Metallurgical briquettes suitable for replacing imported coke in Burma Corporation's lead furnaces at Namtu have been prepared by adding 10% of bituminous coking coal to the 20% volatUe char made from Kalewa coal, briquetting this mixture with a pitch binder and recarbonizing the briquettes at a temperature of 1,500° F. The products were hard, grey briquettes of sufficient strength for use in the lead blast furnaces under reference and other low-head types of furnaces.

(/) Estimates of capital and operating costs have been made for the beneficiation facUities required to prepare these various products for market.

{g) The heating value of the several types of briquettes greatly exceed the heating value of the Kalewa coal from which they were derived. Also the several types of briquettes showed stabihty in trans¬ port as well as resistance to weathering, with less than 2% deterioration after six weeks of exposure foUowed by five minutes of vigorous screening in Rangoon dry season weather. After the Kalewa project report was completed and submhted, in order to additionaUy check the stabUity of the Kalewa char briquettes, additional weathering tests were conducted during six weeks, ending July 30, 1953. These tests were not satisfactory and indicated excessive briquette disintegration during monsoon weather. Additional research must be carried out under GUB Project 61 to improve the weathering qualities of the Kalewa char briquettes, or they wUl have to be transported and stored under cover with consequent added expense.

(2) Due to limitations imposed by the size of sample furnished and the funds made available, the laboratory investigations conducted in Germany did not progress to the point where the best process for beneficiating Kalewa coal could be selected and capital and operating costs estimated. Nevertheless,

the results of the preliminary work confirmed results obtained in the United States, and hold forth the possibility of producing even better quality briquettes at costs not exceeding those estimated in the United States. In the tests in Germany, efforts were made to adapt to Kalewa coal several processes employed in European beneficiation practice. These included the foUowing:

(a) Tests were performed to maintain the percent¬ age of lump-size coarse coal by immersion in a solution of calcium chloride, Albert emulsion, magnesia solution, water glass, chlorine-magnesium solution and the like, which are traditionally approved means of preventing oxygen from entering the lumps.

The variously treated lumps were then subjected to varying climatic conditions including an artificiaUy generated tropical climate. Although the lumpy shapes were invariably maintained, the lumps in no case proved resistant to mechanical stress. It was concluded that the decomposition of Kalewa coal does not result largely from oxidation but rather that contraction through minor dehydration is responsible for the cracks which occur and result in disintegration to small sizes.

{b) Attempts were made to prepare binderless briquettes from Kalewa coal by utilizing high pressures and varying the water content, a method which has had wide application in Germany. The results were unsatisfactory in that the briquettes had insufficient strength.

(c) Numerous experiments in the preparation of egg shape briquettes in a roll press were unsatis¬ factory, even with the addition of up to 15% of binder, an unusually high percentage; separate tests were made both with coal and with char resulting from low temperature carbonization in varying degree of granulometric composition. The resultant briquettes appeared to have been subjected to insufficient pressure and had a specific gravity of l-O, which is substantially lower than the usual value of 1-2 after briquetting.

{d) UtUizing a hydraulic ram press, briquettes of satisfactory strength were produced first from ehher coal or from char from low temperature carboniza¬ tion with the addition of 15% of binder. Subsequent experimentation with admixtures of coal and char in various proportions and different granulometric composition resulted in the production of a briquette containing only 7% of binder which showed satis¬ factory strength and exceUent combustion quahties.

(e) The small scale tests carried out in Germany provide insufficient data for the design of a large commercial plant and, as a precautionary measure.

O O

uJ

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o m in

S2 MAIN HAULAGE LEVEL' +300^ ?K " '7w;?s'J7;?575'/5V/<<f

!3t. LEVEL NORTH ■ !7^/f^^M>^^7M§m^' ^n^Tm/Tmi/ " ^^V/WIÂiW!^^

^!>?y7!' 10,000 - — ^ V.-i/ ^ >, ,

2nd. LEVEL SOUTH t: 6I753X./+35 < X

3rd. LEVEL SOUTH ^1 3.d LEVEL NORTH

CD

4th. LEVEL SOUTH

— — . s <

Q

z 4th LEVEL NORTH 7"

1 Li. 5th. LEVEL SOUTH

z

1 5th LEVEL NORTH

1

DIP OF COAL SEAM 45°

HAULAGE LEVEL

PRE- CLEANING PLANT PORTAL GUNBOAT SLOPE

NGPb«ET

1st LEV^L NORTH

2nd. LEVEL NORTH

LEVEL

5th. LEVEL

3rd. LEVEL NORTH

5th. LEVEL NORTH

SECTION OF

INCLINED SHAFT

PLAN OF MINE YARDS ON INCLINED SHAFT

SCALE •600'

-^^tS?!S5?l

PROJECTED MINE DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE

.?ll :il!l *N0 5t_h NOT SHOWN ON THIS ORATING

MONTHLY PROGRESS IS INDICATED BY BLOCKING ON

LEVELS AND NUMERICALLY BY MONTHS BY THE

FIGURES CT) TO f3&

SCALE i= 600

NOTE DEVELOPMENT STARTING IN FIHST MONrH Cl) AT PORTAL OF MAIN

HAULAGE LEVEL NEAR MYITTHA RIVER AND FROM SURFACE AT

SLOPE PORTAL

H-^


KALEWA

COAL PROJECT KNAPPEN TIPPETTS ABBETT ENGINEERING CO NEW YORK. RANGOON. DR BY E. J .P. CK BY. r-v 1 .,

DATE JULY. 53

PLATE NO,


large scale tests requiring from 100 to 200 tons of raw coal should be made and are contemplated in the continuing execution of Project No. 61.

(3) The Government Mining Adviser has forwarded samples of Kalewa coal to the Imperial Institute, Japan, for testing under the auspices of ECAFE. No information has yet been received of the results of these tests.

(4) Description of the Project With confirmation of sufficient reserves by the

diamond drilling program which has been initiated, and a favorable conclusion with respect to economic production of a stable char briquette, the establish¬ ment of a coal mining operation at Kalewa becomes feasible. The salient features of the development program presented in the project report are sum¬ marized in the foUowing paragraphs.

(a) The basic factor determining the size of the initial mine operation at Kalewa is Burma's estimated sohd fuel requirements as set forth in the preceding tabulation. The marketable products required, as shown therein, totaUed 417,000 tons. To provide this tonnage, it wiU be necessary to develop a mine and construct beneficiation facilities capable of producing the tonnages shown in the following table.

TABLE XXI - 2 PRODUCTION CAPACITY - INITIAL PLANT

1957 1960

(tons) (tons) Run-of-mine production per day 2,500 2,500 Mine days per year 300 300 Run-of-mine production per year 750,000 750,000 Washed coal from cleaning plant-recovery

70% 525,000 525,000 Washed coal to be carbonized 275,000 275,000 Industrial briquettes produced 136,000 133,000 Metallurgical char produced 16,000 16,000 MetaUurgical briquettes produced 15,000 17,000 Washed coal for market 250,000 250,000

(b) In determining the best site for the development of the initial nunc, that part of the Kalewa coalfield lying immediately north of the Myittha River and extending north therefrom for several mUes, has been carefuUy explored and has been given detailed study and consideration.

In this area a balanced mine with wings extending 10,000 ft. to the north and to the south, with 15 ft. of workable coal extending to a depth of 1,000 ft. (equivalent to 1,400 ft. on the dip), would provide a reserve of 15,000,000 tons. The minimum recovery is estimated at 10,500,000 tons, indicating a mine life of 17 years at the prescribed rate of extraction.

In anticipation of the exhaustion of the reserves in the initial mine, underground development could be extended an additional 20,000 ft. north to provide a second similar mine which could be served by the same surface plant, thus increasing the life of the operation to 34 years.

(c) Mining methods wUl be used which have proved effective in similar steeply dipping seams from standpoints of safety, economy and flexibility of operations. During the period of underground development and plant construction, diesel driven electric generators, air compressors, fans, hoists and other equipment will be required. Diesel generated power will subsequently be supplanted when steam generated electric power becomes available from the mine power plant which wUl meanwhile be under construction.

The major underground development wiU be driven at a level approximately 20 ft. below the 10 ft. thick main coal seam. It wiU be a water level tunnel with an accompanying airway advanced northward from the main mine opening in the vicinity of Thitchauk Camp for the fuU 20,000 ft. length of the area to be developed. It will serve as the main haulage way for the transportation of production from the entire area to the surface plant. Midway along its length it wiU be intercepted by a 25 degree slope, sunk from the surface in the footwall of the seam and continuing to a lower level.

A development advancement rate of not less than 2,000 ft. per year is anticipated in both the haulage- way and parallel airway. At this rate they will connect the main mine opening with the 25 degree slope within a period of three years, as illustrated in Plate 2. Subsequently, the lower levels wUl be developed by an incUned shaft which wUl be equipped with large capacity skips fed from suitable bins and loading pockets in order to facilitate extraction and hoisting operations. The complete development is iUustrated in Plate 3.

The development work wUl be accompUshed with the use of modern rock drilling equipment mounted on suitable rigs or jumbos. After blasting, the rock will be loaded into mine cars by power shovels for haulage to the surface by electric locomotives and appropriate disposal as waste rock. Electric hoists wUl serve haulage requirements on both the slope and the inclined shaft.

The extraction of coal from the main seam wiU be accomplished through rock holes from the under¬ lying tunnels. The coal wiU be mined in panels by a modified room and pUlar method and without the use of explosives. Pneumatic pickhammers will be used. It is anticipated that the coal extracted from the


seam will be contaminated by the admixture of some 20% of rock from above and below the seam. The rock will be removed from the coal in a surface cleaning plant as the initial step in preparing the coal for marketing or beneficiation.

(d) The estimated work force required under¬ ground for the production of 2,500 tons of run-of- mine coal per day is as follows:

No. of Underground Emplo vee t

Mining and Development in Coal 480 Development in Rock 36 Transportation and Supplies 167 Maintenance 48 Miscellaneous 13 Supervision and Clerical 30

(e) Surface plant installations and facilities will comprise the following items:

(1) A coal cleaning plant for the removal of ad¬ mixed waste rock from the 2,500 tons per day of run-of-mine coal extracted. This wUl yield 1,750 tons of washed coal. Adequate coal storage facilities will be required to provide for continuity and flexibiUty of surface operations.

(2) A steam electric power plant, machine shop, electric equipment servicing shop, welding shop, carpenter shop, compressed air plant, mine ventila¬ tion fans, hoist house, storehouses, warehouses, and general offices for supervisory, administrative, clerical and engineering services wUl be required.

(3) Change and wash houses will be provided for the use of underground and surface employees as well as first aid and out-patient dressing stations.

(4) A pumping station and water purification plant will be required to provide water from the Myittha River for use in the boiler plant, in the coal cleaning plant, for fire protection and for general community use.

(5) Living quarters will have to be provided in the mine area for all employees and staff, the great majority of whom will have to be recruited from outside the immediate area. Adequate water supply, sanitation, hospital services, health, educational, religious and recreational facUities will have to be provided, as well as markets and bazaars from which food and living suppUes may be obtained.

