According to Vietnam Electricity (EVN), Ministry of Trade and Industry has approved feasibility study on 22 projects developing national grid over period from 2015 to 2020 supplying electricity to 262,689 households in remote and disadvantaged areas across the country. 

This is part of the plan implemented under Decision No. 2081/QD-TTg on approving the Program on supplying power to rural and mountainous areas, and islands for the period from 2013 to 2020. Northern Power Corporation, Central Power Corporation and Southern Power Corporation will be investors and EVN will act as coordinator. 

Twenty-one out of 22 projects will connect rural and mountainous areas to the national grid. The other one will provide power for Bach Long Vi (Hai Phong) from hybrid power systems including wind, solar power, diesel and energy storage. 

The projects aim to develop medium-voltage lines and low-voltage lines to ensure that most of rural households have access to electricity by 2020. They will also provide power for residents and defence forces in border areas and sea islands. This movement will contribute to poverty alleviation, socio-economic development and knowledge improvement in remote and mountainous areas and sea islands, ensuring national security as well as political stability. 

So far, EVN has completed preparation and will direct investors to implement the projects to ensure their quality and progress. In particular, more than 7,236 km of low-voltage lines, 16,640 medium-voltage lines and 8,500 substations will be constructed, connecting over 262,500 households to the National grid. They will also benefit from electricity incentives of the government. 

Projects supplying power to rural and mountainous areas, and sea islands for the period from 2013 to 2020 will be implemented in Bac Kan, Lai Chau, Lang Son, Hai Phong (Bach Long Vy), Thu Thien - Hue, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai, Binh Thuan, Ben Tre, Ca Mau, Dong Thap, Hau Giang, Kien Giang (commune on island), Lam Dong, Long An, Soc Trang, Tay Ninh, Tien Giang and Tra Vinh. 

According to EVN, by the end of 2015, nationally, 100% of districts are connected to the National grid; 99.8% of communes and 98.76% of rural households have access to electricity, exceeding original target by 0.76%. Almost all people of ethnic groups as well as those in remote and border areas now have electricity to use. In particular, in Northern mountainous provinces, 99.8% of communes and 98.79% of rural households are connected to the National grid. 

Up to now, EVN has basically completed the work of reconstructing rural low-voltage lines to sell electricity directly to households, so they can benefit from incentives of the government. The number of EVN’s customers now reaches 23.7 million, increasing by 6 million (31%) from 2010.

Thanh Phong