VZCZCXRO8456
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHNH RUEHPB RUEHPOD
DE RUEHGO #0080/01 0350700
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 040700Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7123
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1705
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0870
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 4745
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4430
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7961
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5522
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 0105
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 1330
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 1358
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 0197
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUCLRFA/USDA WASHDC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000080 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, OES:ACOVINGTON 
BANGKOK FOR REO:JWALLER 
PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: SENV ECON EAGR PREL BM
SUBJECT: PROMOTING SOLAR ENERGY IN BURMA 
 
Ref: Rangoon 35 
 
RANGOON 00000080  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary.  The Burmese Government permits NGOs to promote 
environmental issues, but does little else to protect the 
environment.  For the past 15 years, local NGO REAM (Renewable 
Energy Association of Myanmar) has educated villagers in rural areas 
about conservation issues, as well as promoted the use of renewable 
energy technology.  With support from the UN and international NGOs, 
REAM has installed electricity-generating solar panels in more than 
30 villages in Magway, Mandalay, and Irrawaddy Divisions, benefiting 
approximately 15,000 Burmese.  In addition to installing the solar 
panels, REAM also focuses on local capacity building, training 
villagers on how to use and maintain the solar energy system and 
providing opportunities for income generation.  End Summary. 
 
Government Views on Solar Energy 
------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Despite having a wealth of natural resources and diverse 
ecosystems, the Burmese Government does little to protect the 
environment (reftel).  Instead, the regime depends upon local and 
international NGOs working in Burma to educate the people about 
conservation and other environmental issues, U Latt of REAM 
(Renewable Energy Association of Myanmar) told us.  For example, the 
GOB often calls upon REAM, the only local NGO promoting renewable 
energy, to discuss renewable energy issues with the international 
community, U Latt continued.  He noted that while the GOB itself 
does not promote the environment, it does not interfere with any NGO 
efforts on the topic.  We have found that environmental programs at 
the American Center attract no regime scrutiny, unlike some of our 
other programs there. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  According to U Aung Myint, General Secretary of REAM, the 
Burmese Government strongly supports solar energy programs, although 
it does not provide funding for such projects.  In the 1990s, using 
a grant from UNDP, the GOB initiated a nation-wide program to 
promote the use of solar energy.  The GOB installed 46 solar panels 
in more than 20 townships.  However, the GOB did not maintain them, 
and by 1997, most of the solar panels were in complete disarray.  In 
early 2000, the GOB asked REAM to manage the solar panel project and 
pledged to support REAM's future projects.  REAM has since repaired 
the solar panels, and has empowered the village residents to take an 
active role in the maintenance and management of the programs. 
 
Let the Sun Shine 
----------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  REAM, with assistance from JICA and the UN, has promoted 
the use of renewable energy throughout Burma since 1993.  U Aung 
Myint explained that REAM officials make an average of ten 
presentations annually, discussing how Burmese can use hydro, wind, 
biomass, and solar power to generate electricity in villages.  REAM 
does not just target university and school students, but also works 
with grassroots and community groups to promote the use of hydro and 
solar energy in villages.  U Latt noted that more than 60 percent of 
people living in villages cannot afford electricity.  These 
villagers are particularly interested in new, cheaper ways improve 
their communities.  By using renewable energy technology, villages 
can improve their livelihoods and raise the standard of living for 
residents, he declared. 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  U Aung Myint informed us that REAM, with grants from 
various international organizations, has installed solar panels in 
more than 30 villages in Irrawaddy, Mandalay, and Magway Divisions, 
generating electricity for more than 15,000 people living in the dry 
region of Burma.  Most villages use the solar energy to operate 
 
RANGOON 00000080  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
water pumps and provide potable water to residents.  Additionally, 
the villages use the solar panels to generate income, U Latt noted. 
Many village residents, who use rechargeable batteries as their 
power sources, must travel to larger townships to recharge them and 
pay an average of 500 kyat ($0.40) each time.  Villages with solar 
panels can now offer recharging services at a lower cost, generating 
income for the village fund.  The funds that the project generates 
can go toward maintenance on the solar panels as well as 
improvements to the community itself. 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  REAM's solar energy projects are more than just the 
installation of solar panels, U Aung Myint emphasized.  Each project 
is carefully coordinated with the village council, and REAM provides 
training to locals on how to maintain and use the solar panels.  By 
providing the villagers with the tools they need to run the project, 
REAM is building local capacity, U Latt declared.  The projects are 
sustainable, and all the solar panels in the 30 villages remain in 
good working order.  REAM plans to install additional solar panels 
in other needy villages, although it must secure financial grants 
from international organizations before it can proceed. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) NGOs working in Burma provide invaluable services to the 
people, who continue to suffer from the regime's economic 
mismanagement and neglect.  We applaud REAM's dual efforts to 
promote the use of renewable resources while building capacity at 
the local level.  It is not enough to provide technology to the 
people.  By educating them and allowing them to take ownership of 
the project, REAM empowers the people to take charge of long-term 
community development, thereby reducing their dependence on the 
regime.  We should encourage other NGOs to take a similar approach. 
 
 
VILLAROSA