QUANG NINH (VNS)– Authorities yesterday turned the first sod on an electrical project to connect islands and communes in the northern province of Quang Ninh to the national grid.

The project will provide power to more than 1,400 households on Co To Island and five communities on Van Don island and boost socio-economic development and national security in the north-eastern region.

The development is expected to cost VND1,073 billion (US$51 million), of which VND883 billion ($42 million) will come from provincial coffers and the rest from the Northern Electricity General Corporation.

It is scheduled for completion by the end of next year.

The electrical work will include 40km of 110kV line, a 110kV transformer station with capacity of 40MVA, a middle pressure line, 13 distribution stations with a total capacity of nearly 3,000kV and 30km of low pressure line.

The project will be the first in the country to bury 25km of 22kV electricity cable under the sea.

Financial support is also being provided by the Viet Nam Coal and Minerals Group, Viet Nam Commercial Bank and Hoang Anh-Gia Lai Group. – VNS