Điện Biên targets to supply power to 98% of villages by 2025

ĐBP - Điện Biên Province, known for its rugged mountainous terrain and sparsely distributed population, has been pulling out all the stops to ensure that 98 per cent of its villages are connected to the national power grid by 2025.

Extending the national grid to remote areas in Điện Biên is no small feat. Nậm Đích Village, located in Chà Nưa Commune in Nậm Pồ District, is among the most challenging regions to access. Nearly all its residents belong to the Mông ethnic group, who, until recently, depended on oil lamps for lighting.

By the end of 2023, electricity reached 90 households in the village, marking a significant milestone. Village leader Mùa A Trang shared his excitement: “Life used to be so difficult without electricity; even the simplest tasks were hard to accomplish.”

“Now, everything has changed,” he continued. “Thanks to the Party and the State for investing in the national grid. It has completely transformed life for over 90 households, giving the village a fresh, rural look filled with prosperity and warmth. With electricity, people can now access information through TV and radio, gaining valuable knowledge, particularly about improving crop structures, livestock breeding, and applying modern scientific and technical advances to production.”

Workers from Mường Chà Power Company inspect the electrical system at the Púng Giắt substation in Mường Mươn Commune.

Vàng A Của, a resident of Nậm Đích Village, added: “Since gaining access to the grid, my family’s life has changed. We’ve bought many appliances for daily use, such as rice cookers, electric stoves, and fans.”

“The happiest moment was when we purchased a television. Through its programmes, I’ve learned much about agricultural production and applied it to farming and livestock raising. I’ve also saved up to buy machinery for production, helping to reduce labour, increase productivity, and improve efficiency,” he added.

Nậm Pồ District was established in 2013. At its inception, only 55 out of 121 villages and eight out of 15 communes had access to electricity. Over the past decade, numerous projects have been implemented to bring electricity to remote areas of the district.

To date, 15 out of 15 communes and 101 out of 121 villages in the district have access to the national grid, with an estimated 89.5 per cent of households using electricity. These achievements reflect efforts to extend electricity to highland areas. However, Nậm Pồ District still has 20 villages without access to electricity.

The district’s authorities are mobilising all resources to implement the rural power supply project, aiming to establish an electricity network for residential and production use in 13 villages in eight communes within the district. The project involves the construction of 11 medium-voltage line sections with a total length of over 40.5 km; 11 substations with a total capacity of 550 kVA; more than 25.4 km of low-voltage lines extending from newly built substations and two sections of extended low-voltage lines from existing substations.

Additionally, 582 new electricity meters will be installed.

A working group from Nậm Pồ District conducts outreach to promote land clearance for the power supply project.

Cao Xuân Hùng, Acting Deputy Director of the Nậm Pồ District Project Management and Land Development Fund, stated that the project was approved by the Provincial People's Committee under Decision No 1418/QD-UBND, with a total investment of over VNĐ163 billion (US$6.4 million). It utilises funding from the central and local budgets, with implementation scheduled from 2024 to 2026.

To date, the consulting unit has completed the preparation, appraisal and issuance of bidding documents for the project's packages on the national e-procurement network on November 12, 2024.

Regarding land clearance, the district People's Committee has coordinated with relevant units to promote outreach and advocacy. As a result, 286 out of 316 households, individuals and community groups have voluntarily donated 5,986 square metres of land across 13 sites within the district for project implementation.

The lack of connection to the national grid in Điện Biên Province has significantly hindered socio-economic development, reduced quality of life and limited opportunities for local people. In some areas, residents rely on temporary electricity sources that are unreliable, of poor quality and costly. Delivering electricity to highland areas remains one of the province's top priorities.

Numerous projects have been implemented to extend electricity access to even the most remote households. By the end of September 2024, all 129 communes, wards and towns in the province had access to the national power grid. The proportion of households connected to the grid reached 93.9 per cent, including 92.6 per cent in rural areas.

Thanks to the national power grid, residents of Mường Mươn Commune in Mường Chà District have been able to use modern machinery in both production and daily life.

In 2024, Điện Biên Province approved the investment policy for a rural power supply project under the “Bright Điện Biên” programme. The initiative aims to establish rural power supply systems for residential and production use for 5,093 households in 110 villages from 47 communes in the districts of Điện Biên, Mường Nhé, Mường Chà, Nậm Pồ, Mường Ảng, Tuần Giáo, Tủa Chùa.

These areas include remote, ethnic minority and economically disadvantaged villages. The project entails constructing and installing 365.197 km of 35kV medium-voltage lines; building 105 substations with a total capacity of 5,550 kVA; laying 159.276 km of 0.4kV low-voltage lines; and installing 5,093 electricity metres.

The initiative is divided into seven sub-projects with a total investment of VNĐ1.26 trillion ($49.6 million), to be executed between 2024 and 2026.

This is a significant project that demonstrates the Party and State's attention to ethnic minorities in remote, border villages. It transforms rural appearances, opens opportunities for economic development and sustainable poverty reduction. Moreover, it fosters local advancements in economy, education and healthcare.

By Sầm Phúc
Comment

You have 500/500 characters left

Please enter 5 or more characters!!!

