On Friday (Sept 22), officials from the Phuket branch of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) conducted a field survey on Koh Lon. Leading the PEA team was Thawat Kongsap, head of the Chalong office of the electricity agency.
As Koh Lon falls administratively under Rawai subdistrict, Mayor Aroon Solos joined the inspection as well. The survey encompassed an examination of the area and the necessary measurements.
In a concise post-event report, Rawai Municipality announced that power supply to the small island east of Phuket will be established through an underwater cable, referred to in the publication as a "Submarine Communications Cable." No further details about the project were provided.
The first person to react to the Facebook report and show support for the initiative was Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee from the Move Forward party.
On Sept 10, Mr Chalermpong, also known as Coach Sam, visited the island with his fellow party members to lend support to Koh Lon School, the smallest educational institution in Phuket with only two students in total.
Mr Chalermpong subsequently made a post on Facebook, urging local media to help draw attention to the school, which relies on the dedication of its sole teacher, Kru Nok.
“Koh Lon is located approximately 20 kilometers from Phuket Town and only 15 minutes from Chalong Pier. It is a large island but rarely discussed. As for Ban Koh Lon School, it is a special area school and the only school on the island without electricity and tap water,” Mr Chalermpong explained.
“Our activities today included cleaning the area around the school, landscaping the school grounds, and providing learning materials and two bicycles for the students,” Coach Sam added.
Rawai Municipality did not elaborate on whether the Sept 22 inspection was in response to Mr Chalermpong effort to draw attention to Ban Koh Lon School.