The Government has planned to spend around VND300 billion (US$14.4 million) to connect over 20,000 residents of central Quang Ngai Province's Ly Son Island to electricity. 

Ly Son Island. (Photo: Internet)

Under the initial schedule, a 26-km underground cable will start from the province's Sa Ky Port to Ly Son Island with a capacity of 10MW. The project is scheduled to finish after 27 months and provide 24 hours of daily electricity for local islanders.

The move came after a range of projects aimed to provide electricity to the island failed operate for many years due to the low selling price of electricity not covering the big investment capital.

The Power Engineering Consulting Joint Stock Company 2 has finished surveying activities on the island and is ready to start construction.

Quang Ngai Power Company has provided electricity only six hours a day after 5pm for the past ten years in the two communes of An Hai and An Vinh, said Tran But, chairman of the An Vinh Commune.

Agricultural and fishing activities in the commune have met with difficulties due to lack of electricity, But said.

The islanders had to use oil or charcoal to replace electricity for both daily life and production activities. Some used an electric generator to pump water for crops, he said.

The islanders always hoped to be provided with electricity 24 hours per day, But said.

If the electricity is provided all day, it not only helps boost sectors of agriculture and fishery development but also facilitates tourism development on the island, he said.

The company suffers an average loss of VND10 billion ($480,700) each year, said Le Thanh Tung, director of Ly Son Power Division.

The company pays about VND8,400 to produce 1 kWh of electricity, while the average selling price of electricity costs VND746 per kWh.

The average selling price of electricity now costs VND1,034 per kWh.

The company still makes efforts to provide electricity for local islanders and ensure national security and defence in territorial waters of the country, he said.

Ly Son District, covering 14sq. kilometres, is about 24 kilometres far from the mainland and has a population of over 20,000.

Source: VNS