(6) The estimated surface working force, exclusive of personnel required for beneficiation of the coal, is estimated as follows:

Surface Plant No. of Employees

Coal Washery - Double Shift 40 Storage Piles and Conveyors 20 Outside Transportation 32 Shops and Maintenance 30 Miscellaneous 166

Total Surface Plant 336

(7) Coal processing and beneficiation plants will be required for preparing Kalewa coal for utilization on conventional grates, particularly for railway loco¬ motives and river boats, and for metallurgical usages.

The estimated force required for the beneficiation of Kalewa coal is as foUows:

Beneficiation Products No. of Employees Char Briquettes (Industrial Briquettes) 190 Metallurgical Carbon (Metallurgical Char) 19 Metallurgical Coke (Metallurgical Briquettes) 65

Total, Beneficiation Plants 274

(8) Engineering and management should be provided by a competent and well qualified firm which supplies mining consultant, engineering and managerial services until such time as suitable trained indigenous techni¬ cal and supervisory personnel become available. Similarly, experienced technicians and supervisors wUl be required during the initial period of operation of the beneficiation plants, not only for operation but also to provide instruction and training for Burmese counterpart personnel.

(9) River transport facilities for moving Kalewa products to market are to be provided as detailed in Appendix M in the project report. EntaUed will be a barge-loading station located on the Myittha River near the mine plant where accommodation wiU have to be provided for a seasonal variation of nearly 50 ft. in river elevation. This station wiU be instaUed as Ulustrated in Plate 4. Barges of 280 tons capacity will be loaded here and moved in groups by towboats along the Myittha to desired destinations on the Chindwin and Irrawaddy Rivers. Barge unloading facilities, likewise designed to accommodate the variations in river elevations, will be provided at main delivery points as Ulustrated in Plate 4.

River Transport costs have been estimated as foUows:

From To

Kalewa Myingyan (downstream) Kalewa Mandalay( „ ) Myingyan Rangoon ( „ ) Kalewa Rangoon ( „ ) Rangoon Myingyan ( ,, )

Miles

208 280 458 666 458

Kyats per Kyats per ton ton mile

14.91 19.15 20.84 35.75 19.27

■0717 ■0684 •0455 •0537 •0421

V

<t s t- :D o o

^'=*=»=i-t-t-rr I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1.^4-1-1 I I i-i I I I I I M=t= ^^ ONvEYOR

SUPPLY HOUSE

WASH

HOUSE

-REPAIR SHOP

TRANSFORMER BOILER AND

POWER PLANT

ROAD

WASHERY STORAGE YARD

30,000 TONS

CONVEYOR

CHAR PLANT

3 UNITS

GAS HOLDER

GENERAL PLAN OF SURFACE PLANTS

SCALE I =100 FT «J i^-rpgt

RIVER

ZINC FURNACE CARBON KILN

COOLING

TOWER

BRIQUET CARBONIZING

i 2 OVENS

LEAD FURNACE COKE

TAR TANKS

MIXING

PLANT

STORAGE IMPORTED

COKING COAL

BRIQUET

PLANT

3 PRESSES

-rrri i i iTtT-rt-rt-r!^rTrrT4d^

LOADING DOCK RIVER

UNLOADING DOCK

MINERAL INDUSTRIES

(5) Estimated capital and production costs Estimated capital and production costs for the

program of mine development and plant construction outlined in the foregoing section (4) may be sum¬ marized as foUows:

(a) Estimated cost of mine development and plant construction:

TABLE XXI - 3

ESTIMATED COST—MINE DEVELOPMENT AND PLANT CONSTRUCTION

667

K53.68 per ton

Estimated Cost Item Description

Dollars Kyats

Development and Construction 1,897,617 26,45,900 Mine Equipment 1,083,500 Outside Buildings 25,000 8,05,000 Power Facilities 1,183,000 18,60,000 Communication Facilities 60,000 4,25,000 Washery, Storage, Dock Facilities 825,000 15,30,000 Beneficiation Plant 2,010,000 50,00,000 Housing and Community 169,000 56,40,000 Engineering and Management 1,700,000 16,30,000 Spare Parts 400,000 Ocean and River Freight 350,000 6,00,000 Contingencies 923,800 19,98,300

Total Mine and Plant 10,626,917 2,21,34,200

Total, Equivalent Dollars 15,286,748 _

If, in place of barge transportation, railway trans¬ portation and distribution from a point opposite Kalewa on the east side of the Chindwin River were to be used, an aerial tramway from the mine to that point and the construction there of railway loading faciUties would cost an additional $532,050 and KI2,34,820 compared with the cost of barge-loading and unloading facUities.

(b) Estimated capital cost of river transport facilities and conservancy. The capital cost for the estabhsh¬ ment of river barge transportation facUities and con¬ servancy has been estimated at K5,14,36,495 (Appendix M, Project Report).

(c) Production costs, for various Kalewa products, loaded on river barges at the mine, have been estimated as follows:

Washed Coal K22.54 per ton For use in stationary boilers equipped with spreader stokers or for burning in suspension.

Industrial Briquettes K44.14 per ton For use on railway locomotives, river boats and in boilers equipped with stationary grates.

Metallurgical Char A metallurgical carbon for use in the reduction of zinc ores and concentrates.

Metallurgical Briquettes Kll 1.25 per ton A metallurgical coke for use in the blast furnace smelting of lead ore.

(6) Economic Justification (a) The future of coal in Burma. Increasingly in

recent years, coal has become overshadowed as the principal source of energy and power for heat by the advent of oil, natural gas and hydroelectric power. Additionally, there are now the possibilities envisaged in development of atomic energy for industrial uses which could well materialize with unexpected rapidity. These trends away from coal as the principal source of energy are fully recognized. The development of hydroelectric plants is projected, dieselization of transport equipment on railways, river-boats and ocean-going ships is under way, and limited use is being made of natural gas.

However, there are numerous requirements in the industrial and metallurgical fields that must or can best be met by coal or other solid fuels. There are also circumstances under which the use of coal is desirable from the standpoint of economics. WhUe dieseUzation of motive equipment generally results in operating economies, it is weU to keep in mind the limited reserves available in Burma's oilfields, the proven extent of which would serve the country's estimated requirements of petroleum products for only 25 years. The development of additional pro¬ duction and the discovery of new oil reserves will entail large rehabUitation and exploration expendi¬ tures.

Should the explorations prove fruitful there still remains the desirabUity of conserving the oil supply to effect self-sufficiency for the longest possible period of time. Should unusuaUy large reserves be dis¬ covered, any exportable excess would bring in new foreign exchange balances.

The utilization of natural gas is necessarily limited > No substantial sources of natural gas have been discovered, and it need not be further considered at this time. The development of hydroelectric plants is primarily for power purposes. Utilization of electric energy for heat is uneconomic and generally does not compete with coal for this purpose. Coal-steam- electric plants may be located beyond the distribution field of hydroelectric plants or may be tied in to the distribution system to supplement the latter source.

With the consideration of all the foregoing factors it is adjudged that Burma wUl continue to require

668 ECONOMIC AND ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT OE BURMA

substantial quantities of coal and other solid fuels for industrial and metaUurgical purposes, for certain electric power establishments, and for reduced rail¬ way requirements and other general purposes.

Prewar and presently, Indian coal has been imported as required. Arrangements are being made by the Union of Burma Shipping Board to establish a fleet for the ocean transport of 180,000 tons per year of Indian coal, indicating its continued importa¬ tion. RehabUitation of Burma to prewar conditions only would greatly increase her coal requirements; with the transport, power, industrial and metallurgical expansions projected, her requirements for coal and other solid fuel will increase tremendously. To import this additional tonnage from India or elsewhere would adversely affect foreign exchange while continuing and even increasing Burma's dependency on other nations.

(b) Justification for the Kalewa development project. (1) The foreign exchange benefits which Burma would derive from the projected use of Kalewa coal, based on its 1951-52 purchases of Indian coal, are estimated at Kl,30,00,000 using present (June 1953) prices and at K99,00,000 using the optimum Indian coal prices estimated when Burma operates its own coal-carrying vessels. On the basis of the estimated solid fuel market to be served by Kalewa in 1960, the foreign exchange benefit increases to K2,93,00,000 with present prices of Indian coal, and to K2,22,00,000 if the optimum estimated price of Indian coal is realized.

(2) Kalewa coal will be used to greatest economic advantage when burned as a pulverized fuel in central Burma. Any departure from this optimum condition produces lesser economic benefits.

(3) During the initial years of production opera¬ tions, Kalewa coal and industrial briquettes must largely be disposed of in their most unfavorable market, namely the Rangoon area. Based upon 1951-52 purchases by users and upon the present price of Indian coal at Rangoon (June 1953), Kalewa coal can enter this area on the competitive basis shown in Table 1 and 2 of Appendix E of the project report. Based on realization of the optimum estimated future price of Indian coal at Rangoon, Kalewa coal and briquettes would cost, on an equivalent heat value basis, approximately K 13.00 more per ton than Indian coal, as shown in Table 2, Appendix E of the project report.

(4) The economic justification for developing early production from the Kalewa coalfield is based largely upon the following facts:

{a) The saving in foreign exchange.

{b) Realization of the estimated optimum future price of Indian coal cannot be definitely assured. No one can predict the price of Indian coal several years in advance. The price may be affected by internal conditions in India or by demand of other nations for available Indian coal supplies.

(c) Based on Burma's projected needs, the pro¬ posed Kalewa development wiU not be able to supply all of her solid fuel requirements. If the Kalewa deposit is developed Burma will have an alternative source of coal and can bargain more effectively for its imports. This factor alone might soon enable return of the investment required

{d) The benefits to be derived from industrial ex¬ pansion in central Burma are substantial, and to meet the need of industries such as the zinc refinery, low cost coal is essential.

{e) As the hydroelectric power potential of central Burma is utilized, the need for steam generated power to supply deficiencies in unusual dry years or when hydroelectric construction lags will become apparent.

(/) The additional employment of Burmese nationals which the Kalewa operation would entaU and the increased economic activity which would be generated by such a payroll could well be a major advantage of the project as compared to offshore purchases. Mining is usually the vanguard of other industry and from it are learned many rudimentary techniques from which labor advances to work requiring greater skills and technology.

(g) National self-sufhciency in times of inter¬ national disturbances could in itself be considered a decisive economic factor.

{h) The wage rates used in the Kalewa estimates and the cost of riverine transport have been con¬ servatively estimated. Actual mine and waterway operations may well demonstrate lower costs.

(0 Daily year-round transportation on the Chind¬ win River to Kalewa would initiate other activity in the tributary areas.

(j) The value of the by-products of the low tem¬ perature carbonization process have been stated in the project report at a nominal amount only. As Burma develops, the manufacture of important coal- derived chemical and medical products wUl foUow. Burma's ammonia requirement for fertUizer can be met through the use of Kalewa coal and sulphuric acid from the zinc refinery which the coal wUl make possible.

