With the funds support of German government via KfW Development Bank, Myanmar authorities will rehabilitate and extend the existing medium voltage distribution network in Southern Shan State

Access to energy is one of the preconditions for economic growth and poverty reduction. The Government of Myanmar is giving high priority to the electrification of the country and just achieved to increase the national electrification rate to 44 percent as H.E. U Win Khaing, Union Minister from the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, mentioned in a recent speech. By the end of this financial year 50 percent of all Myanmar households should be connected to the grid.

The Managing Director of Electricity Supply Enterprise within Ministry of Electricity and Energy, U Saw Win Maung, and Project Director Mr. Juergen Kampa from Consulectra Unternehmensberatung GmbH singed a consulting contract for “Rural Electrification Program – Grid Extension Component” to be funded by the German Government via KfW Development Bank.

The Rural Electrification Programme (grid extension component) of EUR 30.4 million is implemented by the Electricity Supply Enterprise in the Ministry of Electricity and Energy. The loan and grant funds will be used to rehabilitate and extend the existing medium voltage distribution network in Southern Shan State. Additionally, ESE staff, local installers as well as village electrification committee will receive training.

Therefore the Minister emphasized in his speech: The Rural Electrification Programme is “a project which is in the focus of our country, a project we are very much interested in.”

Germany has resumed its development cooperation with Myanmar in 2012, and Financial Cooperation (FC) via KfW in particular in 2013. German Development Cooperation focuses on the two areas of Sustainable Economic Development as well as on Rural Development. Sustainable Economic Development activities include SME promotion/financial sector development and support vocational training and employment. The focal area Rural Development aims to upgrade rural roads and the supply of energy in the Shan State.

(Myanmar Business Today: https://www.mmbiztoday.com/articles/germany-supports-myanmar-s-energy-sector-new-program )

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