Panasonic’s 100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project: Dispelling Darkness on High Mountains of Dien Bien

Dien Bien, 16 March 2015 - Under its global “100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project”, Panasonic officially donated 630 solar lanterns to World Vision International in Vietnam to be utlized by Dien Bien province authorityto implement projects in four communes: Dien Bien Dong, Tua Chua, Tuan Giao and Muong Cha of Dien Bien province.

Although the national electricity network has reached communes’ center, over 1,700 minority households on high mountains have no access to electricity. Without electricity, they are isolated from information and face many difficulties, especiallyin the fields of education, healthcare and economic development.

Eiji Fukumori, General Director, Panasonic Vietnam, commented, “630 solar lanterns that were donated to schools, clinics and community-based organizationstoday, are expected to facilitate the provision of medical care service at night, prevent short eye sight problem in students and foster economic independence of ethnic minorities via capacity building club. Through Panasonic’s partnership with World Vision International in Vietnam, we will monitor and ensure these donated solar lanterns are used effectively and create a better life, a better world for people in these non-electrified areas.”

Developed with a 3.5 Watt solar panel and built-in rechargeable battery,a Panasonic solar lantern is fully charged within 6 hours under direct sunlight – the most plentiful and easy to find energy resource in mountainous areas. With a handy design and light weight (0.4kg), the solar lantern can last between 6 hours (at maximum brightness) and 90 hours (at minimum brightness).

Launched in FY2012, the Panasonic global 100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project aims to donate a total of 100,000 solar LED lanterns mainly to NPOs/NGOs for the resolution of social challenges faced by people living in areas without access to electricity by 2018, the 100th anniversary of Panasonic's founding.

With the number of solar lanterns donated to Vietnam today, more than 34,000 solar lanterns have been donated to 11 countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and the Philippines. From now till 2018, Panasonic will continue to bring light to more people in non-electrified areas in Vietnam and other countries in Asia as well as Africa.

About Panasonic 100 ThousandSolar Lanterns Project

The 100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project is one of the Corporate Citizenship activities of Panasonic, aiming to donate a total of 100,000 Solar Lanterns to non-governmental/ humanitarian/ international organizations, etc. to help resolve various social challenges in areas without access to electricity in the developing countries by 2018, the 100^th anniversary of the company’s founding.

From FY2012, the first year of project, to the end of FY2014 (March 2015), the company targets a total of 40,000 solar lanterns to be donated to create positive impacts on the lives of people in areas without electricity in 12 countries in Asia and Africa. Through the 100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project, Panasonic endeavorsto contribute to the achievementof the United Nations Millennium Development (MDGs), which include halving the number of people living in extreme poverty by 2015 and other targets set forth to resolve poverty issues in developing countries.

For more information about the project, please visit the project’s website at http://panasonic.net/sustainability/en/lantern/