LOOKING FOR ENERGY DEMOCRACY AS A PEOPLE-POWERED ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION
© Kyi Phyo
Ethnic conflict and political instability are just two of the many challenges that Myanmar is facing. The energy sector itself – dominated by centralized planning with mismanagement and corruption due to a lack of transparency – is another.
alongside communities to develop decentralized energy systems in many rural areas throughout the country. The off-grid generation capacity is a huge opportunity – especially in Shan State where development has progressed further than in other states and regions.
Without support from government and international organizations, off-grid energy projects in places like the Danu Self-Administrative Zone in Shan State are being developed by local communities themselves, just like other off-grid projects in more remote areas of Shan State. As union and state governments have little to no control over energy policies, plans or budgets, local developers have worked
When implementing off-grid projects such as mini-hydro systems, it is of utmost importance that the community in question initiates the project and that community members participate throughout the entire development period. It is necessary to discuss and decide on a feasible management system of watersheds so to ensure that the distribution of energy and resources considers the impact on users from
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