Rural Electrification: Electricity access provided to the off-grid areas

Starting from 2016-2017 fiscal year, the Department of Rural Development is carrying out to provide electricity for rural areas by using home solar power system and small-scale power distribution system.

For the upcoming fiscal year, 6 work processes are targeted to implement in two regions to provide electricity for 1,800 households through the small-scale power distribution system.

The projects are being implemented to supply electricity to the villages from off-grid areas.

Dr. Ei Ei Thant, Assistant Director, Rural Electrification Division, DRD said "Every fiscal year, home solar power system and small-scale power distribution system are targeted to be implemented by the department. 6 work processes are targeted to implement through off-grid system in coming fiscal year. The implementations may be taken place in Ayayawady and Thaninthayi Regions."

From 2016-2017 to 2020-2021 fiscal years, more than 400,000 households in over 9,000 villages were provided electricity with home solar power system.

Moreover, 126 works were implemented through small-scale power distribution system. Among them, 124 works were implemented by using home solar power system, one with using biofuel and one with using water power. It benefited 38,000 households from 152 villages.

Dr. Ei Ei Thant, Assistant Director, Rural Electrification Division, DRD said "In implementing the small-scale power distribution system, locals have to pay 20 percent of expenditures for the project. But for the infrastructure projects like schools, clinics or religious buildings, we provide 100% from the project budget. Due to the supply of electricity through small-scale power distribution system, over 1,300 small-scale industries could be operated in the villages. "

There are over 26,000 villages from the off-grid areas, and 35.6% of electrification process completed under the National Electrification Project in the previous fiscal year.