Myanmar Turns to Solar as Power System Collapses

Myanmar Turns to Solar as Power System Collapses
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Myanmar is rapidly adopting solar power as nationwide electricity supply collapses to its weakest level in a decade, following the 2021 military coup and ongoing civil war, Arab News reported.

The World Bank says the country’s operating power capacity in 2024 fell back to 2015 levels, with conflict-hit regions facing “catastrophic” shortages. Natural gas production declines, halted LNG imports, and Western sanctions— including the freezing of $1 billion in assets—have further crippled the grid.

After Thailand cut electricity flows across the border to disrupt scam networks, towns like Myawaddy saw hospitals, homes, and businesses turn to solar. Residents say three-quarters of households now rely on panels.

Chinese solar imports surged to $100 million in the first nine months of 2025—more than double last year—while diesel imports dropped 11%, according to Kpler. Household solar systems have risen from only a few hundred in 2019 to about 300,000 this year.

Residents say the shift is driven by survival, not environmental goals: “We are a country with civil war. We are just using them out of necessity,” one Bago resident said.