{"id":4509,"date":"2026-05-15T06:47:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T06:47:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ah-nyarstudies.org\/?p=4509"},"modified":"2026-05-15T07:06:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T07:06:40","slug":"petro-contestation-and-emerging-governance-orders-in-magway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ah-nyarstudies.org\/my\/petro-contestation-and-emerging-governance-orders-in-magway\/","title":{"rendered":"Petro-Contestation and Emerging Governance Orders in Magway"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Petro-Contestation and Emerging Governance Orders in Magway<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Bo Let Yar and Ye Htun Zaw attend the closing ceremony of the first cohort training of the Magway Federal Unit Guard Force. (Photo: Mandalay Free Press)<\/em><\/p>

This situational analysis is produced under Ah Nyar Studies<\/em><\/a> as part of our broader effort to inform developments in central Burma and advance contextual understanding of the region. The analysis examines post-coup dynamics of natural resource control in Magway, with particular attention to the oil industry\u2019s strategic importance to armed actors. It explores how oil fields have become embedded within evolving conflict structures and shaped authority, revenue generation and local governance.<\/p>

In addition to an extensive review of secondary sources, the analysis draws on nine key informant interviews with individuals possessing expert knowledge of the subject matter, including senior CDM staff formerly employed in oil fields in central Burma.<\/p>

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0<\/em>After the 2021 coup, oil fields (locally known as Yae Nan Hmaw or<\/em> Yae Nan Myay<\/em>) have become contested strategic assets, where control over production and revenue is increasingly fragmented among the military regime, the NUG and local resistance groups, with significant implications for governance, security and energy access for people. These groups have been heavily contested across Magway, particularly in resource-rich townships.<\/p>

As of 2026, local resistance forces in Magway controlled two of the seven oil fields under the union government\u2019s authority. The two major oil fields located in Pakokku, Myaing, and Pauk townships are currently under the management of the resistance administration. Oil and gas from these fields provided<\/a> supplies for the Refinery Industry in Chauk township through Kamma and Pakokku.<\/p>

What do these oil fields and routes mean to resistance groups in Magway? How do these resources define the fate of the resistance movement and governance?<\/p>

Active Oil Fields in Magway<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Myanmar\u2019s crude oil production is sourced from both onshore oil fields and offshore oil and natural gas blocks. There are at least ten onshore oil fields across the country, of which seven are in Magway. Major production comes from Yenangyaung, Chauk, Mann Yae Nan Myay, Pyay Yae Nan Myay, Shwepyitha (Myan-aung)<\/em>, and the Myaing\u2013Pauk<\/em> areas, according to senior officials who worked in the industry and now joined CDM. Among these, the Yenangyaung, Chauk<\/em>, and Mann Yae Nan Myay<\/em> in Magway Region are among the oldest in the country and have historically been among the most productive.<\/p>

The Htauk Shar Pin<\/em> Oil field historically referred to the oil-producing area south of Minbu, beginning from Ta Pin<\/em> village and extending through the areas around Htauk Shar Pin, Kywe Tho Myaung, Shwe Yaung Taung<\/em>, and Hpa Lan Yone<\/em> villages. The Kanni<\/em> Oil field refers to the oil-producing area around Kanni<\/em> village at the southern edge of Minbu<\/em> township, including the surrounding areas of Htein Taw<\/em> and Pike Pin<\/em> villages. At present, the Htauk Shar Pin<\/em> and Kanni <\/em>oil fields in Minbu<\/em> township, together with the Htan Kaing<\/em> and Yae Nan Ma<\/em> oil fields in Minhla<\/em> township, are collectively referred to as the Htauk Shar Pin\u2013Kanni<\/em> Oil fields.<\/p>

The Sabe\u2013Thagyitaung<\/em> oil fields are located along the route from Pakokku through Kyun Chaung<\/em> toward Seikphyu <\/em>township, forming part of a broader oil belt that stretches across the country\u2019s centre. According to a local source from Myaing<\/em> township, this petroleum belt extends from Padauk Kone<\/em> village in Pale<\/em> Township, Sagaing Region, southward through areas such as Nyaung Ma, Sin Swei, Wei Taung,<\/em> and Su Win<\/em>, before continuing toward Thagyitaung<\/em> and the Si Kaung<\/em> area near the Bagan River port (of Irrawaddy River).<\/p>