(/c) There is no evidence that a coalfield superior to Kalewa may be found in Burma.

(/) Productive results from extensive oU explora¬ tion may not be forthcoming for a number of years.


MeanwhUe Burma will barely be able to provide its minimum domestic oU needs and coal-generated power wUl be required wherever its production is most feasible.

(w) The development of a mine of less capacity than that projected has been examined and found unattractive. The proposed coal mining operation at Kalewa is already comparatively small and at the point where smaller capacity would increase unit costs substantiaUy. If unexpectedly, during the initial years of operation, all the normal production cannot be used advantageously, production can be better regulated by working one shift per day and, should further reduction be required, a shorter work week. Under such circumstances, operating economies obtainable under single shift operation would defray part of the increased fixed charges and additional productive capacity would be available as needed.

(7) Conclusions and Recommendations (a) If the estimated optimum future price for

Indian coal at Rangoon should be realized and should prevail for an extended period, the excess cost of Kalewa fuels over Indian coal could reach a sub¬ stantial amount. This condition, however, would not be permanent because Kalewa production would aU be gradually absorbed in the expanding central Burma market, thus releasing the Rangoon area to Indian coal.

(b) An alternative to developing Kalewa coinci- dentaUy with the industrial program projected for central Burma would be the importation of Indian coal into the area during the expansion period, post¬ poning the development and the investment entailed until demand became sufficient to absorb the maxi¬ mum Kalewa output. The alternative is not attractive inasmuch as the extra costs arising from the increased prices that would have to be charged for Indian coal delivered to central Burma, even with the optimum price, would be considerably in excess of the extra cost of Kalewa coal sold during a similar period in the Rangoon area.

(c) Ample economic justification for the early development of Kalewa production can be had in national self-sufficiency, savings in foreign exchange, employment of local labor and the development of mineral industry projects, such as the Myingyan zinc refinery and the Lough Keng zinc mine ore deposit, and the other planned industrial projects dependent upon Kalewa coal for power and fuel.

(d) Therefore, because the development of the Kalewa coalfield is an essential part of an integrated industrial program for central Burma, and considering that the advantages of early development outweigh

R.B. II—12

by far any advantages to be gained by postponement, this development should be undertaken as the first stage of such a program. When sufficient coal reserves are confirmed by the drUling program now under way, and when a suitable briquette has been developed, the Kalewa project should go forward with highest priority.

(e) It is presumed that the Mineral Resources Development Corporation will be given the responsi¬ bUity for securing execution of the Kalewa coalfield development project. It is strongly recommended that the Corporation secure the services of a well qualified firm which provides mining consultant, engineering and management services for implementa¬ tion of the development program during the initial stages and to direct and manage operations untU suitably trained indigenous technical and supervisory personnel become avaUable.

(f) It is further recommended that the responsi¬ bility of the Mineral Resources Development Cor¬ poration include securing the estabhshment and operation of facUities required to carry Kalewa pro¬ duction to the various market distribution points, inasmuch as the provision and operation of trans¬ port facUities exclusively for this purpose wiU be required. Under such circumstances, incentive for economic and efficient transport service is presented only to the operator of the mine, namely the Mineral Resources Development Corporation.

(g) It is recommended that the necessary labor force, which is not available in the immediate vicinity in sufficient number and will have to be recruited from considerable distances, be carefuUy selected and trained, and the adaptability to underground employ¬ ment be promptly assessed. Should it be determined that indigenous mine labor does not respond effectively or in sufficient number, it is recommended that consideration be given promptly to the temporary importation of adequate foreign labor to the extent required for efficient mine operation.

b. The Myingyan Project

(1) Introduction The Myingyan project presented in the preliminary

report envisaged the development at Myingyan of an industrial center which would serve a number of industries that might be established there advantage¬ ously because of the combination of cheap fuel and electric power from Kalewa coal and convenient river and rail transportation for both raw materials and finished products. Most important among these industries was a zinc smelter and refinery and the coal burning electric power plant essential to it. The project now under discussion relates only to the


zinc reduction plant. The coal burning steam power plant is described in Chapter XIX, para. E-2. The zinc plant will utilize approximately 10,000 kW of the steam power plant capacity, representing a capital investment of about $2,000,000. The rate of one cent per kWh to the zinc plant has been calciUated to fully cover all power plant costs, including return of investment.

(2) Summary (a) Objective and general description. The objective

of the project is the establishment at Myingyan of a profitable zinc smelting and refining industry based on fuel and electric power to be afforded by Kalewa coal, zinc concentrates to be supplied by Burma Corporation and zinc ores provided by the exploita¬ tion of the Lough Keng deposit.

A project report has been prepared and submitted to the Government under date of March 31, 1953 entitled "Myingyan Zinc Project." The report sets forth objectives, reviews field and laboratory investi¬ gations to date, describes the project and its imple¬ mentation, presents estimated capital and production costs, economic justification and the consultants' conclusions and recommendations. Reference should be made to this report for the many details not included in the foUowing summarized presentation. The proposed zinc reduction plant would use the Sterling furnace electrothermic process for which the New Jersey Zinc Company holds patents in the United States and other countries, and which for use in Burma offers more advantages than does the electrolytic process. To provide for production during repair periods, the proposed plant would use two Sterhng furnaces. The plant would treat a mixed feed of ore and concentrates to produce daily 70 short tons of prime western grade slab zinc, or 50,000,000 pounds annually. Lead, silver and pig iron would also be produced as by-products. Ores and con¬ centrates will be avaUable to maintain this rate of production for more than 20 years.

(b) Capital investment and financing. As presently estimated, the project will require an investment equivalent to $7,750,000. This wUl provide for con¬ struction of the zinc plant with all necessary service facilities, coal and char storage and railway and river port facUities, housing accommodation and community facilities for all employees, preparatory work and metaUurgical tests necessary for finaUzing plans and specifications, and foreign technical assist¬ ance and services. Approximately 40 % of the capital cost will be local currency and 60 % foreign exchange. In the project report all foreign exchange costs have been estimated in United States dollars, but about 85% could be made in sterUng, the exception being the

cost of foreign engineering and managerial services for which dollar expenditure would be preferable.

InitiaUy, the Government would make a capital contribution of K26,60,532 to provide for certain preparatory work and metallurgical tests essential for confirming or correcting calculated operating costs and profits and finalizing plant designs. This work would require at least one year and the avail¬ abUity of the balance of the capital required would be made contingent upon its satisfactory outcome.

(c) Implementation. It is assumed that the Mineral Resources Development Corporation would be made responsible by the Government of the Union of Burma for securing implementation of the project. Three to four years from the date of government approval and authorization would be required to bring the project to the production stage. In order to secure its execution the Corporation would have to employ foreign technical assistance, engineering and managerial services.

(d) Economic justification. To date the zinc ex¬ ported from Burma has been contained in concen¬ trates produced by Burma Corporation and, in comparatively insignificant amounts, zinc ores pro¬ duced from other sources. Generally, realization costs have made export unattractive except when the price of zinc has been comparatively high. The establishment of a zinc reduction plant in Burma would provide producers with an assured local market more favorable than would be obtainable offshore.

Based necessarily on a number of important assumptions set forth later in this report, an evaluation of operating costs and profits shows that the proposed zinc reduction plant could be operated profitably so long as the base price of prime western zinc is ten cents per pound or higher. Final evaluation may confirm a break-even price of eight cents per pound for slab zinc delivered in the European market.

Return of the capital investment is provided for by including a depreciation charge in the total estimated cost per pound of zinc produced and delivered to the European market. The charge is based on a 15-year straight-line depreciation rate with the annual charge distributed against full annual production of 50,000,000 pounds. The return on the invested capital, before income taxes, is estimated at the rate of 6-13% with zinc at 10 cents, 10-0% with 12 cent zinc, 13-87% with 14 cent zinc and 17-81 % with 16 cent zinc. Reference may be made to Table E-14 in the Project report which shows the return after "Capital Return with Interest" charges, instead of by depreciation (also see Plate 5).

The Union of Burma would derive other economic advantages from execution of the project. Increased

PLATE 5. B

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a: e o> o c a> o w. a> a.

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17

16

15

14

13

12

I I

10

9

8

7

6

/ /

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ELECTROTHERMIC / / /

/ I / /

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/ 1 ■LECT ROLY IC

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8 9 10 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Price of Prime Western zinc in cents per pound, European quotalion RETURNS ON INVESTMENT

Showing Percentage Returns on Total Funds Invested in an Electrothermic Zinc Plant and an Electrolytic Zinc Plant = A, offer Return of Capitol by Straight-Line Depreciation Charge B, offer Return of Capital With Interest Charge.

PIERCE MANAGEMENT-K.T.A. RANGOON. JULY. 53.

671


foreign exchange earnings would result, ores other¬ wise not economically attractive would become exploitable, the discovery and development of new sources of production would be stimulated, and additional employment would be afforded Burmese workers together with opportunity for the develop¬ ment of new technical knowledge and skills.

(e) Recommendations. The calculations and esti¬ mates upon which the economic justification of the project are based are themselves necessarily based on certain important assumptions which require con¬ firmation. The availability of Kalewa coal, for example, and of electric power produced from it are two basic factors which are not firm. Two other examples are the bases on which ores and concen¬ trates can be purchased and on which rights for use of the Sterling process, for "know-how" and for furnace tests can be acquired from the New Jersey Zinc Company. These assumptions and others set forth on page 6 of the Project Report should be confirmed or corrected and aU calculations and estimates revised accordingly, where necessary, before starting any design engineering.

If capital funds are available for investment under the conditions outhned, it is recommended that the project be approved for financing and execution in the manner which has been proposed. With successful negotiation of the proposed foreign loan the avaUability of which would be made contingent upon the preparatory work having satisfactorily confirmed the estimated investment cost, operating results, and return on the investment authority and the necessary funds would be given to the Mineral Resources Development Corporation for the execution of the preparatory work. Then, if the resuhs of the prepara¬ tory work and metallurgical tests demonstrate equal or better economic justification for the project, execution of the construction stage is firmly recom¬ mended.

(3) General presentation

(a) Objective. The objective of this project is the establishment at Myingyan of a profitable zinc smelting and refining industry based on fuel and electric power to be afforded by Kalewa coal, zinc concentrates to be supplied by Burma Corporation and zinc ores provided by exploitation of the Lough Keng deposit, hereinafter under reference as the Shwedaung mine.

Attainment of this objective would result, coinci- dentally, in securing for Burma other objectives in the form of economic and social benefits which are mentioned hereinafter under (e) of this section.

(b) Description (1) Basic assutnptions

In evaluating at this time the economic justification for a zinc reduction plant in Burma, and in con¬ sidering to this end the comparative merits of the Sterling electrothermic and electrolytic processes, it has been necessary to make the following more important assumptions:

(a) The necessary funds, in the form of equity capital, can be obtained for the construction of a zinc plant of any size which is economically feasible, up to a daily capacity of 100 tons of slab zinc.

