The connection to the national electricity grid via an undersea cableline is expected to contribute to local economic growth in the islanddistrict of Ly Son in central Quang Ngai province and provideopportunities for residents to promote tourism.

Inaugurated on September 28, the submarine power transmission cable linewas built at a cost of 652 billion VND (31 million USD). It comprisesa 26.2km-long section running under sea and an 8.7km-long section onground in Binh Son district.

Previously, residentsin Ly Son were only able to use electricity for six hours per day,Secretary of the District Party Committee Nguyen Thanh said. With thenew stable power supply, he outlined fishery services, seafoodprocessing and tourism as the main directions for the island’s economicdevelopment in the time ahead.

According to Thanh,to make Ly Son a popular domestic tourism destination in the future,local authorities are working to attract infrastructure investment,promote home-stays and spiritual tourism, and integrate environmentalprotection into socio-economic development plans.

Many households on the island are hurried to purchase electric homeappliances and some plan to add to their income by catering to tourists.

Fifteen nautical miles from land, Ly Son, covering 10km2, is home to more than 22,000 islanders.

It is located on the sea route between the north and south ofVietnam, at the gateway of Quang Ngai’s Dung Quat Economic Zone.

Due to its geographical location, Ly Son is well suited to boostsocio-economic development and act as a crucial vanguard to protectVietnam’s sea sovereignty.

The undersea cable lineto Ly Son district is part of a government’s resolutioin which aims tohave 100 percent of islanders connected to the grid by 2020, paving theway for socio-economic development and the guarantee of nationalsovereignty over seas and islands.-VNA