Press release -
Panasonic Donates 2,400 Solar Lanterns to 11 Humanitarian & Non-Governmental Organizations in Myanmar
Yangon, Myanmar, 29 January 2016 – As part of its global “100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project”, Panasonic donated 2,400 solar lanterns to 11 Humanitarian and Non-Governmental Organizations in Myanmar, bringing the total number donated to the country to 9,464. The donation ceremony was held at the Panasonic Showroom & Service Centre in Yangon.
Hisakazu Maeda, Chief Representative, Panasonic Asia Pacific Myanmar Branch Office, commented, “Today’s donation marks the fourth of such efforts under the 100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project in Myanmar. In the last three years, we have received positive feedback from our partners. This is just one of our electrification projects here. Last month, we also donated eneloop solar storage systems. Panasonic will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a corporate citizen in the communities it serves, one of which is through the provision of safe and stable lighting.”
Launched in 2012, the Panasonic global “100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project” targets to donate 100,000 units of the compact lighting devices to areas in emerging and developing countries with limited access to electricity by 2018, the company’s 100th year anniversary. Currently, an estimated 1.2 billion people, or about 17% of the world’s population live in areas without electricity. Availability of light and electricity affects quality of life. The “100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project” came about with the aim to provide electricity to enhance access to education, healthcare and business opportunities through the use of the company’s own technology and product. Each solar lantern is attached to a solar panel. Through the use of renewable solar energy, the product not only mitigates social challenges, but also contributes to carbon dioxide emission reduction.
In Myanmar, 68% of its population is said to have no access to electricity.[1] Panasonic hopes its solar lanterns will provide a better life, a better world for the people of Myanmar and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The 11 Organizations that Received Solar Lanterns in Myanmar (in alphabetical order):
1.All Country Agency for Rural Development
2.Association for Regein Tanjoji International Cooperation
3.Birumero no kai
4.Greater Mekong Initiative
5.Karen Baptist Convention
6.Linguistic Society
7.Meikswe Myanmar
8.Myanmar Red Cross Society
9.Peoples' HOPE Japan
10.Saetanar
11.Save the Children Japan
[1] Source: “World Energy Outlook 2015” by International Energy Agency
Topics
- Environment, Energy
Categories
- electricity
- 100 thousand solar lanterns project
- sustainability
- yangon
- myanmar
About Panasonic
Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development of diverse electronics technologies and solutions for customers in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, enterprise solutions and device industries. Since its founding in 1918, the company has expanded globally and now operates 468 subsidiaries and 94 associated companies worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of 7.715 trillion yen for the year ended March 31, 2015. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisional lines, the company uses its technologies to create a better life and a better world for its customers. To learn more about Panasonic: http://www.panasonic.com/global
About Panasonic Asia Pacific
Panasonic Asia Pacific provides the whole range of the brand’s products and solutions across the Southeast Asia and Oceania (APAC) region, covering 27 countries including 10 offices in Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Based in Singapore, Panasonic Asia Pacific regional headquarters focuses on creating A Better Life, A Better World by promoting its Business-to-Business portfolio while maintaining solid Business-to-Consumer growth. The region has 40 manufacturing sites, supporting Panasonic’s global production activities in the housing, agriculture, energy solutions, appliances, components and devices sectors.
