On November 18th, at the construction site of Son La hydropower plant, unit 1 of Son La hydropower plant was officially put into no load operation.

This is the decisive step in determining the success of unit 1 at the end of this November, one month earlier than the schedule approved by the Prime Minister and 2 years earlier than the progress proposed by the National Assembly.

To formally put unit 1 into no load operation, construction units have completed and accepted important work such as: foundation processing and drainage drilling of the dam trunk before powering on unit 1; concrete executing of doors of the units supporting unit 1; non-overflow dam building; construction of power lines serving unit 1; construction and installation to put hydrotecnic mechanical equipment into use.

Besides, the installation, adjustment and testing of the hydraulic cylinder system; club, elbow and twisting chambers; turbine equipment, additional equipment; lower valves, vent pipes, gate of lower valves ... of unit 1 have also been completed.

In addition, the Phase 2 of lower small dike removal, reinforcement of the plant’s discharge canal; installation of monitoring equipment for power generation of unit 1 have also been completed and accepted.

The assessment of the quality and progress of works before submerging unit  1 - Son La hydroelectric power plant of the Acceptance Council has shown that relocation, excavation of archaeological sites, mineral recovery and lake bottom cleanup below the altitude of 195m have been completed to ensure the requirements of closing water inlet sluice civic and taking water to reservoir.

To November 5th, the water level of the reservoir has reached the altitude of 189m, ensuring minimum conditions for unit 1. Quality of concrete and flood spillway meets design requirements and ensures safe pan-lake operation.

The work of handling cracks of the non-overflow dam has been completed according to approved procedure before closing the water inlet sluice. Until now, the upstream water level has reached the altitude of 189m, no leaks have been detected in handled positions. Progress and quality of construction of energy lines meet design requirements, ensuring the conditions of submerging the entire unit 1.

After unit 1 is put into no load operation, operating units, electrical testing units, equipment suppliers and the Management Board of Son La hydropower project will put unit 1 on trial run before officially connecting to the national electricity system.

Engineers are adjusting the technical parameters of unit 1 of Son La hydropower plant

By Minh Duc