The junta’s new energy minister, former Maj-General Ko Ko Lwin, and Russia-Myanmar Association for Friendship and Cooperation president Anatoly Bulochnikov discussed potential cooperation in the oil and gas sector during their meeting in Naypyitaw on Tuesday.
The two discussed technical cooperation for inland and offshore petroleum and gas exploration, building oil and gas pipelines, and opportunities for Russian companies to cooperate in petroleum refining and supplying fuel in Myanmar, according to junta media.
Ko Ko Lwin—who was part of 71st intake of Defense Services Academy—previously served as deputy chief of the Directorate of Defense Industries before he replaced Myo Myint Oo as energy minister last month.
He has no experience in the energy sector but is close to junta boss Min Aung Hlaing, critics say.
Tuesday’s meeting was the first between Ko Ko Lwin and Anatoly Bulochnikov since the former was appointed energy minister. Bulochnikov also met junta electricity minister Nyan Tun, and discussed the potential for Russian companies to invest in electricity production in Myanmar.
When junta boss Min Aung Hlaing met Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time last year, he invited Russia to invest in the country’s energy sector.
The invitation was followed by frequent visits to Russia by former junta energy minister Myo Myint Oo. Russian business delegations also visited Myanmar to discuss cooperation in the energy sector. Russia has since shown interest in exploring for oil in Myanmar, and investing in petroleum refining and manufacturing, as well as distributing petroleum products.
Junta foreign minister Than Swe also discussed the potential for cooperation with Russia in the energy sector during his meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on September 14.
Energy is the key industry in Myanmar, receiving the largest share of foreign investment. Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise provides the regime with its main source of revenue by selling oil and gas abroad.
Russia has been transporting its petroleum to China through pipelines in Myanmar since February, according to Britain-based Energy Intelligence.
