“The No. 1 Thanlyin refinery near Yangon is expected to begin operating in September with annual jet-fuel refining capacity of 150,000 metric tons, a volume comparable to Myanmar’s recent aviation-fuel import volumes and large enough to substantially reduce reliance on overseas supplies.”
“The development comes as Myanmar is expected to import a record amount of jet fuel this year from Iran despite Western efforts to restrict supplies used by the military. Sources in the energy sector predict imports will easily surpass 200,000 tons in 2026…”
“Thanlyin’s second phase is scheduled for completion by 2028 and expected to make the country virtually self-sufficient in jet fuel production. The second phase is expected to bring fuel production up to 3 million tons, more than half Myanmar’s estimated overall requirement and a level that will significantly reduce the country’s present near-complete dependency on imported petrochemicals.”
“Myanmar’s jet fuel data used to be available from the Myanmar Port Authority but became a state secret in early 2025 due to the clandestine sourcing from Iran and international sanctions that have manifestly failed.”
“On Jan. 26, Reuters reported that from October 2024 to December 2025, Iran delivered some 175,000 tons of jet fuel in nine shipments. So far in 2026, energy sector sources in Myanmar told Nikkei Asia that at least seven shipments have been delivered, totaling about 120,000 tons.”
“As a ‘modular’ refinery fabricated offsite in China and supplied through Singapore, the assembly of Thanlyin involved the offloading of oversized cargo at Thilawa port…”