As much as 83.9 percent of rural families, or 14.25 million households, across the country gained access to the national electricity grid as of June 2015, according to the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN).

The group is focusing investment into programmes to provide electricity for rural, mountainous, sea and island areas between 2013 and 2020.

From 2011-2013, 98.22 percent of rural households had access to electricity, surpassing the Government’s 2015 target of 98 percent.

Guaranteed electricity in the Central Highlands, Southwest and Northwest regions in particular has helped local authorities promptly address socio-economic affairs and maintain political security.

The EVN is responsible for bringing national grid access to the island districts of Van Don (northern Quang Ninh province); Cat Hai (northern Hai Phong city); Ly Son (central Quang Ngai province); Phu Quy (central Binh Thuan province); Con Dao (southern Ba Ria – Vung Tau province); and Phu Quoc and Kien Hai (southern Kien Giang province).

The Government has also tasked the group with completing power transmission cable line projects to power Phu Quoc, Co To (Quang Ninh), Ly Son and Kien Hai island districts.

The EVN has implemented the Government’s policy to subsidise electricity price for low-income households and water pumping to serve agriculture production.

In recent years, hydropower plants run by the group have contributed to meeting water demands for spring-winter crops in northern provinces and preventing drought in the central and Central Highlands regions.-VNA