10 people die during Huaphan spirit relocation

Ten people died in Xamneua district, Huaphan province, last week, after attending a ceremony to relocate the spirits of their former village to their new dwelling place.

The incident occurred on the evening of May 12. Natang villagers had gone together to conduct the spirit relocation ceremony when tragedy struck, according to a report received from the provincial authorities yesterday.
After the ceremony they went back to their village but as they walked along a hillside path, one of their party, Mr Amphone, stumbled and rolled down the mountain to his death.
The village security guard Mr Singphone ran to fetch a gun from his house and fired it into the sky to inform the other villagers that something grave had happened.
Unfortunately the gunfire brought down the 22kV electricity cable overhead, causing it to hit the ground where a group of villagers was standing. Another nine people, eight of them children, were killed after being electrocuted, including the owner of the gun.
The nine people who died were Mr Singphone, 42, his son Boun aged 16, Ms Pheng aged 14; Ms Chan aged 7, Mr Manh aged 9, Ms Bong aged 13, Ms Van aged 9, Mr Chan aged 17, and Ms Vone aged 15. They were all from Natang village.
Director of the Huaphan provincial Department of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Khamla Bounmixay, told Vientiane Times yesterday these people moved to the new village about 2 or 3 years ago so they could be closer to the main road, but they had yet to organise a ceremony to relocate the spirits of their former village.
He explained that according to local custom, when anything bad happened the villagers would fire guns into the sky to inform others, who would then come running.
“The village security guard Mr Singphone died after trying to pull the live cable away, but it electrocuted him as well,” Mr Khamla said.
“This is the worst incident of its kind in the province. We've had electrocutions before but on those occasions only one or two people were killed.”
Mr Khamla said electricity was installed in the village a year ago as part of efforts to improve people's living conditions.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update May 16, 2012)

http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeConten_10%20people.htm

Hot weather sees energy usage soar

Electricity consumption in Vientiane reached a record high in March after several days of high temperatures in the city.
A peak load of 216.7MW was recorded on March 19 when the maximum temperature that day was 34.2C.

Workers load a new aircon unit for delivery to a customer.

“The reason for the high load was the greater use of electrical equipment, especially fans and air conditioners,” said Deputy Director General of Electricite du Laos for the Vientiane Region, Mr Soukhonh Chanthone.
Temperatures rose to 35.8C on March 23, and then to 38.2C on April 25.
One major retailer of air conditioners said workers were installing about four 4,800 BTU air conditioners every day. Last year, some 20 large retailers and other small businesses installed an estimated 45,000 air conditioners in Vientiane.
The heat has also resulted in a higher demand for ice. Some ice makers have installed more refrigeration units and are running them for longer to keep pace with demand. Many factories and offices have also installed water coolers for their staff which has also added to the load.
The peak load this year was up 6.28 percent on the same month in 2011 when it peaked at 203.9MW on March 21.
Mr Soukhonh said that at times of peak consumption, power generation was sometimes unable to meet demand. This resulted in insufficient or low voltage, or even an overload and a temporary power outage.
The electricity authorities have assigned extra maintenance teams to stand by to quickly respond in these situations. These measures were implemented early last month and are expected to continue until the end of next month when cooler weather is expected to arrive.
As high temperatures drive up electricity usage, Mr Soukhonh called on members of the public to be on the alert for danger. Consumers should regularly check their electrical equipment and make sure it is in safe working order.
He also advised minimising the use of electricity as much as possible to save energy and avoid hazardous consequences.
 