{b) The Bawdwin lead-zinc ore reserves are adequate to supply to the zinc plant the total require¬ ments of zinc concentrates for a sufficient length of time to justify its erection.

(c) The Bawdwin zinc concentrates will be pur¬ chased under a long-term contract at a price at the concentrator not in excess of the realization at the concentrator, should these concentrates be sold to offshore smelters.

{d) Shwedaung zinc carbonate ores wiU be pur¬ chased under a long-term contract, at the same price, at the zinc plant, per pound of recoverable zinc as the Bawdwin concentrates.

(e) The reserves of the Shwedaung mine are adequate to supply to the zinc plant the total require¬ ments of ore for a sufficient number of years to justify its erection.

(/) Myingyan on the Irrawaddy River wUl be assumed to be the plant site, but an alternate site at Monywa on the Chindwin River wiU be investigated to determine its comparative economic advantages.

{g) Adequate power can be obtained at a cost delivered to the zinc plant of not more than 1-0 cents (US currency) per kilowatt-hour, after including depreciation and a satisfactory return on the capital invested in the power plant and distribution system.

(/?) Mutually satisfactory arrangements can be made by the financial interests with the New Jersey Zinc Company for rights to use the Sterhng patents, for "know-how" and for testing Bawdwin concen¬ trates and Shwedaung ore with Kalewa char in the Sterling furnace at Palmerton, New Jersey.

(/) Char made from Kalewa coal will prove to be satisfactory for use in the Sterling furnace and can be made available in the required quantities.

(j) All zinc is to be sold in Europe even though there is a local and nearby market for about 30,000 tons per annum which should be more economically advantageous.

(k) The zinc plant will operate at full capacity throughout the year and will be so located that the


waste smelter gases can be discharged into the atmosphere without damage to the surrounding areas.

(2) Material available for treatment {a) The Bawdwin mine near Lashio has been one

of the world's richest lead-zinc-silver mines. In the years just prior to World War II, it produced about 66,000 tons of zinc concentrates contaiiung 55 % zinc. During the war, the concentrator at Namtu was destroyed and other installations were severely damaged. Production operations have been resumed and progress is being made toward the contemplated primary objective of about 22,000 tons of zinc concentrates per year, from which about 30 tons of slab zinc could be produced daily. This would require the mining of about 8,000 tons of ore per month. The secondary objective would require doubHng the underground labor force required for the first, and the addition of ore treatment faciUties at an extraction rate of about 25,000 tons of mined ore per month. If reaUzed this would result in the resumption of zinc concentrate production at the rate of about 66,000 tons per year.

The "Survey-Zinc" compiled by the National Security Resources Board of the US Government, March 1951, shows the foUowing estimated reserves:

BAWDWIN MINE

Tonnage Metal content, zinc Metal content, lead Metal content, copper Metal content, silver

High Grade

3,000,000 12-1% 19-5% 0-84%

15-1 ozs./ton

Low Grade

24,000,000 8-5%cut-oflF 7-0% cut-off

3-0 ozs./ton

Current investigations have not confirmed the existence of such a large tonnage of low-grade ore. On the contrary about 3,500,000 tons of marginal ore averaging about 5-3% zinc and 8-9% lead which comprise extensions of the higher grade ore already mined, can be rehably estimated on the Chinaman and Shan lodes and about 1,000,000 tons of a simUar grade might be disclosed by development and exploration work on the Meingtha lode. The location of this known and probable material in the Bawdwin mine, the development necessary to make it avaUable for extraction, the additional capital cost that would be required to provide expanded concentrating plant facUities, and the anticipated future prices of zinc would aU be important factors in determining whether this low grade material could be considered as a potential source of supply to the zinc reduction plant.

The investigations of this low-grade ore possibUity

are reviewed hereinafter in paragraph E-9-c. How¬ ever, on the basis of the high-grade reserves only, and at the presently contemplated maximum rate of reduction of about 22,000 tons of zinc concentrates per year, there would be sufficient ore to supply the zinc reduction plant with 67-5 short tons of zinc concentrates daUy for 27 years.

(b) The Shwedaung mine is located about 38 mUes east of Taunggyi in the southern Shan State on what is known as the Lough Keng ore deposit. Here about 550,000 metric tons of zinc carbonate ore, containing 40 % zinc as mined, exists above the surface, amenable to very cheap surface mining operations. The develop¬ ment program to determine probable extensions of the ore body below the surface has been recoin- mended, and its execution is presently planned by the Mineral Resources Development Corporation for initiation before the end of this year.

At the rate of extraction necessary to supply the presently estimated zinc plant ore requirements of just over 100 short tons per day, the known ore above the surface wUl suffice for more than 15 years. To make this ore avaUable, however, the Shwedaung. mine would have to be equipped for economical sur¬ face mining and motor truck transport of the ore to raUhead. For the latter purpose, an access road about 25 mUes long would have to be constructed. An estimate of the cost of equipping the mine for pro¬ duction on the basis outUned is given hereinafter in paragraph E-9-d.

(3) Choice of zinc reduction process

The proposed zinc reduction plant would use the Sterhng furnace electrothermic process for which the New Jersey Zinc Company holds patents in the United States and other countries. The recom¬ mendation to use this comparatively new but proved process was made only after a careful comparison with the weU known and much used electrolytic process on which the prehminary report project was based.

The electrothermic process is described in the June 1952 issue of the Journal of Metals and in the relevant US patents. Two furnaces using the process are now under construction by the Cerro de Pasco Company in Peru, and other zinc producers, are understood to have shown interest in acquiring rights to use the process. WhUe use of the process would necessitate acquisition of patent rights and the required "know-how" from the New Jersey Zinc Company, enough information is avaUable in the technical and patent hterature to permit a determina¬ tion to be made of its economic feasibiUty for use in Burma, based on general metaUurgical experience.


Although the conclusion that the electrothermic process is economically more advantageous than the electrolytic process appears amply justified, for com¬ parative purposes the estimated capital costs, and the estimated operational results and costs of the two processes are presented in the project report under Sections E and F. For ready comparison, reference may be made to Table XXI - 4.

TABLE XXI 4

COMPARISON OF ESTIMATES

ELECTROLYTIC AND ELECTROTHERMIC ZINC PLANTS

This tabulation compares the preliminary estimates of the operational results and investment returns from an electrolytic zinc plant with those expected from the proposed electrothermic zinc plant.

Electrolytic Electrothermic

Metallurgical Data Concentrates required daily,

DST 128 171 Grade of metal intake 46% 45% Overall recovery 85% 90% Grade of slab zinc produced Special Prime

High Grade Western Short tons of slab zinc daily 50 70 Pounds of zinc per year 36,000,000 50,000,000

Producing Costs, Zinc at 12 centsjlb.

Concentrates 3-40 3-27 Refining 5-58 4-43 Depreciation on zinc plant 1-48 103 Delivery 1'47 147 Special high grade premium 100 — Patent costs —■ 0-25

Total Costs 10-93 10-45 By-product credits none none

Annual Income before Income Taxes

Base price of Prime Western Zinc—

10 cents/lb. S 187,200 % 475,000 12 cents/lb. 385,200 775,000 14 cents/lb. 583,200 1,075,000 16 cents/lb. — 1,380,000

Total Investment Required (Equivalent Dollars) 7,970,000 7,750,000

Return on Investment (after Depreciation but before Income Taxes

Base price of Prime Western Zinc—

10 cents/lb. 2-35% 6-13% 12 cents/lb. 4-83% 10-00% 14 cents/lb. 7-32% 13-87%

Briefly, the electrolytic process can produce either high grade or special high grade zinc, both of which command a price premium over prime western grade.

The electrothermic process produces prime western grade zinc, crude lead buUion and pig iron. It can successfully treat ores with a higher iron content than the electrolytic process and it recovers a higher percentage of the zinc content of the material treated. For u.se in Burma, the comparison favors the electro¬ thermic process.

(4) Proposed electrothermic zinc plant

The use of electricity for the production of zinc in an electrothermic zinc process has been tried in nearly every type of electric furnace with varying degrees of success prior to the development of the Sterling furnace by the New Jersey Zinc Company. The process produces prime western grade zinc by liquation of the molten metal condensed from the metal vapors from the electrothermic furnace. If economicaUy feasible, the prime western zinc can be distiUed to produced special high grade (99-99% zinc) and by-products under a process also patented by the New Jersey Zinc Company. The absence of cheap natural or producer gas for heating, the high cost of electricity, and the small amount of cadmium in the ores and concentrates, makes the production, in Burma, of special high grade zinc appear un¬ attractive. The calculations on the electrothermic zinc process, are, therefore, based on the production of prime western zinc.

Furnaces require refining and other repairs. It would be undesirable to design a plant around one furnace and have no production during repair periods. Hence, the proposed plant would use two Sterling furnaces. Together they would treat a mixed feed comprised of all of Burma Corporation zinc sulphide concentrate production and whatever tonnage of Shwedaung zinc carbonate ore might be required to produce 70 short tons of prime western slab zinc per 24 hours. FuU annual production would thus total say 25,000 tons or 50,000,000 pounds of zinc metal.

When the resumption of Burma Corporation mining and milUng operations reaches the level planned, it is understood that 22,000 long tons or 24,640 short tons of zinc concentrates wiU be pro¬ duced annually. At this rate 67- 5 short tons per day would be available for the zinc plant. For estimating purposes, a 52% Zn grade has been taken and a 92% plant recovery. On the lower grade zinc car¬ bonate ore from Lough Keng, the assumption of a grade of 40 % Zn and a recovery of 88 % is warranted. Hence, in addition to the 67- 5 tons of Burma Cor¬ poration zinc concentrates, 103-78 tons of Shwedaung ore would be required daily to provide for the pro¬ duction of 70 short tons of slab zinc. The grade of this mixed feed would be approximately 45% Zn


and the average plant recovery 90%. These are the percentages used in estimating operational results, costs and profits.

A plant for the production of sulphuric acid from the waste gases could be constructed later as an addition to the zinc plant should the nearby industrial demand in Burma justify it. Also, the capacity of the zinc production plant could be readily increased by the addition of one more furnace. This would be justified if the rate of production from either Burma Corporation's ore reserves or from the Shwedaung mine were to be increased, or both. The capUal cost estimates of this project do not provide for an acid production plant or expansion of zinc production by employing a third furnace.

(5) Auxiliary installations and facilities

WhUe the only project facUity under reference so far has been the electrothermic zinc plant, the following auxiliary installations and related facUities are also essential.

Provision must be made for coal and char storage, for railway spur connections and for river port facUities. Housing and living quarters must be con¬ structed for aU staff" and employees. A hospital, school, and community hall and cinema must be provided along with recreational and religious facUities. Electricity, water supply, sanitation, roads and local telephone communications are other essential items.

(c) Implementation. It is assumed that the Mineral Resources Development Corporation would be made responsible for securing implementation of the project. To bring it to the production stage, it is estimated, would require three to four years from the date of GUB project approval and authorization.

