Vietnam will build 10 power plants from now to the end of this year as its electricity demand is expected to annually increase by 6-7 billion kwh between 2006 and 2010, according to Vietnam News Thursday.

The construction of the Son La Hydroelectric Plant with a designed capacity of 2,400 MW in northern Son La province will kick off in November. Its first turbine is expected to generate electricity in 2010.

The operation of new power plants will lift Vietnam's electricity capacity to 25,000-26,000 mw in 2010 from the current 11,400 mw, meeting demand for its socio-economic development, the report said.

Now, 95.4 percent of communes and nearly 91.3 percent of households in Vietnam have access to electricity.

Source: Xinhua