500kV Power Line “Saves” Northern Vietnam: Two Provinces Encounter Numerous Obstacles

On March 12, Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien chaired an online meeting with 9 provinces to evaluate the progress and implementation status of the 500kV Circuit 3 transmission line projects.

The progress of the 500kV Circuit 3 transmission line is in urgent need of acceleration

The component projects of the 500kV Circuit 3 transmission line project include: Quang Trach – Quynh Luu 500kV transmission line project; Quynh Luu – Thanh Hoa 500kV transmission line project; Thanh Hoa – Nam Dinh 1 thermal power plant (NMND I) 500kV transmission line project; NMND I – Pho Noi 500kV transmission line project.

Reporting on the implementation progress, Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, General Director of Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN), said that all 4 component projects have handed over the land of 1177 pillar foundation positions, but there are still 343 out of a total of 503 restrictive positions not yet handed over.

Specifically, Quang Binh has 12/12 positions not yet handed over; Ha Tinh has 112/112 positions not yet handed over; Nghe An has 86/86 positions not yet handed over; Thanh Hoa has 74/138 positions not yet handed over; Ninh Binh has 5/9 positions not yet handed over; Nam Dinh has 24/54 positions not yet handed over; Thai Binh has 11/47 positions not yet handed over; Hai Duong has 13/31 positions not yet handed over; Hung Yen has 6/14 positions not yet handed over.

The two provinces with the most difficulties are Nghe An and Ha Tinh. Among them, Ha Tinh province has 285 positions (belonging to the Quang Trach – Quynh Luu 500kV transmission line project). This province currently has 7 positions that cannot be executed, including 3 positions where the Natural Conservation Management Board and the Forest Protection Unit are cutting down trees and opening roads for foundation construction, and 2 positions where households have not agreed to the compensation plan; Huong Khe district has 2 positions due to households (living in Quang Tri) not agreeing on the compensation price for trees and land and is requesting the recovery of land compensation for the corridor route.

Nghe An province still has 4 positions not yet under construction, including positions numbered 18, 19, 21, 22, as the route access and material storage areas are being negotiated.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien concluded that the most difficult task currently is the land handover for the corridor route, which has only reached 31.87% completion; construction work is still facing difficulties due to a lack of vehicles, machinery, equipment, and many foundation positions still cannot be accessed for construction.

“If not resolved thoroughly, it could seriously affect the progress of completing the projects by June 2024 as directed by the Prime Minister,” Mr. Dien expressed concern.

In view of the above reality, to achieve the target of completion set for June, Mr. Dien requested the relevant ministries, sectors, localities, and investors to carry out 5 key tasks.

Among them, the ministries, sectors, and localities will proactively review the work related to the assigned functions and tasks in order to promptly resolve any emerging issues.

The regulations regarding the temporary use of forests for the implementation of construction of temporary works to serve the construction of power grid projects for national interests and public purposes have been issued, and Mr. Dien proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development guide EVN/EVNNPT to implement these regulations and promptly guide the handling of any emerging issues during the implementation process.

“Accelerate the deployment of the construction of all foundation positions in March, ensuring the conditions for stringing to complete the project in June. In particular, both the progress and technical quality must be ensured,” Mr. Dien emphasized.

Luong Bang