One year would be needed in which to accomplish certain metallurgical tests and other preparatory work necessary before plans and specifications can be finalized and construction initiated. These pre¬ liminary steps are outlined hereinafter under the headings "Capital investment required" and "Recom¬ mendations." Following completion of this stage, two to three years would be required for the construction of the zinc reduction plant and all necessary auxUiary facUities.

In order to secure execution of the necessary preparatory work and the following construction stage, the Corporation wUl have to employ foreign technical assistance in the form of engineering and managerial services. It will need such assistance, also, during the first years of production operations. As the proficiency of Burmese counterpart technical

personnel increases, the need for foreign technical assistance \\ill decrease so that comparatively little should be required after the first three years of operation. Eventually, the need for any should disappear.

(d) Capital investment required. The capital invest¬ ment required cannot be stated firmly untU the plant site at Myingyan has been selected, the furnace tests of ores and concentrates completed and estimates are prepared from general arrangement drawings based on New Jersey Zinc Company "know-how." Not¬ withstanding this fact, the following estimates are indications of the magnitude of the capital invest¬ ment required. No estimate of the working capital required is included.

(1) Zinc plant

It is estimated that an electrothermic zinc reduction plant designed to produce 70 tons per day of prime western grade slab zinc using two Sterling furnaces and possessing the necessary service facilities would cost, erected at Myingyan, the equivalent of about $5,250,000. Adding ocean freight and inland trans¬ portation increases the cost to $5,418,147.

(2) Rail, river and storage facilities Coal and char storage and railway and river port

facUities wiU cost an estimated $181,626.

(3) Employee housing and community facilities The estimated cost of providing suitable housing

accommodation for all plant employees, electric service, streets, Ughting, water supply, sanitation, community school, cinema, hospital and religious and recreational facilities is $718,713.

(4) Preparatory work and furnace tests Before construction plans and specifications can

be finalized, certain metallurgical tests and other preparatory work wUl have to be accomphshed. The preliminary surveying and mapping of plant site possibilities, town-sites, and of locations for rail and river transportation facUities will be necessary.

Furnace test runs will have to be made in the United States by the New Jersey Zinc Company, using Kalewa char with zinc concentrates and zinc ore, for confirming the operational estimates in this Report and for finalizing plant designs and specifica¬ tions. For this purpose it wiU be necessary to mine and ship to the United States 5,000 tons of Kalewa coal and 2,500 tons of Lough Keng zinc carbonate ore. The shipment of 2,500 tons of zinc concentrates wiU be required.


(5) Technical assistance Foreign technical assistance wUl have to be pro¬

vided for securing execution of the project as out¬ Uned above in (1), (2), (3), and (4). Similarly, it wUI be required thereafter during the first several years of plant operation. Included in the total capital cost of the project at an estunated cost of $871,400 is provision only for the engineering, supervisory and managerial services required for the preparatory work and construction stage of the project. The cost of the zinc plant design, plans and specifications is included independently in the estunated capital cost of that item, as set forth in (1).

(6) Total capital cost The total capital cost of the project is estimated at

the equivalent of $7,750,000 ($4,666,659 plus Kl ,46,45,869). Table XXI - 5 recapitulates the capital cost items in the preceding paragraphs under headings which show the estimated breakdown of the total into foreign exchange requirements, including ocean freight and local currency requirements.

(e) Economic justification. To date no zinc metal has been produced commerciaUy in Burma. The zinc exported has been contained in sulphide flotation concentrates produced by Burma Corporation and, in comparatively insignificant amounts, in zinc ores

produced from other sources. GeneraUy, the cost of raU and ocean freight, handhng and storage, offshore smelting and refining charges and aU other realization costs have made the export of concentrates economic¬ aUy unattractive except when the price of zinc has been comparatively high. The profitable export of zinc ores has required even higher prices. As one result, there has been and is little incentive for developing new zinc production from known deposits or for discovering new ones. The estabUshment of a smelter and refinery in Burma would provide pro¬ ducers with additional incentive in the form of an assured local market more favorable than would be obtainable offshore.

A zinc plant at Myingyan must show sufficient savings in treatment and shipping charges, as com¬ pared with the corresponding charges for sales to European smelters, to justify the investment, and give a satisfactory return to the mine operators at zinc prices lower than those recent zinc prices at which it became unprofitable for the mine operators to ship.

A preliminary evaluation of the project, based necessarily at this time on important assumptions set forth earlier in this Report, shows that a zinc reduction plant could be operated profitably in Burma so long as the base price of prime western

TABLE XXI - 5

CAPITAL INVESTMENT REQUIRED—RECAPITULATION ELECTROTHERMIC ZINC PLANT

Dollars Kyats

Item Description

Equipment or Services

Ocean Transport

Inland Transport Materials Labor

a. Zinc Plant b. Rail, River and Storage Facilities c. Housing and Community

Facihties d. *Preparatory Work and Furnace e. tTechnical Assistance

3,500,000 135,000

150,000 224,525 721,359

147,000 5,300

8,000

11,00,450 36,300

23,389 25,00,959

16,62,500 51,000

16,70,000 2,23,260 7,12,703

66,50,000 1,09,000

9,70,000 2,56,748

JCredit for zinc metal produced from test runs in (3)(d)(4) (-)224,525 — (-)3,20,440 —■

/. Subtotals 4,506,359 160,300 23,40,658 43,19,463 79,85,748

g. Grand Total 4,666,659 — — 1,46,45,869 —

* The purchase cost of Bawdwin concentrates and costs of procuring Shwedaung ore are included respectively under "Materials" and "Labor." The cost of producing Kalewa char, test expenses, and consultants' fees are included under "Equipment or Services."

t All local currency costs are listed under "Materials." % 1419,800 credit from sale of 4,198,000 pounds prime western zinc at 10 cents per pound, less 15 % on doUar equivalent of total of d.

above, is $291,985. This is equivalent to a credit of $224,525 plus K3,20,435, making the total capital cost of d. K26,60,532 only.


zinc is ten cents per pound or higher. Final evaluation may confirm a break-even price of eight cents per pound for slab zinc delivered in the European market.

Average US prices for prime western from 1902 to 1937 show 2-876 cents per pound in 1932 as the out¬ standingly lowest price. During the war period, from November 1941 to September 1946, the price was controUed at 8-250 cents per pound. Prices have remained higher since 1946; from October 1951 tiU May 1952 the US price was 19-5 cents. At the time the Myingyan zinc project report under reference was written, the London quotation was 9-81 cents (March 28, 1953). WhUe no prediction of the expected long- term future price can be satisfactorily supported, there are reasons for expecting that future prices wiU not remain much below eight cents for any consider¬ able period, even if they should, at times, decline to that level. World consumption and demand for most metals is more Ukely to increase in the future than to decrease. At the same time, the decreased purchasing power of world currencies reduces the hkehhood of any full return to prewar wage and price levels.

To recapitulate, for easier correlation with the following paragraphs, the total cost of the zinc reduction plant project, set forth in the preceding table, is estimated at the equivalent of $7,750,000 or K3,68,12,499. Included in this total are the costs of all necessary preparatory work, metallurgical tests, auxUiary and dependent facilities, and all necessary employee housing and community facilities. Working capital has not been included. At full capacity the plant would produce 70 short tons per day of prime western grade slab zinc or 50,000,000 pounds annually.

For the purpose of considering financial results two calculations have been made. The first assumes that aU funds which might be invested in the project are equity capital. The return on this capital is pro¬ vided by using a 15-year straight-line depreciation rate. Thus, the annual depreciation charge would be $516,667. At fuU capacity of 50,000,000 pounds per year, this depreciation charge would be 1-03 cents per pound. It has been included in the total estimated cost per pound of zinc produced and delivered in the European market. The return on the invested capital, before income taxes, is, therefore, the profit per pound of zinc produced and delivered to market multipUed by the annual production of 50,000,000 pounds. The annual return on the total capital invest¬ ment is shown for various zinc prices in Table XXI - 6 These results are shown graphicaUy on Plate 5.

The second calculation of financial return is based on "Capital Return with Interest" charges, instead of straight-Une depreciation. The results of this method

of capital return are shown in Table XXI - 7 and likewise on Plate 5.

TABLE XXI - 6

RETURNS ON CAPITAL INVESTMENT (After "Capital Return by Depreciation Charge)

Base Price Prime Western

Income before Income Taxes Return on Total Investment of

17,750,000 centsjlb. centsjlb. Annual

TABLE XXI - 7

RETURNS ON CAPITAL INVESTMENT (After "Capital Return With Interest" Charge)

Base Price of Income before Income Taxes Return on Invest-

centsjlb. Annual $7,750,000

The preceding tabulations apply to any distribution between Burma Corporation concentrates and Shwe¬ daung ore. The reduction process used also produces as by-products crude lead buUion containing some silver, and pig iron containing a smaU amount of copper. The crude lead can be returned to the lead smelter and refinery at Namtu for the production of refined lead and sUver. No credit for these by-products has been taken at this time in estimating cost and investment returns.

In addition to the return on the invested capital, the Union of Burma itself would derive economic advantages as foUows:—

(1) More foreign exchange earnings would result from the export of refined zinc than from the equiva¬ lent metal exported in the form of concentrates and ores.

(2) The exploitations of the Lough Keng zinc carbonate ore deposit, which without a reduction plant would not be economically attractive, would become possible and thus enable the production and export from Burma of increased tonnages of zinc. Exploration for probable extensions of this deposit would become more attractive.


(3) Burma Corporation might be able to increase its ore reserves by lowering its cutoff grade or limit of payability and, consequently, be able to consider expansion of its presently planned production rate.

(4) The discovery and development of new sources of lead and zinc production would be generally stimulated.

(5) Establishment of the industry would provide additional employment for Burmese workers and would afford opportunity for the productive develop¬ ment of new technical knowledge and skills.

(f) Proposed method of financing. The total capital investment required is estimated at $4,666,659 and Kl,46,45,869 the sum being equivalent of $7,750,000. Assuming that equity risk capital will not, in fact, be readily found, it is proposed that the Government of the Union of Burma:

(1) Provide initially K26,60,532 (equivalent to $560,112), the amount required for execution of the preparatory work and metaUurgical tests summarized in paragraph (3)(d)(4);

(2) Negotiate a loan of $4,500,000 to provide for 96-4% of the foreign exchange required for the execution of the project, the avaUablity of the loan to be contingent upon the successful conclusion of the execution of (1), the resultant confirmation of presently estimated operating profits and the satis¬ factory finalization of plant design and specifications;

(3) Undertake to provide, concurrently with the availability of the loan negotiated under (2), the balance of the estimated capital requirements of foreign exchange and local currency, namely $166,659 andKl,19,85,337;

(4) Designate the Mineral Resources Development Corporation as the agency responsible for securing:

{a) Implementation and execution of (1) above; {b) Execution of the construction stage of the

project following the successful conclusion of (1); and {c) Satisfactory production operations thereafter.

