Japanese electronics giant Panasonic said it will start selling solar lanterns in Myanmar from this month.
Panasonic will sell its new product through its authorised local dealers, Hisakazu Maeda, chief representative of Panasonic Asia Pacific’s Myanmar branch, said.
The product will be sold at K50,000 each.
The lanterns can also be used to charge small mobile devices such as mobile phones via a USB port on the product.
With its adjustable brightness setting, the lantern can be used for six to ninety hours when fully charged, the company said.
It has 3.5 Watt solar panel and built-in rechargeable battery to generate and store renewable energy in the daytime.
The solar lantern is designed and developed to solve the electricity shortage problem in Myanmar where the electrification rate is painfully low compared to other countries in the region.
Panasonic is also in collaboration with various social institutions to provide the lanterns in rural areas with no electricity supply.
According to a World Bank report, over 70 percent of the residents in Myanmar have no access to electricity.
