A Che Hamlet, a remote border hamlet in Thu Lum Commune, has struggled with difficult access, far from the commune’s centre. To provide electricity to the residents, Muong Te District mobilised resources to construct a project that included nearly 4.6 km of medium-voltage power lines, 0.6 km of low-voltage power lines, and a 50kVA transformer station to supply electricity to 18 households and two public facilities. The project’s completion fulfilled the longstanding dreams of the residents.
Sung Su Pha, Head of A Che Hamlet, shared, “The electricity came just a few days before the Ha Nhi ethnic minority people celebrated their traditional New Year. This year’s New Year feels grander than any before. Now, I feel like I’m living in a dream because I never thought our poor and remote border hamlet could have access to electricity. With electricity, we have the chance to learn new farming methods through public information, and our children have better opportunities to study.”
Similarly, Co Lo Hamlet in Pa U Commune, home to 132 La Hu ethnic minority households, also celebrated the arrival of national grid electricity. Ly Hu Cho, Head of Co Lo Hamlet, excitedly said that life had been difficult without electricity in previous years. Now, with electricity, life has greatly improved. Some households have already purchased TVs since the arrival of power poles, and others have acquired rice milling machines. With electricity, life and the future of the community have become brighter.
According to the Muong Te District Economic and Social Development Project Management Board, during the 2022–2025 period, Muong Te has been implementing two rural electrification projects targeting ten hamlets. These projects have a total investment of nearly 60 billion VND. As of now, electricity has been provided to six out of the ten hamlets, benefiting 351 households. The remaining projects are expected to be completed by December 31, 2024.
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| The national electricity grid comes to La Hu ethnic minority people in Pa Ve Su Commune. |
In addition to rural electrification projects, during the 2022–2025 period, the district has implemented power supply projects for resettlement areas and relocation sites for households from landslide-prone areas, including Nam Suong Hamlet in Vang San Commune and Cha Di Hamlet in Bum To Commune. These projects have been completed, providing power to 185 households in new resettlement areas.
Le Thanh Tam, Director of the Muong Te District Economic and Social Development Project Management Board, noted that implementing electrification projects faces numerous challenges. Difficult terrain, with project sites spread across different communes, significantly increases the time required for transporting personnel, machinery, and construction materials.
The rainy season in Lai Chau is prolonged and unpredictable, complicating construction activities. Additionally, rising construction materials costs have directly impacted contractors’ expenses, causing delays in project progress.
“To ensure electricity reaches the people on schedule, we have directed efforts to expedite land clearance and actively coordinated with local authorities to address land and resource-related issues,” Tam added.
Inspection and on-site supervision have been intensified, with contractors urged to allocate experienced manpower and adequate equipment to ensure the quality and timely completion of projects. Leaders are assigned specific responsibilities for monitoring progress and promptly resolving obstacles to achieve disbursement targets for each project.
Currently, some hamlets and settlements, such as Lu Kho, Cu Ma Thap, and Cu Ma Cao in Mu Ca Commune; Sinh Si, Xe Ma, and Tia Ma Mu in Ta Tong Commune; and Den Thang in Pa Ve Se Commune, still lack access to the national grid. These areas require additional investment to provide electricity. Continued efforts to electrify these hamlets will increase the percentage of households with access to power, promote economic and social development, and ensure security and defence in the border district of Muong Te.
