Fuel rationing in Myanmar drives motorists to black market
Vehicle owners in Yangon, Mandalay, Naypyidaw and the Shan State capital Taunggyi told DVB that the regime’s Ministry of Energy quick response (QR) code for drivers to purchase petrol, which took effect on March 12, has turned many to the black market to make fuel purchases. New fuel rationing measures, implemented by the regime, stipulate that all registered vehicles may refuel once every 24 hours.
A car dealership in Yangon Region told DVB on the condition of anonymity that owners of unlicensed vehicles, like those being sold, can’t refuel since they lack official ownership documents required to register for the regime’s QR code. Drivers told DVB that one liter of 92-octane gasoline is sold at around 2,800 MMK ($0.70 USD) at petrol stations but can cost as high as 10,000 MMK ($2.50 USD) on the black market as of March 18.
But this price may increase rapidly. Motorists must present their vehicle registration tax documents—locally known as the wheel tax—issued by the regime’s Road Transport Administration Department to petrol station staff. After checking these documents, staff generate a QR code through a ministry-issued application to authorize the sale of fuel. Drivers are required to retain the QR code for future purchases. Read more
Seven charged in India over alleged Myanmar drone training
Six Ukrainians and one American were arrested in India at airports in Kolkata, Delhi and Lucknow on March 13, according to India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA). The seven individuals had allegedly entered Mizoram State from Burma and are accused of providing drone training to unnamed groups in Chin State, where resistance forces opposed to the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021 control up to 90 per cent of the territory.
Indian senior advocate Pramod Kumar Dubey, who represents the seven accused, told a court in Delhi that the arrests were “unlawful and that the NIA had failed to comply with the Vienna Convention.” Ukraine’s foreign ministry said that there were “no established facts proving the involvement of the said Ukrainian citizens in unlawful activities on the territory of India or Myanmar.”
The seven were charged with “multiple offences,” including Section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which relates to conspiracy or attempts to carry out terrorist acts. The court granted the NIA time to carry out its investigation until March 27. The U.S. embassy in India confirmed the arrests without providing any details. India’s Mizoram State shares a 316 mile (510 km) long border with Chin State. Read more
Rolling power cuts to resume nationwide
The regime’s Ministry of Electric Power introduced nationwide “planned load shedding,” or rolling power cuts, starting Wednesday. The scheme will remain in effect until June. Pro-regime media reported that electricity will be distributed in two groups on a rotating four-hour schedule between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. in Yangon Region. Burma consumes 4,664 megawatts of electricity per day but can generate only 3,600 MW—about 77 per cent of demand—according to the ministry.
“The electricity went off from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. [on March 18]. People these days are facing various problems. First, the surging commodity price, then the fuel issues and now the power cuts,” a resident in Yangon’s Dagon Seikkan Township told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The ministry claimed on March 18 that an unspecified number of power plants and infrastructure were “destroyed,” leading to a drop in power generation.
The regime blamed “terrorists” for the disruption in the electricity supply. A resident in Yangon’s Thingangyun Township told DVB that they experienced hour-long power outages every day so far this month, after nearly two months of almost 24-hour daily electricity supply. Yangon was put on a four-hour on, eight-hour off, electricity schedule last March for an undisclosed number of months in 2025.
News by Region
MAGWAY—Residents of northern Gangaw Township told DVB that three masked individuals “armed with firearms” robbed a home on Sunday. A previous robbery occurred on March 13, according to residents. Gangaw is located 222 miles (357 km) northwest of the region’s capital Magway.
The People’s Defence Force (PDF) under the National Unity Government (NUG) told DVB that robberies are frequent in the township, attributing them to widespread gambling rings. Residents added that four villages in PDF-controlled northern Gangaw are rife with gambling and drug use.
MANDALAY—Pro-regime media reported that 506 members of armed groups, including the PDF, were released from custody at the Central Regional Military Command (RMC) on Thursday. It added that the men, aged 15-20, came from Thabeikkyin, Singu, Mogok and Kyaukse townships.
Regime forces regained control of Thabeikkyin, Singu and Madaya townships, located 27-124 miles (43-200 km) north and south of Mandalay, from the PDF last year. The PDF claims that it has partial control of Natogyi and Myingyan townships, located 63-69 miles (101-111 km) south of Mandalay. Read more
NAYPYIDAW—The regime’s Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) approved 35 new investment projects at a meeting on Monday. The approved projects are worth $41 million USD and are expected to create 5,064 jobs and includes four foreign investments in the manufacturing and electricity sectors.
The MIC stated investments in manufacturing, hotel and tourism, services, electricity, agriculture, transport and communications have come from 53 countries. It added that the electricity sector accounts for 28.27 percent of total investment, followed by oil and natural gas at 24.62 percent and manufacturing at 14.67 percent.
YANGON—Residents of Ahlone Township told DVB that six people, including two regime-appointed administrators, were arrested by police during a dispute between residents and local regime officials inside a compound owned by Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) on Wednesday.
Ahlone residents said that 300 households were evicted and their homes were destroyed on March 18 after receiving eviction notices from the Yangon City Development Committee. All are now residing temporarily at monasteries and makeshift shelters after turning down a YCDC offer to relocate to Hlaingthaya Township.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,115 MMK)
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