Village electrification lags at some villages in Sittwe’s shadow 

By DMG 29 Oct 2021

DMG Newsroom
29 October 2021, Sittwe 

Some villages no more than 10 miles from the Arakan State capital Sittwe have experienced delays gaining access to the electricity supply, villagers said.  

Residents of these villages have to use solar power systems, firewood and charcoal for their energy needs, said Ko Oo Kyaw Maung, a resident of Chaung Nwe Min Gan village. 

“Our village does not have electricity. We have to depend on a solar power system for lights, and firewood and charcoal to cook. We are facing difficulties because the prices of firewood and charcoal are rising,” he told DMG. 

Residents of Zaw Ma Tet village said they too do not have access to the state capital’s power grid. 

“Our village does not have electricity,” said Ma Khin Than Win, a resident of Zaw Ma Tet village. “Utility poles were erected in the village, but we have to depend on solar power systems. Some houses cannot afford to buy solar panels. Villagers are facing difficulty as the village does not have access to electricity.” 

Nearby Thone Saung village has had access to the Sittwe Township electricity supply for more than a year, but there are frequent power cuts, said Ko Soe Myint Aung, a resident of the village. 

A DMG reporter visited the Arakan State Electricity Supply Enterprise office in Sittwe to ask about the reason for delaying electricity supply access to some villages not far from the state capital, but an official there refused to comment. 

According to figures from the Electricity Supply Enterprise, a total of 1,652 villages in Arakan State’s 17 townships did not have access to a 24-hour electricity supply in 2020.