The government of Myanmar is to formulate a long term energy plan and expand and upgrade its power grid.
The country has announced plans to work with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to prepare a 20-year energy plan that improves coordination and focuses policies on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.
The project will be assisted by a $2.85 million grant from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR).
"Myanmar has indicated that its energy policy should promote sustainable and renewable resources, as well as focus on energy efficiency and conservation. A master plan will help the country assess its energy needs and provide a roadmap to meet them," said Jong-Inn Kim, Lead Energy Specialist at ADB's Southeast Asia Department.
At present, Myanmar is one of the five largest energy exporters in the region, but within its borders, electrification rates are some of the lowest in Southeast Asia, owing largely to a lack of investment in the power development and grid.
Some $1.5 million of the JFPR funds will be used to prepare the Ministry of Electric Power for the implementation of forthcoming transmission and distribution projects that will bring reliable electricity connections to both rural and urban areas, increasing transmission capacity and reducing losses in the transmission and distribution systems.
The projects will focus on rehabilitating distribution networks in Yangon, Mandalay, Sagaing, and Magwe Regions and expanding the transmission capacity.
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