"Among the 10 countries that make up the Asean, Myanmar has the highest percentage of renewables in its energy mix - hydropower constitutes 65 per cent of generated electricity. But this figure alone masks the country’s absymal rate of electrification, with chronic power shortages a regular occurence and more than 40 per cent of its total population still lacking access to the national grid. Sixty per cent of Myanmar’s rural populace live off gid, relying on polluting, expensive kerosene lamps and firewood to illuminate their homes. Providing clean and sustainable electricity to off-grid areas is a challenge, to say the least. Assaad Razzouk, chief executive of clean energy projects developer Sindicatum Sustainable Resources comments: “Even India, a country that has seen great success in scaling up utility-scale solar, has struggled to scale up distributed and rooftop solar [in rural villages]. Fundamentally what’s required are clear government policies and credit support for the rural population.” This has not stopped the previous government from announcing its goal to provide full access to electricity by 2030. Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) inherited these lofty ambitions when it swept into power later that same year, as well as a growing economy with low foreign direct investment and weak infrastructure..."