Myanmar’s small oil fields have drawn fresh attention as rising petrol prices lift their value, while fighting in Magway puts rebel funding and workers’ safety at stake, AFP reported.
Official figures cited by AFP indicate Myanmar imports 90% of its fuel oil. Petrol prices at the country’s pumps were nearly twice late-February levels, the report said, as conflict in the Middle East disrupted energy supplies.
Pro-democracy rebels say they have held oil fields in Myaing township since 2023 and use them to generate revenue. In September, after a monthlong operation, the military said it had captured more than 130 wells in Myaing and 735 in neighboring Pakokku township.
Oil-field worker Htun Aung, 52, who uses a pseudonym for security reasons, told AFP he had fled three, four or five times as attacks came from both sides. “We just want to live in peace,” he said. AFP reported that workers like him earn about US$50 a week.
AFP reported that prospectors drill wells through an unregulated practice dating back centuries. A veteran prospector told the outlet a drilling lease can cost up to US$3,500, even though it may yield no oil. Some wells produce only small amounts; others supply crude to improvised refineries that make petrol and diesel.
Rebel spokesperson Pyae Phyo Kyaw described the fields as an important funding source and logistics corridor for his group. He said rebels had pushed back military advances but faced counterattacks. Armed groups in Myanmar also seek income from natural resources such as gems, rare earth minerals, gold and teak, AFP reported.
Thomas Kean, a senior consultant on Myanmar for the International Crisis Group, said the fields can help finance armed groups while drawing little global attention. He cautioned that higher oil prices may not directly drive the fighting, which he linked to a broader military campaign to cut rebel revenue.
ACLED said Myaing had seen more air and drone attacks during 2026 than in all of 2025. The monitor estimates that more than 100,000 people have died in the conflict since the 2021 coup.
