Saravane and Sekong provinces, 10 December 2019
Saravane and Sekong farmers whose crops were damaged by floods in early September have received a boost through the donation of rice and seeds by two power companies.
The Theun-Hinboun Power Company (THPC) and its major shareholder, EDL-Generation, have handed over 20 tonnes of rice and 10 tonnes of seed rice to the authorities of each province, following an appeal by the government for assistance in helping flooded communities recover.
THPC’s Deputy General Manager, Soulideth Baomanikhoth, said the donation was small considering the scale of the natural disaster across the southern provinces, but that it was a heartfelt gesture from the companies and their staff, and one that could make a real difference for those families receiving the rice.
The total value of the donation was 418 million kip, which Mr Soulideth said was raised from three sources: the sale of recycled metal from the Theun-Hinboun power station, collection of donations from EDL-Gen and THPC staff, and a contribution from the company’s disaster response fund.
Mr Thongphet Douangngeun, Deputy Managing Director of EDL-Gen, presented the Grade B rice and rice seed (Thadokkham, Vientiane 2 and Xebangfai varieties) to the Vice Governor of Saravane, Mr Vysien Navikoun and to the Director General of Labour and Social Welfare for Sekong, Mr Khamsone Konyer.