Myanmar people in the ancient times are known to be one of the earliest pioneers of petroleum mining in the world. Earliest petroleum discovery in Myanmar was found to be as early as 900 AD, during the reign of King Salay Nga Khway (AD 906-915).

City of Perfumed Liquid

The town of Seik-thar-kun-htauk was the first where petroleum was located in Myanmar. They called this oil "perfumed liquid" and they even changed the name of the town to "Perfumed Liquid City" (Yay Nant Thar Myot). During the rule of King Anawrahtar (1044-77) encouraged petroleum miners that they were tax-exempted.

City of Odor Liquid

However after a tragic event, "Perfumed Liquid City" became "Odor Liquid City". When King Alaung Sithu (1113-67) traveled to lower Myanmar during his time, the King and the party stopped by Perfumed Liquid City for some time. When the King was ready to leave, 7 of his queens were missing, as they were so attracted to the perfumed liquid and were flirting around with it. The king got really mad that he finally ordered to execute his 7 queens.

Then those queens wished 3 things, before they were executed:

1. prayed to be guardian angels of the place in the next life

2. prayed to see the petrol flow out like a streaming

3. cursed to turn sweet scent of petrol turn to odor.

According to this fairy tale, the sweet scent of petroleum disappeared, and turned to odor. Thus the city was renamed later as "Yay Nan Chaung", meaning "The City of Odor Liquid Stream"!

King Mindon encouraged petroleum miners with lots of incentives to increase petroleum production. In 1885 when Myanmar fall to British, there were 912 private-owned petroleum mines and 162 owned by the Myanmar king.

British built the first petroleum refinery plant in Danitaw in ME-1223, and founded the " Oil Company (BOC)" and exported to Britain and USA.

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