6,400 poor families have electricity

(KPL) Over 6,400 poor families access to electricity under the Electricity Extension Project, financed by the World Bank and AusAID.

The project, which began in 2008, focuses on helping the poor families in 37 districts of seven central and southern provinces to gain an access to electricity, by investing 700,000 kip in electricity installation of a poor family. Every family who has been installed with electricity network is required to repay 20,000 kip a month to the project and the repayment will be over in 35 months, said Head of the Electricity Extension Project, Mr. Yankham Duangsavanh.

So far the project has been implemented in 249 villages or 95% of its target. And the project is expected to complete the electricity installation for the poor families in seven central and southern provinces soon before starting its activities in nine northern provinces. Under this programme, Luang Prabang will be the first among the northern provinces to have it implemented.

The Electricite du Laos in cooperation with the Electricity Extension Company held a seminar on electricity supply to people in rural areas. The seminar took place in Luang Prabang province on March 23.

Present at the event were Director of the Electricite du Laos, Mr. Boun-oum Sivanpheng and relevant officials from northern and southern provinces.