Distributed Power Sources to Improve the Decent Living Standard (DLS) in the Ethnic Minority Areas of Myanmar

Masako Numata, Masahiro Sugiyama and Gento Mogi
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Masako Numata: Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
Masahiro Sugiyama: Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
Gento Mogi: Department of Technology Management for Innovation (TMI), School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-17

Abstract: Myanmar has been suffering from ethnic conflicts for approximately 70 years. The instability remains ongoing, and villagers in ceasefire areas are vulnerable. To ensure that no one is left behind, sustainable development in these areas should consider local needs. The objective of this study was to identify the living conditions required by local villagers such that they do not exacerbate conflicts. We interviewed stakeholders related to the peace process and rural electrification in Myanmar to identify the needs in conflict-affected areas. Needs were identified using the decent living standard (DLS) as the main analytical framework and energy justice as a complementary framework. The results show a strong local need for mobile phones and the importance of access to information provided by mobile phones and other dimensions of DLS, such as education and health care. For electrification options, off-grid solar products were found to be less likely to exacerbate conflicts compared to large-scale power plants. Historically, the latter has caused many issues related to energy justice.

Keywords: distributed power source; decent living standard; energy justice; interview survey; Myanmar (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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