A 110kV transformer station in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai (Photo:VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The Electricity ofVietnam (EVN) said it has continued investing in power projects in rural andremote areas and islands, especially localities with a low rate of rural householdsgaining access to electricity.
The group has called for officialdevelopment assistance and preferential loans from international organisationssuch as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and German development bank KfW.
Regarding a PM-approved programme on powersupply for rural, mountainous areas and islands for 2013-2020, the EVN hasworked closely with localities to set out priorities in line with annualfunding from the State budget. Under the programme, projects designed for2016-2020 need 13.72 trillion VND (603.68 million USD) while the State budgetallocated for them only amounts to 1.14 trillion VND (50.16 million USD),equivalent to 10.6 percent.
During the 2011-2015 period, the EVNfocused on connecting ethnic communities in the northern mountainous, CentralHighlands and southwest regions to the national grid, with a total investment ofover 794 million USD.
In 2016 alone, the group broughtelectricity to Lai Son and Hon Nghe island in the southern province ofKienGiang and Cham islet in the central province of Quang Nam.
Currently, electricity has been availablein 99.96 percent of communes nationwide, with 98.69 percent of rural householdshaving access to power sources.
The EVN also supplies electricityfor 11 out of 12 island districts.-VNA
VNA
