Power cuts forcing small business owners to consider shutting down

March 12, 2022

HURFOM: Since February 2022, the military junta has been unable to distribute enough electricity for citizens. Power cuts for increasingly long periods of time are frequently happening across Burma.

Most small and medium enterprises (SMEs) rely on State provided electricity, but now business owners are thinking they may have to shut down, due to long and frequent power cuts and steep hikes in the price of gasoline.

“Now, power cuts are happening very frequently and every single time a power cut takes place, it is for at least 6 hours. We have to use a generator to run our business. But because the gasoline price is so high, running a power generator every day is not okay for us. I’m thinking I have to shut down my business now,” said a Mawlamyine resident who has a welding business.

Gasoline prices have been increasing daily. By mid March the price reached around 2,500 Kyat per liter.

“We have to use a generator if there is a power cut. The price of gasoline is going up every day and power cuts are happening every day. If we increase our service fee, it’ll make our customers frustrated. If this situation continues, we have no alternative but to stop our businesses,” said a small business owner.

Power cuts, high gasoline prices are fueling high commodity prices, making life for the people of Burma increasingly difficult living under the military junta.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News