Mekong Institute (MI) continuously addresses the need to strengthen economies, protect ecosystems, and achieve equity particularly through facilitating accessibility to basic energy services. These include access to electricity and efficient means of transportation, particularly in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin.
To tackle the said challenges and through the sponsorship extended by the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, MI has initiated the Regional Training on Affordable, Sustainable and Innovative Technology-Based Energy for Mountainous Rural Area. The training starts today, April 24, and will run until May 5 at the MI Headquarters in Khon Kaen, Thailand.
In detail, twenty-five participants from Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam were invited to participate in achieving the following objectives:
a. To enhance the knowledge and skills of government officials, extensionists, and professionals from the academic and research institutions in rural energy technologies development, utilization, and promotion;
b. To achieve institutional development/capacity building on rural energy including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and greenhouse gas abatement technologies in rural areas;
c. To enhance the awareness by disseminating the regional good practices and new approaches to minimize adverse effects of energy technologies in rural energy access;
d. To establish a network of energy technology practitioners that will continue to build energy information and technology, share current developments, and promote sustainable energy production and consumption practices.
The program will follow five modules including Structured Learning Visits (SLVs) in Chiang Mai Province to provide the participants first-hand experiences and a better understanding of Thailand’s rural energy access projects.
During the opening ceremony, on behalf of Dr. Watcharas Leelawath, MI Executive Director, Mr. Sudam Pawar, Director of the Innovation and Technological Connectivity Program Department, has addressed the participants to collaborate for better and more developed energy technology sources in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin.
