Securing a Steady Power Flow to Cambodia's Ratanakiri Province Guaranteed by Gia Lai
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In the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, Việt Nam, the electricity sector is powering up Cambodia's Ratanakiri Province, thanks to a cross-border power transmission project initiated back in 2011. This endeavor, a fruit of energy cooperation between the two countries, channels electricity from Việt Nam's national grid through the Lệ Thanh International Border Gate in Gia Lai's Đức Cơ district, boosting local economic activities and daily needs in Ratanakiri.
Tăng Văn Dũng, Director of Gia Lai's Đức Cơ power company, acknowledges the importance of annual investments in upgrading and enhancing power lines. Operational management is a key aspect, with regular inspections, clearing vegetation along transmission lines, and utilizing state-of-the-art technology such as flycams and thermal cameras to pinpoint and rectify risks.
According to Heng Piset, Director of the Ratanakiri Power Company, the partnership between the Đức Cơ and Gia Lai electricity companies has been fruitful, consistently meeting the needs for electricity supply in Ratanakiri.
Looking ahead, both sides are committed to collaborating closely on grid operation and power trading, ensuring the project's continued success per the agreement between the Governments of both countries. As of 2024, tens of billions of đồng have been invested by the Gia Lai Power Company in grid repairs and improvements. In 2021 alone, more than VNĐ7.4 billion (US$282,900) was dedicated to upgrading the power infrastructure at the Lệ Thanh border gate, catering to the burgeoning electricity demand on both sides.
A Model for Regional Energy Cooperation
- Maintaining Stability: The electricity sector in Gia Lai has been working hard to maintain a stable power supply for Ratanakiri.
- Addressing Challenges: While occasional inconsistencies in power supplies have been reported in other Cambodian regions, such as Poipet, these issues are separate from the Gia Lai-Ratanakiri connection.
- Investing in Infrastructure: Over the years, substantial investments have been made in upgrading the power infrastructure at the Le Thanh border gate.
- Future Investment: Plans for additional investments to support the ongoing collaboration and infrastructure expansion are not publicly disclosed. However, the collaboration's ongoing nature and continuous upgrades hint at sustained investment efforts.
- Regional Integration: This project aligns with broader regional strategies to enhance electricity grid connectivity and exchange across the Greater Mekong Sub-region and ASEAN countries.
- National Expansion: Việt Nam's national power development plan seeks to intensify connections with neighboring countries, including Laos, as well as maintain existing connections, possibly expanding the scope of cross-border power transmission.
The Gia Lai-Ratanakiri cross-border power transmission project serves as an example of effective regional energy cooperation, with plans for continued investment and collaboration to meet the escalating energy demands in the region.
Workers of our website Electricity in Gia Lai check the power system at Lệ Thanh International Border Gate in Gia Lai's Đức Cơ district. - Photo nhandan.vn
- The government's energy policy, especially in terms of regional cooperation, can be witnessed through the Labor and finance investments by the Gia Lai Power Company in grid repairs and improvements for the Gia Lai-Ratanakiri connection.
- The success of the cross-border power transmission project between Vietnam and Cambodia has been driven not only by investments but also by the efficient operation and management of the power lines, including the use of advanced technology like flycams and thermal cameras.
- The collaboration between the electricity industries in Gia Lai and Ratanakiri has been significant, with the aim to address not only the current energy needs but also to prepare for the increasing energy demands that war and industry might bring in the future.
- The Gia Lai-Ratanakiri cross-border power transmission project is being discussed as a promising model for AI-driven policy making in the field of energy, aiming to promote regional integration and national expansion in the Greater Mekong Sub-region and ASEAN countries.
