In the afternoon of 18 November 2019, the delegation of Kien Giang province led by Mr. Pham Vu Hong - Chairman of Kien Giang Provincial People's Committee participated a meeting with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to discuss and solve difficulties in supplying power to the last 3 off-grid island communes in the province.
According reports, since 2011, Vietnam Electricity (EVN) has completed and put into operation 12 110kV - 220kV power grid projects across Kien Giang province. Currently, the Group is continuing to invest in more 11 110kV - 220kV power grid works in the province. Also, in this period, EVN has completed many projects to supply power to off-grid households in Lai Son, Hon Nghe, Son Hai and Hon Thom communes, etc.
Currently, EVN is also implementing many other medium and low voltage grid projects in Kien Giang province.
According to Mr. Pham Vu Hong - Chairman of Kien Giang Provincial People's Committee, currently, 3 island communes under the province’s territory have not been supplied with power, including Nam Du, An Son and Tho Chu communes. However, connecting the grid to these islands is considered to be unfeasible due to the long distance (the farthest island is about 120km from the land) and low power consumption.
Therefore, Kien Giang province has proposed the Ministry of Industry and Trade to supply power to these 3 island communes by investing in renewable energy sources on the island with the non-refundable capital dedicated to Vietnam from the European Union.
At the meeting, Mr. Hoang Quoc Vuong - Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade expressed his agreement and support for the above-mentioned proposal made by Kien Giang province. He also assigned Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority to research, coordinate and support the province in effectively using the European Union's non-refundable capital for right purposes in order to build power works and supply power to 3 mentioned island communes as soon as possible.