Khammouane is located in the middle part of Laos that bordering Bolikhamxay and Savannakhet Provinces. Khammouane covers about 16,000 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 330,000, mostly engaged in agriculture. The Mekong River Valley in the west is framed by the Annamite Mountain Range which separates Khammouane from Vietnam to the east. There are 9 district, including with Thakhaek, Mahaxay, Nongbok, Hinboun, Nhommalath, Bualapha, Nakai, Xebangfay and Xaybouathong.

Ban Mane

The project team visited several potential pilot communities and decided that the first pilot community will be Mane village in Mahaxay district, Khammouane province. The village located 15 km far from main road. This road is just usable during the dry saison. It is one of villages interested and registered for Solar Home System (SHS) as a highest percentage 89,01% of totalling 182 households required use of SHS from VOPS project compared to other 4 villages.

Three-fourths of totaling 182 households uses torch (oil from tree mixed with dried wood). Others sometimes uses lantern. The estimated costs amounts: of gasoline 11,000 LAK/l (0.8 EUR/l), of diesel 10,000 LAK/l (0.7 EUR/l), The average needs 2 l/month . There are 6 rice mills which only use rice husking not for electricity. For CD players, radios and TV´s are used batteries. The costs for charging add up to 15,000 LAK/time (1.14 EUR/time) excluding fuel cost for motorbike.

Currently the REEPRO team prepares trainings to encourage the existing SHS.

For more information you can download report of Khammoune province.