The project must be synchronized with the 500kV circuit 3 projects to maximize the efficiency of the power system operation. Photo: Huy Hung/TTXVN
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has directed early implementation of effective solutions to ensure power supply in 2024 and the following years; specifically, accelerating the progress of the 500kV circuit 3 project (the Project) as it is a national key and urgent project that plays an important role in national energy security, especially in the northern region.
Despite the immense pressure, it will be a historic milestone in the electricity industry when a 500kV transmission line is constructed in such a short time. This achievement would not have been possible without the resolute engagement of the entire political system, ministries, departments, and localities that the line passes through.
TTXVN is conducting a series of articles to acknowledge the significance and importance of the 500kV circuit 3 Line, to recognize that the entire political system is actively participating together with contractors, who are committed to accelerating construction progress in the face of great pressure regarding schedule and time.
Article 1: Great Pressure, High Expectations
The 500kV circuit 3 line project from Quang Trach to Pho Noi has a total length of approximately 519 km, passing through 211 communes and wards in 43 districts and towns in 9 provinces, including Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, Hai Duong, and Hung Yen, with a total of 1,177 piers and an investment volume of about VND 22,300 billion. The determination of the Government and the Permanent Government is to complete and put this special project into operation in June 2024. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized: “This goal is a great pressure, requiring high determination, resolute action, a focus on key areas, and the completion of all assigned tasks.”
The Entire Political System Actively Participates
At an online conference of the Permanent Government with the ministries and 9 localities to promote the progress of the implementation of the 500kV circuit 3 projects from Quang Trach to Pho Noi, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh clearly stated: Previously, the construction of the 500kV circuit 1 line of about 1,500 km took about 2 years (completed in 1994). Therefore, the 500kV circuit 3 project from Quang Trach to Pho Noi, which extends over 500 km, would take 1/3 of the time if still following the schedule of the first circuit. However, given the better current conditions in terms of experience, technology, and expertise, the construction time must be shorter in order to meet the country’s development requirements.
With the urgency and importance of the Project, on August 15, 2023, the Prime Minister issued Document No. 745/TTg-CN regarding the electricity supply plan for the last months of 2023 and 2024, which emphasized the need to deploy the 500kV circuit 3 project from Quang Trach to Pho Noi. On September 4, 2023, the Prime Minister issued Official Dispatch No. 782/CĐ-TTg on the implementation of the 500kV circuit 3 projects from Quang Trach to Pho Noi. On October 23, 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha chaired a meeting to review the progress of the Project.
At a working session with Vietnam Electricity (EVN) on January 13 of this year, speaking about the 500kV circuit 3 project, the Prime Minister praised EVN and the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) for starting the Project with the spirit of “doing rather than discussing,” “overcoming all difficulties,” “seizing opportunities, working diligently,” working “3 shifts, 4 teams,” working through holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year). At the same time, the Prime Minister also requested that localities with the Project passing through concentrate on completing and handing over the ground to construction contractors.
At the conference to promote the progress of the 500kV circuit 3 Line, the head of the Government directed specific tasks for the ministries, departments, and localities according to the schedule for land clearance; determining the route corridor; excavating foundation holes, constructing piers, erecting columns, and stringing wires…
“We have to mobilize on-site forces, on-site facilities, on-site materials, and on-site commanders to deploy the project; not only mobilizing comprehensive strength but also creating employment opportunities for people in the project area; at the same time, innovating thinking, approaches, continuing to promote achievements, addressing limitations, finding solutions for outstanding issues,” the Prime Minister requested.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha conducted direct inspections and urged the progress of the Project. Grasping the direction of the Prime Minister, the Government Office, the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Construction, and related localities have actively participated to quickly complete the necessary procedures to ensure the goals of the Project.
Focusing Efforts on Construction
Repair of the oil tank failure at the 500kV Thanh Hoa substation. Photo: Huy Hung/TTXVN
The 500kV circuit 3 line project from Quang Trach to Pho Noi consists of 4 component projects: the 500kV Quang Trach – Quynh Luu line, the 500kV Quynh Luu – Thanh Hoa line, the 500kV Nam Dinh I Thermal Power Plant (TPP) – Thanh Hoa line, and the Nam Dinh I TPP – Pho Noi line.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of EVNNPT Nguyen Tuan Tung said that the 500kV circuit 3 Line projects from Quang Trach to Pho Noi, when put into operation, will increase the inter-regional transmission capacity from the current 2,200 MW to about 5,000 MW, thereby contributing to ensuring power supply for the northern region in the future.
Realizing the clear significance, urgency, and importance of the Project in ensuring electricity supply for the northern region starting this year, in the past time, EVN and EVNNPT have actively worked with relevant ministries, departments, and localities to early complete legal procedures for project implementation. EVN leaders also regularly pay attention to directing the implementation process of the Project and authorize EVNNPT to proactively complete formalities with the fastest progress to meet the Project’s objectives.
In response to the Prime Minister’s directive, EVNNPT established a Steering Committee for Project Implementation of the Corporation and formed 4 Operating Boards and 13 Front Boards in provinces and cities to urgently implement the construction of the Project. At the end of October 2023, EVNNPT started the 500kV circuit 3 Project with the Nam Dinh I – Thanh Hoa transmission line, and then simultaneously started the remaining three projects on January 18, 2024.
According to EVNNPT Chairman Nguyen Tuan Tung, in parallel with the investment approval procedures for the Project, EVNNPT has actively arranged and implemented all Project tasks, ensuring sufficient investment for Project implementation, coordinating closely with localities in land clearance, handing over the ground to construction contractors, depending on the construction progress, organizing construction right at the site, and supplying machinery, equipment, and materials. The corporation has worked with 20 contractors and equipment suppliers, who have committed to timely and fully supplying materials and equipment for the Project.
To ensure the Project’s quality and progress, EVNNPT has mobilized maximum resources, working overnight, without rest days, to accelerate the implementation of the 3 shifts, 4 teams, 24/7 construction schedule, the “foundation must not wait for the columns, columns must not wait for the wires” spirit… Based on that spirit, in the coming time, EVNNPT strives to complete the foundation casting along the line before March 30, 2024; complete the column erection along the line before May 30, 2024; and complete the wire stringing along the line before June 30, 2024, to put the 500kV circuit 3 line into operation as early as possible, in accordance with the Prime Minister’s direction, and contribute to ensuring power supply for the northern region in the future.
Article 2: Perseverance with the Spirit of “Overcoming All Difficulties”
