Project to bring electricity to the North and South of Phu Quoc Island has land acquisition problems

Electricity waiting for the ground

According to the report of the Southern Power Corporation (EVNSPC), from 2014 to present, EVNSPC has been investing in the construction of many power grid projects in Kien Giang province with a total investment of more than 7,600 billion VND. In the period of 2015-2023, many important power projects have been put into operation such as: 220kV Kien Binh - Phu Quoc line, 110kV Ha Tien - Tinh Bien line, 110kV Vinh Thuan - An Xuyen line; projects to bring national grid electricity to island communes of Kien Giang province such as: Hon Tre, Lai Son, Hon Nghe, Son Hai, Tien Hai...

Mr. Doan Duc Hung - Deputy General Director of EVNSPC - said that up to now, 100% of communes, wards and towns in Kien Giang province have electricity; 99.73% of rural households have electricity. Currently, there are 3 island communes (An Son, Nam Du and Tho Chu) that do not have national grid electricity, currently using local diesel and renewable energy sources.

Mr. Le Van Trang - Chairman of EVNSPC Board of Directors - said: Determining that "electricity is one step ahead", in recent years, EVNSPC has proactively allocated resources and implemented many electricity projects to meet the high growth rate of the province's load, especially Phu Quoc City. However, up to now, many projects are still facing difficulties in compensation and site clearance; including long-standing problems that have not been completely resolved, affecting the project progress as well as the electricity supply in the area.

Notably, the Phu Quoc - South Phu Quoc 110kV Transmission Line project is scheduled to be energized in 2024, but currently only 35/79 tower locations have been handed over; the Phu Quoc - North Phu Quoc 110kV Transmission Line project is scheduled to be energized in 2024, but currently only 7/72 tower locations have been handed over; the Phu Quoc 220kV Transformer Station project is scheduled to start construction in the fourth quarter of 2024, but currently there is no site for the station. In other districts and cities of Kien Giang province, there are 6 projects that are also facing difficulties and problems.

Clearly define responsibilities

Recently, at the working session on October 26 to remove difficulties and obstacles of power projects, EVNSPC leaders proposed that the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee of Kien Giang province continue to direct departments, branches, sectors, and local authorities at all levels to remove difficulties and obstacles of projects, especially projects to ensure electricity supply for Phu Quoc city.

Acknowledging the efforts of EVNSPC in ensuring electricity supply in the area, Mr. Giang Thanh Khoa - Vice Chairman of Kien Giang Provincial People's Committee - said that the Provincial People's Committee will have specific instructions for each relevant department, branch, and locality to resolve problems for each project.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Do Thanh Binh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of Kien Giang Provincial Party Committee - shared: Looking back 10 years ago, Kien Giang province still faced many difficulties. However, with determination and correct policies in investing in building infrastructure of "electricity, roads, schools, stations", in which electricity is at the forefront, up to now, Kien Giang has had remarkable development.

Regarding the difficulties in site clearance for power projects, Mr. Binh emphasized the need to resolve them. For each project, the Secretary of the Kien Giang Provincial Party Committee requested that the responsibilities of each agency, unit, and sector be clearly defined; at the same time, timelines must be set and closely followed for implementation. Mr. Binh also requested that EVNSPC and departments, branches, and sectors of Kien Giang province need to coordinate more closely in the process of resolving difficulties to speed up the progress of power projects.

At the meeting, leaders of Kien Giang province and EVNSPC also discussed the investment policy for the project of supplying electricity from the national grid to the island communes of Nam Du and An Son (Kien Hai district).