Authorities in central Quang Binh province have conducted research on a solar-power project to make sure it is cost effective in all areas that it reaches.

If it is not effective in all villages, authorites said they would switch to normal network power to link them up.

In 2012, Quang Binh started a 14 million USD project to supply solar power to remote villages previously relying on generators, kerosene or candles to produce light.

The Korean Government donated 12 million of the cost through an Official Development Assistance (ODA) agreement. Vietnam provided the remainder.

The solar project is the biggest of its kind so far in Vietnam, Vo Quang Minh, head of the project management board told Nong Thon Ngay Nay (Countryside Today) newspaper.

The project covers eight communes in four districts and will eventually supply nearly 1,300 households and 78 offices.

Minh said that some areas would have electricity by the end of the year.

Last October, Chairman of the Quang Binh People's Committee, Nguyen Huu Hoai, also approved another project to supply network power to several remote villages.

It is being backed by the provincial Department of Industry and Trade with 368 billion VND (17.5 million USD) from the State budget.

The project, to hook-up Tan Trach and Thuong Trach communes in Bo Trach District to the national grid, is being carried out after authorities realised that solar power would not be best for most of the villages.

Work is expected to be completed next year.

A local official said all projects would be completed around the same time.

Phan Van Thuong, Director of the Quang Binh Department of Industry and Trade, said that solar energy could be only used in homes and not to manufacture goods.-VNA