Japanese energy company Marubeni Corp. said Friday it signed a deal with Myanmar's government to advance what it says is a low-carbon coal-fired power plant.

The Japanese company said electricity demand in Myanmar is increasing because of recent economic growth.

"Marubeni believes it can contribute to the reliable power supply in Myanmar by materializing this project and thereby participating in large power generation projects in Myanmar," it said in a statement.

The company signed an agreement with the Ministry of Electric Power to carry out a feasibility study for a coal-fired power plant "utilizing environmentally friendly and highly efficient technology." The plant, if developed, could generate as much as 2,000 megawatts of electricity.

The project would include the construction of transmission lines from the power plant in southern Myanmar to central Thailand.

International companies started investing more in Myanmar after general elections ended a period of military rule in 2010. Human rights groups say economic pressure, not rewards, is needed to maintain the momentum of reforms.

The Myanmar government announced the pardon and release of 3,073 prisoners earlier this week.