Micro and mini grids hold great promise for electrifying 60 million household potentially in low-income countries, where large groups of people have never had access to electricity.
Although the technology has been around for decades, recent technological innovations have reduced costs dramatically from US$4/kWh a decade ago to US$0.3-0.4/kWh in recent projects.
Mini-grid systems are a welcome additional solution in national electrification programs allowing for power intensive productive activities- like welding, agro-processing, power tools - in areas where the main grid has not yet reached.
From February 6 - 10, the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) and the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) will host an international conference on mini grids in Naypyidaw, Myanmar. Thanks to strong demand from developing countries, the CIF’s Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program (SREP) and World Bank have close to US$200 million approved for mini grid system deployment globally.
The conference is part of a series of global events on mini grids. The event connects, for the first time, government officials from Myanmar and 20 other countries, with international and local private sector representatives to take action in operationalizing mini grids. Over 250 international and national high-level participants will address the question of how mini grids can be scaled up to meet the energy demand in a timely fashion in Asia and other parts of the world where access to electricity is a challenge.
Media are invited to the high-level technical conference on Tuesday morning, February 7th. To attend, RSVP to Kyaw Soe Lynn, email: klynn@worldbank.org
WHAT: International Action Learning Event on Electricity Mini Grids 2017; High-level speeches, and photo / media opportunity during break
WHEN: Tuesday 7th of February; 08:00 AM – 10 AM
WHO: Speakers include, among others:
H.E. Dr. Tun Naing, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Electricity and Energy, Myanmar (tbc)
U Khant Zaw, Director General, Department of Rural Development, MOALI, Myanmar
Mr. Abdoulaye Seck, World Bank Group Country Manager for Myanmar
Mr. Manoj Sinha, CEO, Husk Power, India
Ms. Xiaoping Wang, World Bank, Task Team Leader, Myanmar Nat. Electrification Program
Mr. Ricky Buch,Sr Marketing Leader, General Electric Power
WHERE: Hilton Nay Pyi Taw, JV-001 Taw Win Thiri Road, Naypyitaw 15011
PROGRAM: https://www.climateinvestmentfunds.org/minigridsmyanmar
For media requests, please contact:
World Bank Group Myanmar office: Mr. Kyaw Soe Lynn
Email klynn@worldbank.org - Tel: +95-1-654-824
For more information: www.climateinvestmentfunds.org and www.esmap.org