Party Secretary of Khe Mo Village and Binh Lieu Electricity officials discuss the protection of the local grid

Investments in infrastructure

According to former Secretary of Binh Lieu District Party’s Committee Duong Manh Cuong, in the past five years, Binh Lieu has invested in over 200 infrastructure projects for seven border communes with a total budget of over VND350 billion, particularly in rural electricity grids. By 2018, all the communes and households in Binh Lieu had access to the national grid, while in areas of extremely difficult terrain and sparse population, Quang Ninh has invested in solar energy systems to meet the local residents’ electricity demand.

Currently, Binh Lieu District has 132 kilometers of medium voltage lines, over 250 kilometers of low voltage lines and 105 distribution substations.

Hoang Van Duc, Director of Binh Lieu Electricity, said that in addition to capital sources for regular overhaul and repairs, the parent company Quang Ninh Power also allocates investment capital to develop substations. In 2021-2022, Binh Lieu built six new substations, renovated and built 15.63 kilometers of new low voltage transmission lines with total investment of about VND13 billion.

Binh Lieu Electricity workers check the Khe Mo-Huc Dong power lines

The synchronous investment in power grids and stable power supply have enabled the local ethnic communities invest in agricultural production machinery and purchase household appliances, improving their quality of life.

Dang Thi Chau, 80, of the San Chi ethnic group in Huc Dong Commune, is pleased with this year’s bumper crop of cinnamon and anise, and other earnings which have yielded her family stable annual income of nearly VND120 million. Since the locality was connected to the national power grid, her family has purchased machinery for production and necessary household electrical appliances.

Binh Lieu agriculture has gradually shifted from small scale production to value chain-oriented large-scale production. Some local farm produce has been developed into popular commodities, including Binh Lieu vermicelli, honey and various essential oils.