Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) presided over the opening ceremony of underground power distribution system at Rong Khun Temple in Pa-or Don Chai district of Chiang Rai province. The ceremony was jointly chaired by dignitaries including Mr. Sumrit Sawamipakdi, Deputy Governor of Chiang Rai province, and Dr. Chalemchai Khositphiphat, National Artist, and attended by executives and staff of companies, heads of government agencies, representatives from local administrative organizations and residents in the vicinity of the temple.
PEA in collaboration with Chiang Rai province, through the Provincial Public Works and Town & Country Planning Office, undertook the project to bring the over head power and communication cables in front of Rong Khun Temple underground. The project received a budget of 31,445,000 baht funded by the Provincial Public Works and Town & Country Planning Office. PEA was responsible for removing electric poles and cable lines, as well as the design and construction of handholes, as follows:
- Removal of 29 concrete electric poles
- Removal of high-voltage overhead power cables over a distance of 1,150 circuit - meters
- Removal of low-voltage overhead power cables over a distance of 400 circuit-meters
- Installation of high-voltage underground power cables over a distance of 1,785 circuit-meters
- Installation of low-voltage underground power cables over a distance of 555 circuit-meters
- Construction of 6 handholes for high-voltage power cables
- Construction of 23 handholes for low-voltage power cables
The project to bring the overhead power and communication cables at Rong Khun Temple underground has been successfully completed. PEA is now ready to supply electric power via the underground cable system.
PEA also plans to install the underground cable sytem in several other major cities in the future, including Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Had Yai in order to beautify the surroundings and to serve the tourism sector in Thailand.