The Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) said on December 23 that the group will supply power for remote and far-flung communes of the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau, seeing it as a priority in its assistance plan for the locality from now to 2015.

This is part of the group’s 480 billion VND (22.56 million USD) package that looks to help the districts of Than Uyen, Tan Uyen and Phong Tho, apart from accessing the national power network, build boarding schools, open vocational training courses and purchase health and schooling equipment.

Nguyen Tan Loc, EVN Deputy Director, said the group will allocate the capital in a suitable manner to enable 90 percent of households in the targeted communes to access the national power grid.

The benefiting localities have suggested the group pay more attention to resettlement communes and sites, particularly infrastructure development in Pha Mu and Ta Hua communes in Than Uyen district, where communal officials are working in poor conditions.

Holding an important geographical position, Lai Chau boasts the largest number of hydroelectric projects nationwide, which allows it to play a decisive role in ensuring energy and water security in the northern region.

The locality is one of the poorest localities in Vietnam with its per capita income last year being 12 million VND.

With exerted efforts made by local authorities and people and assistance provided by the Government, the number of poor households in the province dropped by 7.5 percent annually on average.-VNA