Worsening blackout in Mon State creates problems for SME owners

November 19, 2024

HURFOM: Since October, 2024, blackouts in Mon State have been getting worse. Residents receive only three to four hours of electricity service a day. This situation has created problems for the owners of the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).

The limited access to the electricity has forced the owners to operate their businesses with their own generators and the extra cost is an additional burden.

“We don’t get electricity regularly. There is a sudden blackout during work hours and we have to run our generator. After deducting the cost of gasoline, nothing is left for us. I’ve operated a beauty salon and we have to use electricity 24 hours a day. We must run our generator whenever there is a blackout. The junta has increased electricity bills but failed to increase electricity distribution,” said a business owner.

The junta has declared that Mawlamyine, Mudon, Chaung Zone and Thanbyuzayat Townships of Mon State would only get electricity for six hours alternate days. However, in reality, the electricity is provided only three or four hours a day, said a Thanbyuzayat resident.

“The electricity hasn’t been distributed regularly. There are frequent blackouts. In some cases, there was a blackout for the whole day and the electricity only came back only at 1 am,” said the resident.

Blackouts across Burma are getting worse since the February 1, 2021 attempted coup and the military junta confesses that they are only able to meet 50% of the electricity demand for the whole country.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News