More than 50 towns in Sichuan Province in southwest China are still without power three weeks after a catastrophic earthquake, a senior energy official said on Monday.

Zhang Guobao, director of the National Energy Administration, said: "Some areas that have regained power are using diesel generators. Their power transmission facilities have not been restored."

Staff should be mobilized to resume normal power grid operations as quickly as possible, Zhang told a power restoration meeting held in Sichuan Province.

The grids in 21 counties in Sichuan were severely damaged in the May 12 quake.

"More important is to handle well the electricity supply for residents in resettlement locations," Zhang added. "Power lines should be erected as soon as possible to serve the resettlement work."

(Xinhua News Agency June 2, 2008)