Myanmar’s electricity system has deteriorated sharply since the 2021 military coup and ongoing civil war. Chronic blackouts, collapsing infrastructure, and a government crippled by sanctions have forced households, hospitals, and small businesses to seek alternatives. When Thailand cut cross-border power this year to restrict scam networks, the wider community suffered pushing thousands more toward solar power.
Why It Matters
With national generation capacity plunging to 2015 levels, the country faces a severe energy crisis. Traditional fuel supplies, especially natural gas, have dwindled, and the junta has halted LNG imports due to foreign-exchange shortages. Solar power has become a lifeline, not a climate choice offering basic stability in a collapsing grid system.
China’s Role and the Surge in Solar Imports
Cheap solar panels from China are filling the gap. Chinese exports to Myanmar more than doubled to $100 million this year and are up eightfold compared to pre-pandemic levels. Shops, clinics, schools, restaurants, and even ice-cream sellers now rely on small solar systems to power lighting, refrigeration, and electronic payments.
Myanmar Households & Businesses: Turning to solar for survival amid blackouts and high diesel costs.
Chinese Manufacturers: Benefiting from soaring demand for low-cost panels.
Myanmar Junta: Struggling to maintain a failing power grid under sanctions and conflict.
International Development Agencies: Observing a grassroots energy transition driven by necessity.
Drivers of the Crisis
Natural Gas shortages: The main fuel for power generation has declined sharply.
Sanctions: Western measures have restricted spare parts, expertise, and maintenance.
Civil War Damage: Transmission lines and infrastructure remain unrepaired.
Economic Decline: Reduced access to foreign exchange has halted key energy imports.
Solar as a Survival Tool
Household installations jumped from a few hundred in 2019 to about 300,000 in 2025. A solar-battery-inverter combo now costs under $1,000 far cheaper than diesel generators that require $50–$100 per week in fuel. Analysts predict solar could soon supply 2–2.5 million households.
Wider Regional Trend
Myanmar mirrors other unstable or low-income countries such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Iraq, and Afghanistan where unreliable grids are pushing millions toward decentralized solar solutions. This shift, driven by need rather than climate policy, is reshaping energy markets and complicating utility planning.
What’s Next
As diesel imports fall and solar adoption rises, Myanmar’s informal, self-built energy transition is set to deepen. But without a functioning state or stable grid, the growth of solar may also widen energy inequality benefiting only those who can afford basic systems while leaving the poorest in the dark.
With information from Reuters.
