Sunlabob Renewable Energy, the Laos-based rural renewable energy specialist, and Relitec, a Yangon-based sustainable energy company, finalized a partnership agreement to collaborate in addressing Myanmar’s growing demand for renewable energy.

“This partnership is an important step for both Sunlabob and Relitec to provide high-quality renewable energy solutions to Myanmar, a country greatly in need of reliable, affordable energy,” said Andy Schroeter, CEO, Sunlabob. “Sunlabob’s experience implementing rural, off-grid renewable energy throughout the developing world will complement Relitec’s on-the-ground knowledge of the local Myanmar market.”

Less than 30% of residents have access to grid-connected electricity in Myanmar, a country of 60 million people. According to estimates, only 4% of the rural population has electricity. This partnership will effectively strengthen the rural power supply to those who live without grids.

Sunlabob, founded in 2000, focuses on providing clean energy access to remote, rural communities. The company has expanded to have now worked in more than 20 countries in Southeast Asia, Africa and the Pacific islands region. The Yangon-based Relitec has being specializing in the engineering, installation and operation and maintenance of solar technology since 2011, and it also implemented on- and off-grid solar PV projects in Myanmar. Relitec’s principals combine for more than 40 years of renewable energy and telecommunications engineering experience, including more than 60 MW of solar PV and solar thermal projects in Europe.

“Myanmar is just seeing the tip of the iceberg for solar energy’s potential,” said Than Aye, Managing Director, Relitec. “We are excited to be well-positioned to meet the upsurge of solar activity.”

Sunlabob and Relitec will present about off-grid renewable energy in Yangon at the upcoming “Green Power for Mobile” event, hosted by GSM Association and Ooredoo on May 29.