Looking for energy democracy as a people-powered alternative solution

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.

Without support from government and international organizations, Myanmar’s off-grid energy sector is growing locally. As union and state governments have little to no control over energy policies, plans or budgets, local developers have worked alongside communities to develop decentralized energy systems in many rural areas throughout the country. The off-grid generation capacity is a huge

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opportunity – especially in Shan State where development has progressed further than in other states and regions.

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 other communities and to ensure there are technicians who can operate and maintain the system. Villagers should also invest in the mini-hydro equipment themselves to avoid it

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becoming a top-down engineer project. Furthermore, it is clear that thorough community-approached research can integrate local communities and better prepare for common resource governance issues. Basin-wide issues can be addressed through participatory research approval and bottom-up approaches.

Despite ongoing conflicts, Myanmar has a history of locally developed, small-scale renewable energy systems that have proven their efficacy over the past 30 years. There are more than 6,000 small hydro systems and 10,000 biomass gasifiers that have been implemented by local developers without foreign technology and enabling policy. Solar power systems have also emerged in more recent years, supporting agriculture end uses and bringing significant benefits to rural farmers across the country. These clean, low-cost energy solutions are attributed to a thriving community of grassroot entrepreneurs whose resourcefulness has brought transformative impacts to thousands of rural communities.

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