We have engaged in all these efforts to support the Myanmar government, development partners, and relevant stakeholders in addressing the energy sector challenges. We have collaborated with local and international stakeholders, both governmental and non-governmental as well as academic. In particular, research has been conducted for the sustainable development of the energy sector in Myanmar including a comprehensive review and analysis of overall power sector policies and the potential role of mini-grids for rural electrification. We have also committed with the so-called “Energy for Sustainable Development in Myanmar”, as an attempt to integrate pacification considerations in the energy policy-making process.
The research project aims at analyzing the role of energy for the sustainable development of Myanmar. Moreover, this is strongly connected with the regional context, particularly of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). A regional optimization of the existing power resources is a potential lever for the achievement of the goals at every country. Furthermore, such approach will have a more profound impact than if conducted separately. Developing hydropower dams in a sustainable manner as well as introducing solar-based micro-grids will foster the pacification process with ethnic minorities through local economic development. Such an energy pathway is congruent with the promotion of environmental sustainability. All these will make contributions to the fulfillment of various Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. The project will produce policy alternatives and communicate them through dialogues with policymakers and stakeholders and capacity-building exercises.
Our project is focusing on;
(1) Energy for sustainable development in Myanmar and GMS
(2) Statistical analysis on barriers of mini-grids in Myanmar
Our main research questions are: what are the barriers to, and the synergies of, renewable development in Myanmar? How do they relate to local economic development, the peace process, and social integration? More specifically, how can sustainable development of hydropower dams and distributed renewables contribute to the pacification process with ethnic minorities? How do these collectively contribute to the fulfillment of various Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations?
Sustainable energy futures have also implications for an inclusive, sustainable, resilient and dynamic region. Decentralized energy systems can bring modern energy services to rural areas in a short period of time and stimulate entrepreneurship skills and gender-inclusive development. In addition, active engagement of the different stakeholders affected by large-scale dam can serve to build the needed trust between central government and ethnic minority groups in Myanmar, strengthening in that sense the national reconciliation process.