(g) Recommendations. The calculations and esti¬ mates upon which the economic justification of the project are based are themselves necessarily based, in turn, on certain important assumptions which require confirmation. The availabUity of Kalewa coal, for example, and of electric power produced from it are two basic factors which are not firm. Two other examples are the bases on which ores and concen¬ trates can be purchased and on which rights for use of the Sterling process, for "know-how" and for furnace tests can be acquired from the New Jersey

Zinc Company. These assumptions, set forth in paragraph (3)(b), should be confirmed or corrected and all calculations and estimates revised accord¬ ingly, where necessary, before starting any design engineering.

If capital funds are available for investment under the conditions as outlined, it is recommended that the project be approved for financing and execution in the manner which has been proposed. With successful negotiation of the proposed foreign loan—the avaU¬ ability of which would be made contingent upon the preparatory work having satisfactorily confirmed the estimated investment cost, operating results and return on the investment—authority and the necessary funds would be given to the Mineral Resources Development Corporation for the execution of the preparatory work. Then, if the results of the prepara¬ tory work and metallurgical tests demonstrate equal or better economic justification for the project, execution of the construction stage is firmly recom¬ mended.

In anticipation of satisfactory confirmation of the estimated investment cost, operating results and return on the investment and, contingent thereon, approval for execution of the construction stage of the project, it is recommended that the Mineral Resources Development Corporation proceed towards implementation and execution of the project as foUows:

(1) Ascertain the grades and quantities of zinc required by India annuaUy and negotiate a contingent trade agreement with that country for the purchase of as much of Burma's potential zinc production as possible over a long period of years at a price com¬ petitive with India's other sources of zinc supply.

(2) Determine what possibilities exist for expanding the presentiy contemplated rate of production of concentrates from the Bawdwin mine by the exploita¬ tion of low grade material below the cutoff grade used in calculating ore reserves, as presently declared.

(3) Negotiate a contingent long term agreement with Burma Corporation for the purchase of Bawdwin concentrates, dehvered at Namyao.

(4) Secure exploration of the Lough Keng ore deposit for extensions of the known ore body, formulate plans for extracting ore from the Shwe¬ daung mine at a rate of not less than 40,000 tons per year, negotiate a contingent agreement providing for the exploitation of the deposit at the foregoing rate, providing therein the financing necessary for the con¬ struction of an access road and the equipment of the mine for production.

MINERAL INDUSTRIES

(5) Negotiate a contingent agreement with the New Jersey Zinc Company for the use of their electro¬ thermic process; their testing of the process at Palmerton, New Jersey with Bawdwin concentrates, Shwedaung ore and Kalewa char; and for the design and specifications for the proposed zinc plant at Myingyan.

(6) Obtain a 5,000-ton sample of Kalewa coal and store it at Kalewa on the Chindwin River ready for shipment to the USA for the production of char to be used in testing and reducing Bawdwin zinc concen¬ trates and Shwedaung ore.

(7) Obtain a 2,500-ton sample of Shwedaung ore and stockpUe it at raUhead at Shwenyaung ready for shipment to the USA.

(8) Arrange for obtaining a 2,500-ton sample of Bawdwin zinc concentrates for shipment to the USA.

(9) Investigate alternative plant sites at Myingyan, select the best plant location, and secure an adequate topographic survey and map of the construction area (aerial photographs for topographic mapping pur¬ poses have already been made of the Myingyan area and general topographic maps should be shortly avaUable for detaUed survey work).

679

TABLE XXI - 8 BAWDWIN LOW GRADE ORE, JULY 1928

(10) Employ a competent mining and metaUurgical engineer supported by the services of a consulting mining engineering firm to assist the Corporation in securing implementation and execution of the fore¬ going recommendations.

Assuming satisfactory results from the Kalewa project, the New Jersey Zinc Company tests should proceed as soon as possible. The satisfactory com¬ pletion of these tests and the steps outlined above wUl provide a sufficient basis for proceeding with the execution of the project by utUization of the con¬ tingent foreign loan proposed under (f).

c. Bawdwin Low-grade Ore Reserves

In the "Survey-Zinc" pubUshed by the National Security Resources Board of the US Government in March 1951, the low-grade ore reserves of the Bawdwin mine were estimated to contain 24,000,000 tons averaging 8-5% Zn, 7-0% Pb and 3-0 ozs. Ag per ton. These figures were quoted on page 8 of the Myingyan zinc project report dated March 31, 1953, and cited in the preceding section under this heading. However, a special investigation has been made and separate report submitted on the "Investigation of Low-grade Resources in the Bawdwin Mine." As a result and from data based on calculations made in 1928, the quantities shown in the following Table XXI - 8 were made avaUable.

Location Tons Ag ozs 1 ton Per cent

Pb Zn Cu

Chinaman Lode Proved Probable

Total

Shan Lode Proved Probable

Total

Grand Total Proved and Probable Subsequent Extrac¬ tion (values not deter¬ minable)

2,857,713 252,375

3,110,088

691,727 68,457

760,202

3,870,290

101,401

6-4 4.0

6-3

5-2 3-8

5-0

6-0

8-9 10-4

9-1

8-5 8-0

8-5

8-9

5-4 5-9

5-4

4-9 4-2

4-8

5-3

013 0-11

013

0-10 0-05

0-10

0-12

These figures show proved and probable ore of this category totalhng 3,870,290 tons and subsequent extraction estimated at 101,401 tons. This is believed to have resulted from normal mining extraction pro¬ cedure where some low-grade ore is taken rather than to terminate the stopping at possibly Ul-defined boundaries of adjoining high-grade ore.

During the war, an additional 200,000 tons were extracted by the Japanese, and certain tonnages were transferred into the "high-grade" category. The total low-grade ore reserve is therefore estimated at 3,500,000 tons with the average content posted in the foregoing table. Were an estimate to be made of equivalent low-grade ore in the Meingtha lode, it is conceivable that this total might possibly be increased by an additional 1,000,000 tons. The foUowing are further observations:

(1) The low-grade ore estimate refers to definite locations in the mine which can be found again without difficulty. Access to some of the locations might require moderate recovery and rehabUitation of the original development workings.

(2) PracticaUy aU of the low-grade ore occurs in the foot waUs of two of the main high-grade lodes. Only a few very thin bands of ore have been found on the hanging waU side. Enough development work and sampling has been done to establish this as the definite pattern of low-grade ore occurrence.

(3) Comparing more recent work with the 1928 low-grade esthnate, it is apparent that certain lenses and stringers can frequentiy be picked up in the low- grade sections and mined as high-grade ore. In several instances this was done by the Japanese during their occupation.


(4) There is nothing to preclude the possibility of a similar development of low-grade ore in the Meingtha lode. In the Shan and Chinaman lodes it appears that the amount of low-grade ore is roughly proportional to the amount of high-grade ore.

The extent to which this low-grade ore may be economically important to the future operations of Burma Corporation and the Myingyan zinc refinery has not been determined. It depends on many factors which remain subject to further study, investigation and evaluation in the light of anticipated future operating conditions and metal prices. Because of the considerable value of the metallic content of the ore compared with similar ores successfully exploited elsewhere in the world, the consultants beheve its exploitation potentialities should be determined at an early date.

d. Development of the Lough Keng Ore Deposit

The Lough Keng zinc carbonate ore deposit has been mentioned previously in this chapter as one of the two sources of zinciferous material for the Mying¬ yan zinc refinery. Until Burma Corporation can supply a greater tonnage of zinc sulphide concen¬ trates than the 22,000 long tons per year presently contemplated, it is planned to supply the zinc smelter with ore from the Lough Keng deposit con¬ taining approximately half of the smelter's total zinc metal output.

To this end, plans have been made for developing and equipping the Shwedaung mine for a daily ore production of 155 short tons, or approximately 3,300 short tons per month. Visible, already measured, surface ore in the deposit amounts to approximately 550,000 metric tons or 607,000 short tons which, at the planned rate of depletion, provides positive reserves for approximately 15 years. The exploratory program recommended to Government should dis¬ close additional carbonate ore below the surface and possibly sulphide ore at greater depth.

The ore deposit, situated in the Shan State at Lough Keng some 30 miles south of Mong Pawn, is not conveniently situated in relation to Myingyan nor to established transportation routes thereto. A major item in the estimated cost of developing this deposit for exploitation is the construction of an approximately 25-mile access road from the town of Mong Pawn to the deposit area near Lough Keng. Another major capital expenditure will be necessary to provide a fleet of trucks to transport the ore from the mine to railhead at Shwenyaung. The distance from Lough Keng to Shwenyaung via Mong Pawn wUl be about 75 mUes, and the cost of haulage wiU be a large item in total operating costs.

In addition to its inconvenient situation relative to- the transportation of ore and supplies, the deposit is also disadvantageously situated in relation to power, water, and labor supphes. Until hydroelectric power is available in this general area, power wiU have to be supplied by diesel electric generators. Fortun¬ ately, power requirements will be very moderate. Owing to the physical and topographic features of the deposit, it will be exploited entirely by open-cut or quarry methods, and ore transportation from the mine to the crushing plant and truck loading bins will be by hand-trammed cars running on light rail. The major power demand, therefore, wUl be only for compressors, the crushing plant and water supply. It is estimated that the total demand will be met by two diesel generators totaling 350 h.p., required to run simultaneously only during parts of each operating shift. Water required for the mine operation and the camp, estimated at 25,000 gallons per day, will be supplied through a pipeline from the Nam Pawn river approximately 3,200 ft. below the mine. Three 20 h.p triplex pump units, one on the river and the other two at stations approximately 1,000 and 2,000 ft. higher, will deliver into storage tanks in the mine area.

The Lough Keng area is sparsely populated and provision will have to be made for the construction and maintenance of a mining camp complete with appropriate utilities, a school, a hospital or dispensary, and recreational facilities. The capital expenditures required to produce 155 tons of ore per day from the Lough Keng deposit are estimated at $1,100,000. The cost of producing and delivering a ton of Lough Keng ore to rail head at Shwenyaung is estimated at at K50.46 per long ton.

The estimates may be summarized as follows:

TABLE XXI - 9

ESTIMATED CAPITAL COSTS

Total Cost Equivalent

% plus K Kyats

Preliminary Surveys and Engineering 1,150 12,900 18,370 Access Road, Mong Pawn to Mine 2,500 22,27,950 22,39,830 Surface Plant (Mine and Shwen¬ 13,810 7,49,950 8,15,540 yaung, including power plant and all machinery and equipment). Heavy Duty Trucks for ore transport and other automotive equipment 200 15,07,500 15,09,400 Water Supply 900 5,54,950 5,59,225

MINERAL INDUSTRIES

TABLE XXI - 10

ESTIMATED OPERATING COSTS, PER SHORT TON F.O.R. RAILWAY WAGONS AT MYINGYAN

681

Labor, including

Super¬ vision and

Engineering

Supplies Total

Mining Ore transport. Mine to Shwen¬

yaung Railway Freight, Shwenyaung

to Myingyan

K 3-943

3-325

K 11-619

6-833

K 15-562

10-158

13-385

Depreciation — — 8-550

General Overheads 2-705 0-103 2-808

Estimates of results of operation of Lough Keng mine and smelter with zinc at ten cents a pound, show a profit of approximately K32 per ton of ore on the part of the smelter, and a break-even basis for the mine. When the price of zinc drops to nine cents, the composUe results of both mine and smelter wiU show a loss of about K2-0 per ton of ore, or practically a break-even basis.

