Myanmar is making movements to address the two main drawbacks in the power sector: securing a reliable supply in urban and economically active areas and bringing electricity supply to the vast population in rural areas without access. Together they constitute an ambitious goal to move away from the current endemic power brownouts and blackouts and the low levels of electricity access of about 35% nationwide, and even below 20% in several of the peripheral areas. Moreover, the overall energy challenge is strongly linked with the pacification process, the top priority for the government of the National League for Democracy (NLD).

The research project aims at analyzing the role of sustainable energy for the peace process and sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Myanmar, and exploring its implications for the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). Our main research questions: what are the barriers to, and the synergies of, renewable development in Myanmar? How do they relate to local economic development, the peace process, and social integration? More specifically, how can sustainable development of hydropower dams and distributed renewables contribute to the pacification process with ethnic minorities?

This kick-off workshop review the ongoing research activities and past findings, and present the detailed research plan of the project.