The Song Ma 110kV transformer station in Huoi Mot commune, Song Ma district, northern Son La province, was put in commission on April 4, expecting to aid economic development in areas lying along the Vietnam-Laos border. At the inaugural ceremony, Tong Thi Phong, a Politburo member and Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly, said the station will work to connect ethnic minorities in the province to the modern life as will contribute to safeguarding security and defense on Vietnam’s shared border with Laos. Phong requested the northern power authority and the provincial People’s Committee to quicken the planning of other power supply projects to bring electricity to many remote communes and village which are still unable to use this energy due to geographical difficulties.
In the meantime, the northern power corporation is working on a national power supply project for ethnic minorities in Son La, aiming to benefit 30,100 households in 557 villages of 106 communes. (vietnamplus.vn Apr 4)