By Somxay Sengdara
(Latest Update May 7 , 2012)
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeConten_Hot.htm

Sayabouly, Parklai districts to gain an access to permanent electricity

(KPL) A signing ceremony for installation of medium voltage of 22 KV and small voltage of 0.4 KV transmission lines access to Sayabouly and Parklai districts held in Sayabouly province, on 10 February.
Taking note to the document were representatives from Chief of Sayabouly district, Mrs. Bounphak Inthapanya and Director of Engineering and Electricity Development Company Mrs. Aloun Chanthavong.
The electricity construction and transformer installation project will be accessible to 11 villages of two districts; five villages in Sayabouly district (Keo, Nathang, Pakpui, Phonsida, and Nakhonkaen villages) with a total 310 families and population of over 1,600 and six villages of Parklai district including Nakhaen, Pakkhan, Paktung, Natung, Nongkhai and Phaliep villages, with 107 families and population of almost 3,000.
The project will commence this month and will be finished by 2014.
The five villages of Sayabuly district will be installed the medium voltage of 22 KV transmission lines, which divided into two parts connecting from Khokpak village to Nakhonkaen village with 26 km long, from Houay Dok village to Keo village with 31 Km long.
The constriction of small voltage of 0.4 KV transmission line network for five villages stretching almost 5 Km in which installed five sets of transformers is the worth of 17,3 billion kip.
The six villages in Parklai district will be installed with 22 KV transmission line network running 37 Km from Nachanh to Natung villages-Parkkhan village and in the section of Ban Nampa-Ban Phaliep-Ban Nongkhai with 32 Km long and a 7 km stretch-Ban Pakyan Maed district, Vientiane province to Paktung village.
The construction of 0.4 KV transmission line access to six villages stretching 12 Km with 100 KVA-4 transformers sets and 50 KVA-3 transformers sets is the investment of 24.7 billion kip.
The investment for electricity installation in two districts is a total of 42.9 billion kip which the company will pre-invest.

By Vinnaly  
http://kpl.net.la/english/news/newsrecord/2012/February/14.02.2012/edn10.htm

Govt injects 22.18 billion kip in power grid network expansion

 (KPL) This year, the Government has injected 22.18 billion kip in the expansion of electricity network system in 12 villages in Luang Prabang and Oudomsay provinces.
Signatories to the agreement were Deputy Director of the Luang Prabang Energy and Mines Division, Mr. Houmphanh Pormekmanolom and Director of the Lao Sangsan Construction and Power System Installation, Narongkon Sisakkason in the witness of Vice Governor of LuangPrabang Khamkanh Chanthavisouk and relevant officials.
'This project comprises the installation of 22 kV power and transformers in Park Ou district, Luang Prabang province connecting to Nga district in Oudomsay province and Luang Prabang province,' said Mr. Narongkon.
Over 950 households with 3,200 populations are beneficiaries thanks to the electricity expansion project, expected Mr. Narongkon, adding that under the agreement, the contractor anticipated to complete for 24 months.

http://kpl.net.la/english/news/newsrecord/2012/February/06.2.2012/edn5.htm

Study of Electrical vehicles use to be conducted

  (KPL) Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will help Lao PDR to conduct a feasibility study on the use of electrical vehicles to ensure a long-term growth of economic development.
The study was discussed at a meeting between technical staff of Ministry of Public Works and Transport and the JICA in Vientiane Capital on 31 January.
The meeting was co-chaired by Director of Transport Department, Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Mr. Viengsavat Siphandone and country representative of JICA to Laos, Mr. Yuzurio Susumu.
The Lao PDR is developing hydroelectricity power sector with the hope of becoming the battery of ASEAN region. Seeing as a highly potential development of hydroelectricity power of Laos, a clean and stability power that is safer than using fuel energy that has been imported in a huge volume each year and expensive that will be run out in the future, so JICA proposed Laos to use the electrically powered vehicles.
In 2009-2010 the global crisis of petrol was affected leading to the government has issued a policy on promoting the sustainable public transportation by using vehicle run by electricity or battery.
Vientiane Capital Bus Enterprise Company has been authorised to import 10 electrical mini buses are on service in the society at the moment. But the use of bus has not been conducted any study, which led to following happen. Now relevant sectors are on solution approach together.
The possible study, the JICA will help studying the basic information countrywide.
The JICA will assess the best lesson on public transport system used by electrical energy worldwide and then proper system matching Lao situation will be proposed.
This project is to promote the use of electrically powered vehicles and will help Laos become the leading country in the ASEAN region, said Mr. Viengsavat.

By Vinnaly    
http://kpl.net.la/english/news/newsrecord/2012/February/01.2.2012/edn3.htm