Gov’t to provide electricity for 10,000 villages next year

YANGON—The Myanmar government is planning to provide electricity next year for 10,000 villages that have yet to access electricity, said Myint Oo, deputy director-general at the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development.

Currently, only 20,000 of the 64,000 villages in Myanmar have access to electricity.
“We didn’t set a deadline to give electricity to all the villages. Next year, we will work to provide electricity for 10,000 villages. In 2015, we will provide electricity to another 10,000 villages. More than 40,000 villages still do not have electricity access,” said Myint Oo.

The World Bank, Asia Development Bank, and Japan International Cooperation Agency have pledged to help with the electricity supply for Myanmar villages, he added.

“As of today, we’ve given light to more than 20,000 villages. This is what we have done in less than one year. Some villages also did it on their own. Next year, we plan to give electricity to 10,000 villages, but budget is important,” said Myint Oo, adding that the government will need to work together with local and foreign aid groups to reach its ultimate target of universal access.
This is welcome news for village residents.

“Although ours is a country rich in natural resources, we can’t even access electricity yet. If the government really wants to develop rural areas, electricity plays a crucial role in improving our living standard,” said Than Myint from Shwe Pan Taw Village, Thegon Township, Bago Region.

source: Eleven Myanmar

http://elevenmyanmar.com/national/4531-gov-t-to-provide-electricity-for-10-000-villages-next-year