Other major oil fields in Magway include Kyauk Khwet<\/em> and Hpa Lan Kaine<\/em> in Myaing <\/em>and Pauk<\/em> townships, as well as Wei Taung, Suwin, Nyaung-ma, Htan Kaing, Sabe\u2013Thagyitaung<\/em>, and parts of the broader Pakokku\u2013Myaing\u2013Pauk<\/em> oil belt. Local sources describe the area stretching along the ASEAN Road<\/a> between Myaing<\/em> and Pauk <\/em>as one of the main concentrations of hand-dug oil wells and small-scale extraction sites. Some areas, particularly Kyauk Khwet<\/em> from Myaing<\/em> township and Hpa Lan Kaine<\/em> from Pauk<\/em> township, are also known for their relatively high oil output, with local sources describing some wells as producing large volumes of crude oil.<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Seven Oil Fields in Magway. Two in the yellow zones are under the control of resistance groups. <\/em><\/p>

Unlike smaller hand-dug wells common in other parts of the central dry zone, some deposits in these mountainous areas reportedly require deeper and more mechanised extraction methods. In recent years, however, extraction methods have gradually become more mechanised with the increased use of machinery and technical equipment.<\/p>

Traditional Hand-Dug Well or Let Yet Twin<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Apart from the said major onshore oil fields, there are several tiny oil fields spreading across Magway. These are better known as Let Yet Twin<\/em>, as locals call them. Traditional hand-dug wells in the region can reach depths of thousands of feet, with workers manually drilling, lowering equipment, and extracting crude oil under difficult conditions. According to Magway government records <\/a>, there were 45 existing shallow hand-dug oil blocks and 11 newly approved blocks operating in Magway Region in the 2016\u20132017 fiscal year. This expansion continued into the 2017\u20132018 cycle as authorities approved 20 license extensions and 12 new permits, generating over 1.5 billion kyats for the regional fund in a single year. These figures represent the last phase of formal stability before the sector became contested; by the 2018\u20132019 fiscal year, the region\u2019s output from seven major oil fields reached over 2.1 million<\/a> barrels of crude oil, followed by nearly 3.5 billion<\/a> cubic feet of natural gas in the 2019\u20132020 period.<\/p>

Resistance Control over Oil and Natural Gas Fields in Magway<\/strong><\/p>

Resistance groups have gained control over oil fields and surrounding communities across Myaing, Pauk and Kamma townships, including two major oil fields previously under the authority of the union government. These are Kyauk Khwet\u2013Let Pan To<\/em> and Hpa Lan Kain<\/em>g oil fields in Myaing and Pauk townships and Sabe-Thargyitaung<\/em> oil field in Pakokku township.<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Earthquake People\u2019s Defence Force fighters in front of a security station of Kyauk-Khwet Oil Field (Photo: Earthquake People\u2019s Defence Force) <\/em><\/p>

According to U Zaw Min<\/a>, Minister of Planning and Finance in 2020, these oil fields produced not only crude oil but also natural gas prior to the expansion of resistance control. Official data<\/a> indicates that the annual natural gas production capacity in FY 2019\u20132020 reached 3,480 million cubic feet across five major oil fields, including the two now under resistance control.<\/p>

Local sources connected to resistance administrations in Myaing and Pauk confirmed the continued extraction of crude oil, but noted technical limitations regarding natural gas production, stating that:<\/p>

\u201cWe are only capable of producing crude oil from these two fields, but not natural gas due to technical requirements.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

Magway regional government data further reported that total regional natural gas production capacity reached 4,554 million cubic feet in FY 2017\u20132018 and 3,739 million cubic feet in 2018\u20132019. The gas was distributed across Magway and Mandalay Regions to supply state-owned industrial facilities, including cement and cotton factories. Apart from these two major oil fields, resistance forces also control numerous traditional hand-dug oil wells across Magway, particularly in the areas of Myaing, Pauk, Kamma and Pakokku.<\/p>

Refinery Industries<\/strong><\/p>

Magway is a major refinery spot for Myanmar\u2019s petroleum sector. Two of the three major refineries are located in the region. They are;<\/p>