Bringing electricity to Con Dao: Extending sea-across journey of Vietnam's power engineers
In mid-July, barges loaded with equipment continued tirelessly crossing the sea waves to build the national power grid connecting to Con Dao. During the journey of hundreds of kilometers across the sea, the team of engineers and workers is working day and night to complete one of the most special energy projects.
Urgent need
Con Dao Special Zone, under Ho Chi Minh City, holds significant importance in national defense, security, and sovereignty over islands and seas, and is also a high-value destination in terms of history, culture, and tourism. However, the island's current electricity system mainly relies on diesel with a capacity of over 11MW. Therefore, the need for investment in infrastructure to provide electricity to Con Dao is urgent.
EVN Vice President Nguyen Tai Anh (4th from right) inspects cable connection tunnel construction and concrete cable trench at Con Dao on July 17, 2025
The project to supply power from the national grid to Con Dao has a total investment of over VND 4,923 billion, with Vietnam Electricity (EVN) as the investor, and the Power Project Management Board 3 as the project management representative. The 110kV transmission line bringing electricity from the mainland to Con Dao is over 100km long, with about 80km of submarine cable.
By mid-July, the construction of the overhead line on the Soc Trang coast had basically completed all 32 foundation poles, and steel poles were being installed. The submarine cable section is divided into two parts, with the first section of 41km completed on July 7, 2025, and the second section, 39km long, is currently being worked on by construction units to pull the cables. At Con Dao, all cable connection tunnels and concrete cable trenches along the route have been completed by the contractor. The submarine cable section and the 110/22kV GIS substation are in the process of cable installation and equipment setup. Efforts are being made to complete the installation as soon as possible, in order to move on to the testing and commissioning phase for energizing the entire line.
Crossing waves, bringing electricity to island
Pole 32 location at sea off the Soc Trang coast, taken on July 17, 2025
Phu Xuan Company is the contractor for package 04XL-DZCD, which includes positions 28-32 at sea. To date, the company has completed 100% of the work on package 04XL as per the contract schedule.
Mr. Tran Ngoc Dung, Deputy Director of the Project Management Board and Director of the Project Management Division, said, "The contractors are working hard to ensure the overall schedule. Despite rough seas, heavy rain, or difficulties with transportation, all contractors are determined to bring electricity to the island as promised."