Yangon, Myanmar: Early this year, Yangon Electricity Supplying Board started to distribute electricity throughout the formal capital of Myanmar in randomized order. This affected all wards and quarters of Yangon, each of which will only get electricity for 12 hours a day. U Maung Maung Latt, secretary of the Yangon Electricity Board said, “It will be in 6 hours interval. 3 sections will be divided in each ward; A, B and C. There will be 2 groups which will get electricity from 5 am to 11 am, two groups for 11 am to 5 pm, two for 5 pm to 11 pm and another two for 11 pm to 5 am. So, in sum, there will be 6 hours for each section to get electricity, another 6 hours without electricity, and so on.” Business in Myanmar will therefore see a cut in efficiency.
Government news reported that banks, jails, hospitals, embassies, airport, police stations, telecommunication offices will get 24 hours electricity. The industrial zones will be separated into two zones; one for 6 am to 11am and other for11 am to 4 pm. There will be no electricity from 4 pm to 6 am in industrial zones.
“How can it be possible? We have 24 hours electricity in year 2011. But now, it will be again with the flip flop system. Minister of energy had told the public that the government was selling electricity to the neighboring countries because we have excessive electricity. So how about this situation? Are we still having excessive electricity?” told by one of the disappointed citizens.
One businessman said, “electricity is key for business, the government is welcoming foreign investors but if they cannot supply enough electricity, how can an investor sink its roots in our country? They don’t want democracy for the investment, they need stability; political, economic, currency stability. No business can prosper with this flip flopping system of electricity.”
“It’s too bad. We will only get 12 hours of electricity in a day. How can we work ? With generators? Do you think our clients will accept the extra charges we need to run our business with generators? Fuel price is also going high, and how can I run my business?” told by one of the IT professionals. Although Myanmar promises great business opportunities, the infrastructure needs to support the economic growth.
