A Japanese government development agency will fund solar microgrids in 11 villages in Myanmar, with rural infrastructure and off-grid solar company Sunlabob set to develop them, the pv-tech.org website reported on 9 October.
Funded by Japan International Cooperation System (JICS), which assists developing countries in procuring goods and services as part of the Japanese government’s wider development programmes, the microgrids have been coordinated by the Department of Rural Development within Myanmar’s Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development.
According to Sunlabob, access to grid electricity across the country is still only at 30%, estimated to be as low as 4% in more rural areas. The firm opened offices there in mid-2014 and previously worked with Yangon-based sustainable energy firm Relitic.