PARI-MLFRD Joint Workshop "The Future Direction of Rural Electrification in Myanmar" Flash Report
PARI-MLFRD Joint Workshop "The Future Direction of Rural Electrification in Myanmar" Detailed Report
This is a flash report. More detailed report will be published later.
Dec. 12, 2014
| [Date] | Friday, November 28, 2014, 14:00-17:00 |
|---|---|
| [Venue] | Meeting Room, 14 Department of Rural Development, The Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development, NayPyiTaw, Myanmar |
| [Co-hosted by] | Policy Alternatives Research Institute (PARI), the University of Tokyo The Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development (MLFRD), Government of Myanmar |
| [Supported by] | Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) |
| Program | |
|---|---|
| 【Opening Session: Overview】 | |
| 【Welcome Speech】 | H.E U Tin Ngwe (HE Deputy Minister, MLFRD) (in place of the Minister H.E U Ohn Myint) Handout |
| 【Opening Speech】 |
Scope and Outline of the UT's Research - Prof. Hisashi Yoshikawa (Project Professor, PARI) Presentation slides Myanmar's Rural Electrification Policy - Mee Mee Htue （MLFRD） Presentation slides |
| 【Q&A】 | Moderator : Prof. Hisashi Yoshikawa (Project Professor, PARI) |
| 【The UT's Research】 | |
| 【Presentations】 | Electricity Demand Forecast - Masayuki Seino (Project Researcher, PARI) Presentation Slides Cost Estimation in Rural Areas in Myanmar - Hajime Sasaki (Project Researcher, PARI) Presentation Slides Power Integration between Myanmar and Thailand - Kensuke Yamaguchi (Visiting Researcher, Chulalongkorn University) Presentation Slides |
| 【Way Forward】 | |
| 【Presentations】 | Soe Soe Ohn (Deputy Director, Rural Electrification, Department of Rural Development, MLFRD) Presentation Slides |
| 【Final Discussion】 | |
| 【Closing Remarks】 | Prof. Hisashi Yoshikawa (Project Professor, PARI) |
Background
In Myanmar, electrification in off-grid areas is mainly under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Livestock, Fishery and Rural Development (MLFRD). The MLFRD is preparing the Rural Electrification Bill concurrent with the revisions to the Electricity Business Act of the Ministry of Electric Power, with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). With this in mind, UTokyo Policy Alternatives Ressearch Institute (PARI) has been actively sharing primary data and exchanging opinions with MLFRD on studies related to the rural electrification of Myanmar, considering advice to it is part of the outreach efforts.
Objectives
The aims of this workshop were
- To discuss and identify the major challenges and the future policy directions for the promotion of rural electrification in Myanmar.
- To provide a common ground/forum for policy discussion across ministries and institutions, and an opportunity for further evidence-based policy making, and to establish the necessity of increased transparency in policy discussion, human resource development, and knowledge sharing.
- PARI introduced the main findings of research achievements that were supported by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) in relation to the rural electrification of Myanmar.
- The Ministry of Livestock, Fishery and Rural Development (MLFRD), and other relevant stakeholders, including those from private sectors, explained the current and future policies in this regard.
Summary
HE Deputy Minister U Tin Ngwe (MLFRD)
On November 28, 2014, PARI held a workshop on rural electrification of Myanmar with MLFRD in the large meeting room at the ministry. On the day of the workshop, administrative officers of the concerned ministries and agencies—such as MLFRD, the Ministry of Energy, and the Ministry of Electric Power—and about 50 people from private sectors—such as from the Myanmar Engineering Society—gathered, leading to lively discussions.
Deputy Minister U Tin Ngwe (MLFRD) opened the workshop with the welcome speech. This was followed by a presentation on awareness about the issues and the outline of the University of Tokyo project by Project Professor Yoshikawa, and a presentation on the current situation and policies on rural electrification by MLFRD. Next, Myanmar’s energy related issues were discussed, and the following issues were confirmed: (1) the importance of small-scale successful cases, (2) the relationship with the peace-building efforts in the development of national border areas, and (3) less dependence on hydropower generation in the energy mix in the future.
This was followed by an explanation on the quantitative and qualitative studies conducted by the University of Tokyo. There were questions on differences in the estimated values with similar quantitative studies conducted by the World Bank. This was related to MLFRD’s aim to develop concrete plans unique to Myanmar through comparative studies on each project. MLFRD then presented the current status of the Rural Electrification Bill. One of the issues mentioned was the method of fund raising for off-grid electrification. As far as the technical aspects were concerned, the pressing issue was enhancing the expertise of the electric power engineers in Myanmar. A request was made for further cooperation in developing the capacity of the engineers.
The most positive outcome of this workshop was that the Deputy Minister of MLFRD and Professor Yoshikawa agreed that MLFRD and PARI would examine the MOU for further cooperation. Details will be discussed later. The second joint workshop will be held in May 2015 to confirm further cooperation. We hope that effective policy studies will be possible through productive cooperation.
Based on outcomes from this workshop, PARI and ERI will jointly develop a study plan, arrange to hold further workshops, and eventually formulate an outreach program for the Myanmar government.