It will be noted that no provision has been made for the cost of developing the deposit. The reason for this is that, with a positive ore reserve above the surface adequate for a 15-year operation, no urgency exists for immediately establishing additional reserves. After production has begun and is well underway, the subsurface exploration for extensions of the surface ore which has already been recommended to the Mineral Resources Development Corporation and the execution of which is being initiated wUl have provided guidance for future development work. Additional guidance will also be provided to a con¬ siderable extent by the observed behavior and characteristics of the ore deposits in the bottom of the open cuts. Thus any extensive underground exploration and development can be much more satisfactorily planned and executed at a later date and at less cost.

It is assumed that the Mineral Resources Develop¬ ment Corporation will arrange and implement the financing of the program, and that it will be wholly responsible for securing completion of the program at such time that adequate and continuous ore deliveries will be made to the Myingyan plant site when that plant is ready to operate. The execution of the Lough Keng project must be coordinated with the construction of a zinc smelter in Burma. No

expenditure should be made at Lough Keng, other than those recommended to prove up the deposit until there is a firm determination of the Myingyan zinc project.

e. Antimony Project The Antimony project presented in the Preliminary

Report had a "first" and an "ultimate" objective. The first was the annual export of approximately 1,260 tons of refined antimony and 3,600 tons of 50% ore. The ultimate objective was the export, in the form of refined metal, of all the antimony Burma might produce.

Achievement of the first objective was planned in two stages. The first stage was to be the successful completion of four separate but related programs: the collection at the site of a central oxidation and reduction plant of 4,000 tons of 20% Sb ore purchased from various mines; the purchase, also from various mines, of shipping-grade ore for export; the selection and development of a "demonstration" mine to produce not less than 6 tons per day of 20 % Sb ore, and at the same time 2-4 tons per day of 50% Sb ore; and the construction of a central oxidation and reduction plant as soon as the reasonably certain avaUablity of 4,000 tons of 20 % Sb ore was assured.

The second stage, planned to begin on the com¬ pletion of the first stage, and expected to be progres¬ sive over about eight years, was to consist of selecting the five most promising mines, in addition to the "demonstration" mine, for the development at each of production at least equivalent to that of the "demonstration" mine. An oxidation plant at each of the six mines was programmed, and appropriate progressive increases in the reduction capacity of the central plant that meanwhile would have been pur¬ chasing and treating odd lots of ore and ore products from smaU independent producers. As projected, the successful completion of the second stage would constitute the beginning of achievement of the ultimate objective of funneling all Burmese antimony ores and oxide-plant products into the central plant for conversion into export metal.

In the Preliminary Report, based on estimated capital costs for the two stages of the first objective of approximately K60,00,000 estimated production costs and the then current London quotations for antimony metal, an annual operating profit of K61,74,000 is estimated at the end of the second stage of the first objective, and it is implied that at this price the continuing annual profits would be of the same order.

The development of the project subsequent to the submittal of the Preliminary Report has been


seriously impeded. Examination and appraisal of some 20 known antimony deposits proved impossible in all but a few cases because of adverse security conditions. Further, two of the reputedly most promising deposits in the Shan State were examined. One of these, the Mong Sang deposit warrants a vigorous exploration and development program which has been outlined in a separate report and submitted to Government with action recommenda¬ tions. The other, Lebyin, although optimistically reported in the Preliminary Report, on rc-cxamination did not disclose potentialities justifying exploration work designed to develop the deposit into a "demon¬ stration mine."

The several other antimony deposits and showings examined in the Shan States did not exhibit en¬ couraging geological features, and continued explora¬ tion and development could not be recommended. No additional information could be obtained regard¬ ing the known and favorably reported antimony occurrences in the Tenasserim Division due to the aforementioned adverse security conditions.

However, despite the inaccessibility of most of the antimony deposits for field examination by the con¬ sultants, certain important concepts and assumptions on which the development of the project was formu¬ lated were studied and brought more up-to-date by investigations conducted in the United States of the pyrometallurgical treatment of what are believed to be representative samples of Burmese antimony ores, and free world markets for antimony ores as a basis for projecting foreign exchange earnings from the export sale of Burmese antimony ore production anticipated in 1960.

The results of these investigations, conducted by Dr. C. Y. Wang, Consulting Metallurgical Engineer, New York, are contained in a report submitted to the Government in December 1952 entitled "Report on the Proposed Antimony Smelting in Burma."

The seven principal recommendations with which his report concludes may be summarized as foUows: that there be thorough geological examination and sampling of all important Burmese antimony mines and prospects; that the initial unit for treating 20% antimony ore have a daily metal output capacity of only one ton; that investigations and experiments be conducted to determine the comparative economic advantages of exporting shipping grade antimony ore (approximately 50% Sb) or treating it in Burma to recover and export the metal; that mechanization of plant instaUations should not be overdone in the initial stages of developing a smelting industry; that further study of concentration methods for low-grade ores be undertaken; that a study be made to

determine the most efficient roasting technique for fine- sized antimony concentrates; and that when a perma¬ nent central reduction plant is envisaged, a study be made of methods of recovering the sulphur evolved in the pyrometallurgical treatment of antimony ores and concentrates.

The report gives much space to descriptions and diagrams of various standard practice procedures and equipments, so presented that accurate estimates of capital requirements can easily be calculated by substituting the cost of Burmese materials, trans¬ portation, labor and other costs.

For a discussion of world markets for antimony ores and metal and their relationship to prices, con¬ sumption and demand, reference may be made to the memorandum submitted by A. J. Creshkoff of Robert R. Nathan Associated Inc., and simUar pertinent data from other sources, all of which are being trans¬ mitted separately to Government.

In considering the contribution which develop¬ ment of the antimony project can make to the economy of Burma and the justification therefor, an appraisal of future prices in world consuming areas is critical. When the Preliminary Report was com- pUed the price of antimony was approaching its all- time high which was attained in December 1951. China reputedly has more than half of the world's resources of antimony ore. Prior to 1932 it was the lowest cost producer, and provided about two-thirds of the total world supply. Following her comparatively recent disappearance from world trade in antimony, and her domination of the market, it appeared that Burma could avail herself of an exceptional oppor¬ tunity to develop a well-organized modern antimony industry which in the future would be able to com¬ pete in the world market with China with an advant¬ age or at least on a basis of equality. Meanwhile, South Africa has been entering the market as a low cost producer on an increasingly important scale.

Despite the lower prices that have prevaUed since the project was first recommended (52 cents per pound in January 1952), and which have remained fairly constant around 30 cents per pound since November 1952 foUowing their steady drop from January 1952 levels, considerable weight must be given to the prediction of mineral economists that consumption between 1950 and 1975 wiU increase by 92% and that the free world output would keep pace with this demand.

In the contract period subsequent to the submittal of the Preliminary Report, circumstances have not been sufficiently favorable to justify recommending early implementation of the project as outlined in that report. However, in view of the wide price


fluctuations to which antimony has been subject in the past, it is very possible that at some time in the future the operation of a properly developed anti¬ mony smelting industry can contribute very import¬ antly to the Burmese economy.

It is therefore recommended: (1) that the explora¬ tion and prospecting of the Mong Sang deposit, as outhned and recommended in the report of the examining engineer, be given modest priority in the development programs to be undertaken by the Mineral Resources Development Corporation; (2) that the examination and appraisal of the anti¬ mony deposits and prospects in the Tenasserim Division, which have remained inaccessible during the contract period, be effected as soon as security conditions permit and when technical personnel are avaUable to the Corporation, or when the Mineral Resources Survey can operate in that area; (3) that wherever and whenever possible instructions be given to antimony mine owners and operators by personnel of the Mineral Resources Development Corporation and the Mine Department, particularly in the operation of the simple Chinese process of intermittent liquation of crude antimony; and (4) that the antimony project, as outhned in the Preliminary Report, be held in abeyance until such time in the future as adequate ore supplies can be assured and its development presents increased economic advant¬ ages.

F. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The orderly and effective development of Burma's mineral resources is essential to the future social and economic welfare of the country. Important progress towards this end has been made during the last 18 months. The Mineral Resources Development Cor¬ poration has been estabhshed and is taking steps to initiate several of the measures which have so far been recommended. Specific mineral industry develop¬ ment projects which have been proposed are receiving serious consideration with a view to securing their early implementation. It is noteworthy that so much has been accomplished in this relatively short time in the face of such obviously adverse security con¬ ditions.

However, accomplishments to date, important as they are, cannot but emphasize the magnitude of the responsibilities which remain for initiation and execution. In the following paragraphs, the recom¬ mendation for future action are recapitulated briefly, emphasis placed on certain correlation, and priorities for implementation assessed.

1. In an integrated industrial program for Burma, the basic hnportance of developing domestic supply

of solid fuel cannot be overemphasized. The develop¬ ment of production from the Kalewa coalfield will afford this. Execution of the Kalewa project, as proposed in the report thereon, justifies highest priority so far as industrial development projects are concerned.

As the immediate market for most of the Kalewa production depends upon the production of a briquette suitable for transport and storage during the monsoon season, the implementation of the Kalewa project on the scale recommended must depend upon the further research work being done under GUB Project 60 in briquetting the Kalewa coal, as well as the results of the diamond drilling program now under way. In the event that Kalewa coal cannot be made into a briquette stable under monsoon weather, then consideration must be given to the economics of protected transport and storage. If such storage is not feasible, the Kalewa project must be revised to conform to the needs for pulverized fuel, for power generation, and for the requirements of the Myingyan zinc project. Execution of the Kalewa project, on a basis yet to be determined, justifies the highest priority.

2. Implementation of the Myingyan zinc project is economicaUy justified providing Kalewa coal is made available. In this case, it should be assessed second priority among mineral industry development projects.

3. If the Myingyan zinc project is undertaken, development of the Lough Keng zinc carbonate ore deposit for the production of 40,000 tons of ore annually must proceed concurrently. Without the zinc refinery, or unless the underground exploration program already recommended and initiated discloses very large additional tonnage of ore, the development of the Lough Keng deposit is not economically justifiable. In the latter event, the deposit might prove large enough to justify the establishment of its own zinc refinery and a hydroelectric power installation on the Nam Teng River.

4. The possibility of exploiting profitably the low- grade material occurring on the boundaries of the high-grade orebodies at Bawdwin should be deter¬ mined as soon as possible. With the establishment of a zinc refinery at Myingyan particularly, and the availability of an indigenous supply of metallurgical briquettes (equivalent to coke), probabUities of profitable exploitation are appreciably enhanced.

