KIÊN GIANG– Lại Sơn Island Commune in the southwestern province of Kiên Giang was officially linked to the national grid on Saturday upon the completion of the cross-ocean 110kV line, the country’s longest above-sea power project so far.

The project was built by Electricity of Việt Nam’s Southern Power Corporation and Kiên Giang Power Company, Vietnamplus.vn reported.

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 Lại Sơn Commune is part of a large-scale project to connect the province’s islands communes of Kiên Hải, Kiên Lương, Phú Quốc and Hà Tiên Township with the national electric network.

With total investment capital of VNĐ368 billion, the 43.9km-long 110 kV An Biên-Lại Sơn power line consists of a 19.4km line on-land and a 24.5km line across the ocean.

The latter runs from Xẻo Nhàu fishing port in Tân Thạnh Commune in An Minh District to Lại Sơn Commune in Kiên Hải 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 Kiên Giang Power Company, Trương Tấn Lực.

“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 Lại Sơn 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 Kiên Giang Province in general, the Vietnamplus reported. — VNS