Recent news

  • 'In the heart of revolutionary soldiers

    In the heart of revolutionary soldiers

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - Fifty years ago, under the sound leadership of the Party, led by beloved President Hồ Chí Minh, the people and soldiers of Vietnam united with resolve, courage, and determination to win the historic Great Spring Victory of 1975. Half a century later, memories of that glorious time remain deeply etched in the heart of revolutionary soldiers with a fierce sense of pride.
  • 'Điện Biên ready to welcome tourists

    Điện Biên ready to welcome tourists

    CULTURE - TOURISM -
    ĐBP - As the holiday season approaches, the atmosphere at tourist destinations across Điện Biên is becoming increasingly vibrant. From the historic sites of heroic victories to eco-tourism destinations, preparations are in full swing with the goal of providing the best possible service as visitor numbers are expected to surge. Điện Biên tourism is ready to welcome visitors to explore and experience this land of rich history and culture.
  • 'High-value chicken farming project in Mường Ảng

    High-value chicken farming project in Mường Ảng

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - Launched in October 2024, the community-based H’Mông commercial chicken farming support project under Subproject 2, Project 3 of the National Target Program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in Mường Ảng district, Điện Biên province has yielded positive results.
  • 'The South in the heart of Điện Biên

    The South in the heart of Điện Biên

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - Exactly one year ago, Điện Biên was adorned with flags and flowers, bustling with pride as it celebrated the 70th anniversary of the glorious victory of Điện Biên Phủ, renowned across the world and shaking the earth.
  • 'Điện Biên to further promote education quality

    Điện Biên to further promote education quality

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - In response to the fundamental and comprehensive reform requirements, the Department of Education and Training of Điện Biên province has rigorously implemented Circular No.29/2024/TT-BGDĐT issued by the Ministry of Education and Training regarding extra classes.
  • 'Điện Biên to further preserving culture amid administrative restructuring

    Điện Biên to further preserving culture amid administrative restructuring

    CULTURE - TOURISM -
    ĐBP - Localities across the country are urgently and decisively implementing the policy of merging administrative units at the provincial level, reviewing and expanding the commune level to streamline the administrative apparatus and reduce intermediaries. While the province grows larger, and districts are eliminated, with communes being expanded, this process helps simplify the political system but also brings many challenges, including preserving traditional culture.
  • 'Ensuring food safety for public health

    Ensuring food safety for public health

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - Food safety has always been a top priority, especially in the context of unsafe and untraceable food still infiltrating the market. In order to enhance the management and oversight of food safety, particularly in collective kitchens and school canteens, the Điện Biên province’s Bureau of Food Safety and Hygiene (BFSH) has been closely collaborating with relevant units to implement a variety of inspection, awareness-raising, and comprehensive monitoring measures.
  • 'Nà Tấu leads by example in embracing Hồ Chí Minh’s example

    Nà Tấu leads by example in embracing Hồ Chí Minh’s example

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP -  In recent years, the Party Committee of Nà Tấu commune (Điện Biên Phủ city, Điện Biên province) has made studying and following Hồ Chí Minh’s ideology, morality, and style a regular and voluntary practice among all officials, Party members, and residents. This has significantly contributed to Party building and socio-economic development in the area.
  • 'Điện Biên holds April press briefing

    Điện Biên holds April press briefing

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - On the morning of April 23, the Điện Biên provincial Party Committee’s Commission for Information, Education, and Mass Mobilization held the press conference in April press briefing to review media performance and provide communication guidelines for May 2025.
  • 'Điện Biên does utmost to care for children

    Điện Biên does utmost to care for children

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - Children are the future owners of the country, which is why the care and protection of children has always been a priority for all levels and sectors in Điện Biên province. The goal is to create the best conditions for children to study, play, and develop comprehensively.
  • 'Museum modernization in digital age

    Museum modernization in digital age

    CULTURE - TOURISM -
    ĐBP - A new wave of digital technology is sweeping across the museums in Điện Biên province, directly impacting exhibition spaces, storage facilities, and creating new ways for the public to “touch” history in a more vivid and accessible manner. The digital transformation efforts of local museums are gradually modernizing the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage in this historically significant region of the far West of Vietnam.
  • 'Gratitude and comradeship: 50 Years After the South Liberation and National Reunification

    Gratitude and comradeship: 50 Years After the South Liberation and National Reunification

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - Fifty years after the reunification of the North and South, the entire nation is now living in peace and independence. The country continues to develop, but the pain and losses caused by the war cannot be replaced or expressed in words. With all sincerity and gratitude, the political system has been implementing policies to support the military’s rear, helping to ensure a more stable life for revolutionary soldiers.
  • 'Nậm Pồ makes efforts in handling corruption and misconduct

    Nậm Pồ makes efforts in handling corruption and misconduct

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP -  Enhancing the leadership capacity, combativeness, and exemplary pioneering role of Party organizations and members is among the practical and effective measures being implemented by the Nậm Pồ district’s Party Committee to strengthen the Party’s leadership in the fight against corruption and misconduct.
  • 'Supporting people with disabilities to overcome life’s challenges

    Supporting people with disabilities to overcome life’s challenges

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - The support for people with disabilities to thrive in life is a consistent policy of the Party and State. In Điện Biên province, alongside the attention from the Party and State, the provincial Association for the Protection of People with Disabilities and the Protection of Children’s Rights has mobilized many resources to support and care for people with disabilities. These practical activities help people with disabilities overcome difficulties to rise and integrate into society.