5. The antimony deposits at Mong Sang should be further prospected and explored to determine their potentialities and whether they can be made to serve appropriately as the "demonstration mine" envisaged in the Antimony project. As soon as the antimony


deposUs in the Amherst and Thaton districts of the Tenasserim Division become accessible, they should be examined and their potential value appraised. UntU these steps have been taken, and until the avaUability of adequate supplies of ores can be reasonably well assured, it is recommended that implementation of the Antimony project be deferred, with the foUowing exception. If exploration should prove large deposits of 4 % antimony ore that can be mined cheaply by open cut or underground methods, studies should be made as to the economics of mining and concentrating this ore to supply a high grade concentrate to a reduction plant.

6. It has been recommended that the Mineral Resources Development Corporation be made respons¬ ible for securing implementation and execution of the aforementioned mineral industry developments. Additionally it is believed that the Corporation should be made responsible for conducting the continuing program of exploration and discovery recommended in the Mineral Resources Survey project proposal, and that initially, in order to operate to best advantage, it should establish no less than two regional offices.

It was recommended in the Preliminary Report that the Corporation, although government-owned, should be "relatively autonomous," and that it should operate "as a private enterprise without the limitation of civil services, and especially, free from the red tape and lethargy which so often characterizes government enterprises." Most importantly, it was recommended that the executive head of the Corpora¬ tion should possess some technical knowledge and wide business experience. Unless these recommenda¬ tions are implemented achievement of the Corpora¬ tion's objectives will be greatly prejudiced.

On a par with these basicaUy important require¬ ments for successful operation is the necessity for employing at the earliest date competent foreign

managerial and technical services and personnel sufficient to serve all of the Corporation's needs untU such time as trained and experienced Burmese replacements become available. As recommended first in the Preliminary Report and reiterated now, this step is essential whether the Corporation obtains such personnel by engaging the services of a mine management and consultant firm—^which is believed able—or whether, alternatively, it engages individuals to render the various services needed.

7. The functions and Department should be mented in accordance organizational staffing Similarly, as soon as become avaUable, the Geological Department

responsibilities of the Mines broadened and its stalT aug- with the administrative and

plan previously outlined. trained national personnel staff and activities of the should be expanded.

In order to avoid duplication of personnel and effort, the work of both departments should be correlated closely with that of the Exploration Division of the Corporation and the Mineral Resources Survey for the conduct of which it would be responsible. Payment of appreciably higher salaries to technically educated and trained Burmese personnel is essential if the country's nationals are to be encouraged to undertake such professional careers in adequate number.

8. The revision of mining laws and regulations and mineral industry taxation along the lines recom¬ mended will greatly facilitate maximum development of mineral resources and encourage the participation of private enterprise therein. In Burma, where the potential is so great and so underdeveloped, maximum economic development of her mineral resources cannot be achieved during any short period of years unless private enterprise is not only afforded fair opportunity to participate but actively encouraged to do so by the extension of adequate guarantees.

CHAPTER XXII

MANUFACTURING

A. REVIEW OF EXISTING NATIONAL INDUSTRY

1. PRESENT NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL PLANT Burma's national industrial plant has never

developed beyond an elementary stage. Existing industry comprises principally the finishing or con¬ version of agricultural products. The limited variety of the commodities manufactured and their low total value, the relatively limited amount of capital invested, the small number of people employed in industry, and the large imports of basic commodities evidence this lack of development.

No complete list exists covering the extent or variety of the existing industries of Burma or of their current production. The Labor Directorate {Burma Labor Gazette, September 1951) lists 882 rice mills, 110 sesamum and groundnut oil extraction plants, 80 flour mills, 3 sugar extraction and refining plants, 16 beverage plants, 194 saw mUls, 67 cotton ginning and spinning mills, 3 match factories, I cement plant, and some tobacco, rope, printing, and engineering plants. There are also a starch plant, a soap factory, two small glassware plants, one or more rubber products plants, and other small industries.

About 43,000 permanent employees out of a labor force in excess of 8,000,000 are said to be employed in the manufacturing plants reporting to the Labor Directorate. Even if the total number of industrial employees exceeded the above by 200 or 300%, the ratio employed in manufacturing industry would stiU be smaU.

2. CAPACITY IN RELATION TO CURRENT CONSUMPTION Some of the industrial plants are so small that they

may be classed as cottage industries. Many are obsolete, inefficient, and high cost producers. Practically none supply the entire requirements of Burma for any single commodity. Inadequate facilities exist for supplying many of the common basic commodities such as clay roofing tUe, clay floor tile, lime, asbestos cement roofing and siding and sheets, steel products, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, paints and varnishes, paper, jute bags, insecticides, chemicals, biologicals, wall board, plywood, naval stores, glass products, canned food products, soya milk, frozen food products, and many others.

R.B. 11—13 685

Only in rice milling, saw milling and a few other industries is the existing capacity able to supply the entire needs of the nation. Portiand cement manu¬ facturing capacity is now below current demands.

3. CAPACITY IN RELATION TO PROJECTED CONSUMPTION As in general the existing national industries are

unable to meet current demands for their products, it is evident that they are completely unable to supply any increase in demand. The normal increase in population alone wiU provide a growing market for all commodities consumed or used in Burma. The execution of the Econonuc and Industrial Develop¬ ment Program will create tremendous demands for all basic construction materials. The additional employment and payrolls created by the construction, operation, and maintenance of the new projects, will develop an additional demand for many commodities that cannot be met by the existing national industrial plant, yet in many cases these demands can be met economicaUy by domestic production.

To remedy this situation definite recommendations are made in Section D of this chapter.

B. A SURVEY OF INDUSTRIAL POSSIBILITIES FOR BURMA

An exhaustive inventory has been made of all of the known material resources of the Union of Burma, and of the products that are used in commercial quantities in this country, or that could be manu¬ factured in Burma. In addition, careful market surveys were made covering the past and present consumption of aU important commodities, and the future requirements were estimated. From this three- way check, a comprehensive list was made of industrial projects for investigation.

1. INDUSTRIAL USES OF THE PRINCIPAL RAW MATERIALS OF BURMA In preparing the accompanying survey, there has

been taken into account all that could be learned of the availability, location and physical properties of materials discussed. The compilation indicates the major industrial uses of each of these materials.

The existence in Burma does not, of course, mean that such resources can support any or all of the


Principal Manufactured Products industrial possibilities indicated. The quantity avail¬ able may not be sufficient for commercial extraction. The quality may be poor. The location may be such that extraction is too costiy. Other associated raw materials, necessary to turn out a given industrial product, may not be avaUable. The manufacturing process may be too complex, or it may depend for its efficiency on the services of other industries which cannot be developed in Burma. Cheap transportation or power or other factors of efficient production may not be available where needed. Burma may be too far from the world market. Only combined economic and engineering analysis in each case can give the answer as to whether industrial exploitation would be practical.

Any list of raw materials available in Burma is subject to change. New mineral deposits may be discovered. New agricultural or forest crops may be introduced. A material now existing may be found to have been omitted. Moreover, the industrial signific¬ ance of any given raw material may change. New impregnation techniques may convert so-caUed non¬ durable hardwoods into durables. Experimentation may develop new jute-based fabrics suitable for clothing. Increase in the level of income in Burma may create a future market where none is now immediately forsccable. It is important, therefore, to consider the industrial possibilities of Burma's raw materials, not as static and final, but as something always emerging and developing.

TABLE XXII - 1

INDUSTRIAL USES OF THE PRINCIPAL RAW MATERIALS OF BURMA

Agricultural Raw Materials

Bamboo sprouts Bananas (see plantains) Barley

Beans, not elsewhere classified

Bees Betel nuts

Cattle

Chillies Coffee Corn

Cotton

Flowers

Possible Manufactured Products

Canned sprouts

Pressed and pearled barley; bran; beer; flour. Dried beans; canned beans; con¬ fections and cakes. Honey; wax. Possibly medicines or manufac¬ tured chewing "gum." Packaged meat; milk (boiled, pasteurized, evaporated, con¬ densed, dried); cheese; butter; cream; skim milk; casein and other glues; gelatin; hides; bone meal; other bone products; vac¬ cines; other medicinals. Spices. ColTee beverage concentrates. Starch; syrup; edible oil; tinned corn; frozen com; alcohol; cos¬ metics; cornmeal; paper; wallboard. Textiles; paper; other fiber pro¬ ducts; oil; meal; cake. Perfumes

Agricultural Raw Materials (contd.)

Fruits, miscellaneous, edible, fresh

Goats

Groundnut

Hemp Hogs

Horses

Indigo Jute

Millet Mulberries

Palms, coconut

Palms, dhani Palms, toddy

Pigs (see hogs) Plantains

Potatoes

Poultry

Rape Rice and rice straw

Rubber

Sesamum

Sheep

Soy beans

Sugarcane Sunflowers Tea Tobacco

Tung Vegetables, miscellaneous, fresh Wheat

Fishery and Related Raw Materials

Fish, fresh and salt-water (in¬ cluding fish farming in ponds and paddy fields) Crustacea and moUusks

Seaweed

Canned, quick-frozen and dried fruits; juices; squashes; confec¬ tions; jams and jellies; flavour¬ ings. Hides; fibers; bone products; glue; dairy products. Edible oil; meal; cake; oleo¬ margarine; tinned grounds. Fibers. Hides; hair; bone products; glue; lard; tallow. Hides; hair; bone products; glue; vaccines. Dyes. Sacks; cordage; burlap yard goods; upholstery stripping; linen-like textiles for clotliing and other purposes. Millet rice substitute. Silk; high-grade paper; wood products. Saponifiable oil; edible oil; soap; fiber products; cosmetics; confec¬ tions; copra. Roofing; beverage; alcohol. Jaggery; beverage; alcohol; fiber products.

Dried, powdered, tinned bananas; oils; alcohol; pulp and paper. Dehydrated potatoes, flour; starch; glucose; alcohol. Dressed fresh poultry; cured poultry; dried eggs; albumin; feather products. Oil; meal; cake. Milled rice; parboiled rice; rice bran; rice bran oil; oil cake; wallboard; rope and other straw products; rice flour; noodles; con¬ fections; wine. Rubber products; paints; rubber cement. Edible oil; meal; cake, oleo¬ margarine. Hides, fibers; bone products; glue; gut. Edible oil; meal; cake; oleo¬ margarine; milk substitutes; curd; sauce; paste. Sugar; syrup; wallboard. Oil; meal; cake. Tea; tea concentrates. Cigarettes; cigars; cheroots; snuff; chewing tobacco; smoking to¬ bacco; insecticides. Drying oil; paints. Canned, frozen and dried vege¬ tables; oils; pickles; dyes. Bread; bakery products; flour; monosodium glutamate; bran.

Principal Manufactured Products

Canned fish; dried and cured fish; edible powdered dried fish; fish liver oil; fish meal fertiUzer. Canned prawns and other Crus¬ tacea; buttons. Fertilizer.

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