(VNF) - Lai Son Island Commune in the southwestern province of Kien Giang was officially linked to the national grid on Saturday (Nov. 26^th) upon the completion of the cross-ocean 110kV line, the country’s longest above-sea power project so far.

More than 8,000 local residents in Lai Son Island Commune in southwestern province of Kien Giang will benefit from a power line after it was successfully linked to the national grid on November 26^th. (Source: baochinhphu.vn)

The project was built by Electricity of Vietnam’s Southern Power Corporation and Kien Giang Power Company.

More than 8,000 local residents from 2,000 households in the island commune will benefit from the power project which is expected to provide hundreds of millions of kWh/per year.

With 14 months of construction, the power supply project for Lai Son Commune is part of a large-scale project to connect the province’s islands communes of Kien Hai, Kien Luong, Phu Quoc and Ha Tien Township with the national electric network.

With total investment capital of VND 485.5 billion (USD 21,5 million), the 43.9km-long 110 kV An Bien-Lai Son power line consists of a 19.4km line on-land and a 24.5km line across the ocean.

The latter runs from Xeo Nhau fishing port in Tan Thanh Commune in An Minh District to Lai Son Commune in Kien Hai District, and has 50 electric poles.

“During the construction period, the project encountered numerous difficulties due to unfavourable weather conditions, huge waves, and strong winds. Consequently, the project’s progress was slower than anticipated,” said Director of Kien Giang Power Company, Truong Tan Luc.

“However, both investor and contractors spared no effort in executing the work whenever the weather conditions were fine, completing the project safely and efficiently and eventually providing electricity to Lai Son Commune residents.”

The power supply plays a crucial role in boosting socio-economic development, especially the development of the marine economy, in the island commune in particular and in Kien Giang Province in general. It will help reduce the use of diesel generators on the islands, easing pollution, and make the islands a firm defence system protecting the national sovereignty and sovereignty rights over sea and islands.

Lai Son Island Commune. (Source: Internet)

Located in the southwest waters of the country and 60 kilometres southwest of Rach Gia city, Lai Son island covers 1,095 hectares and has a population of 8,120 people.

Currently, local residents only have access to electricity for half the day using diesel generators, which greatly affects their production and living conditions.

Lai Son is one of seven island communes benefitting from a programme to connect inshore islands in Kien Giang with the national power grid, invested with over VND 1.5 trillion (USD 66,7 million) and bringing power to 8,600 households.

Lai Son was included in the first phase of the three-phase programme spanning from 2015-2016. In the second phase, from 2016-2018, power will be supplied to the four communes of Hon Nghe, Son Hai, Tien Hai and Hon Thom via a 22-kV transmission line with VND 474 billion (USD 21 million) in total investment.

In the last phase from 2018-2020, An Son and Nam Du communes will be connected to the power grid using a 22-kV undersea transmission line with a cost of VND 664 billion (USD 29.5 million)./.

( Compiled by VNF )