Solar Power to Villages in Karen State, Myanmar

As mentioned in our last report, the Coup of Feb.01 caused suspension of the progress of our project , although the project is conducted as purely Humanitarian Aid to the people in the EAO(Ethnic Armed Organization) villages.

In April, after about 2 months later, we received call from the EAO in Mon State (New Mon State Party=NMSP) saying;

(1) The visit to the targeted villages by BHN staffs are safe now.

(2) Hence, they wish the installation of solar electric systems to their villagers as early as possible.

Afterwards, hurriedly, we held the Selection Meeting (selection of successful bidders) in Mon State and awarded to 2 companies to install 2,038 sets of solar systems in total.

Soon after this selection of companies, staffs of BHN , together with the members of installation contractors made Explanation Visits to villages in NMSP area..  The visits to villages were conducted quite safely, passing the Check-points of both the Junta & EAO without any trouble.

In parallel to the movement in Mon State , we also received a call from KNU(Karen National Union) Headquarters asking us to re-start the preparation of the Computer Training Systems into schools in their village.

As BHN has already promised to install such computer systems into 9 higher grade schools in KNU villages, we soon conducted hearings with another Brigades and got affirmative responses except from one which is adjacent with a Brigade waging frequent battles with the Junta forces.

Hence, we are going to sign contracts with the other facility companies to build solar electric systems to operate computers.

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As COVID-19 is still rampant and skirmishes happen in many places in Myanmar, we also conducted Safety Operation drills with our employees to keep their safety in Kayin & Mon States.

The Phase 4 of solar power installation to the people living in the EAO (Ethnic Armed Organizations) areas started in Sep.,2019 and ended Nov.2020.

Initially, it was planned to install 7,326 solar systems into village houses, but, due to a successful bidding process we could increase the installation by another 1,729 systems (grand total of 8,605).

There happened many difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic also spread in Myanmar and forced us to extend our ending target by 3 months.

Just when we were going to start importing solar equipment from China, COVID-19 exploded in China and suspended the production of the equipment for more than a month.

The equipment were delivered to Myanmar in Mar. when the COVID-19 broke out also in Myanmar and prevented free movements of installation technicians in the countryside and held the works for another one month.

Now that the Phase 4 is completed, BHN has started the next project of Phase 5.

The targets of Phase 5 are;

1. Supply much needed solar electricity into 6,590 households in the EAO areas (4,572 in Kayin and 2,018 in Mon states).

2. To equip computer teaching systems into 9 higher grades schools in Kayin state.

The bidding procedures for Phase 5 are going on in both of the states, however, on Feb. 01, a Coup occurred in Myanmar and, at this very moment (Feb.10), it is unforeseeable what sort of influence should we suffer from this Coup.

The hope is that we have good cooperative relations with the concerned parties;Union Government led by NLD party, Armed Forces & EAOsand every party is positively thinking to proceed our project.

For the time being, we are holding further works to avoid un-necessary trouble.

We have to watch and always be ready to start the work at any time once our works for the poor people are permitted by all the parties concerned.