Implementing the Power VI plan approved by the Government, the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) is striving to accelerate the construction and complete the whole Son La hydropower project (capacity of 2,400 MW) at the end of 2012.

In the short term, in 2011, EVN has planned to power on unit 2 on Apr 30th; unit 3 on Aug 31st and unit 4 on Dec 31st.

Workers of Power transmission company No4 maintains the equipment of Long Binh substation (Dong Nai)

To promptly transmit the full capacity of Son La hydropower plant, nearly a year ago, the National Power Transmission Corporation (NPT) started the construction of Hiep Hoa 500kV substation (Bac Giang) and 220kV transmission lines.

Hiep Hoa 500kV substation, which covers an area of nearly 16ha, is a large-scale work and has two transformers installed with the total capacity of 1,800 MVA and 500kV, 220kV and 35kV distribution equipment. The total investment is VND 1,221 billion.

Project Management Board of the Central power projects (the AMT) expects the construction to be completed in April this year. However, to ensure the overall progress, the construction team has built the foundation and installed devices at the same time, while mobilizing facilities and more than 400 workers to watch over the construction site to power on Hiep Hoa 500kV substation in the fourth quarter of this year.

Along with Hiep Hoa 500 kV substation, Son La -Hiep Hoa 500kV line is one of the key projects at national level. This line is responsible for transmitting power from Son La hydropower plant to Son La and Hoa Hiep 500kV substations to connect to the national electricity system to meet the needs of load growth of the North as well as the whole country, while creating stronger connection between sectors of the national electricity system.

According to Mr. Tran Quang Vinh, Deputy Head of Project Management Board of the Northern power projects (the AMB), Son La - Hiep Hoa 500kV line has the investment of more than VND 2,801 billion, the length of 264.72km with two circuits and 545 column positions passing through 17 districts of five provinces of Son La, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Thai Nguyen and Bac Giang.

For the project to be deployed on schedule, the AMB has divided it into several contracts, implemented by 7 construction units. So far, the construction units have completed the casting of 499/545 foundation positions and the erection of 237 columns. Many lines pass through jungle and mountainous areas, so NPT has collaborated with units of the Ministry of Defense to detect and disarm mines to ensure the safety for the line.

According to Mr. Tran Quoc Lam, Deputy General Director of NPT, the objective of NPT is to ensure that those works mentioned above will be early put into operation in order to effectively exploit the power of Son La hydroelectric plant, while providing electricity safely and effectively for the load demand of the northern provinces, especially Ha Noi.

Also during this time, nearly 100 engineers and workers of the Power Transmission Company No1 arranged along the line are watching over the site to perform tasks of supervisory and acceptance of work. NPT has directed all units involved in construction to test the 500kV transmission line in accordance with the proposed requirements, in which the safety of people and equipment is still the leading factor, striving to power on in the third quarter of this year.

According to the Power VI plan, Hoa Binh, Son La, Lai Chau and the power plants in the region are considered the hydropower center of Northwest provinces with the total installed capacity of about 6.540MW; Quang Ninh, Hai Phong and the vicinity are considered the thermal power center of Northeast provinces with the total installed capacity of about 6.500MW.

The connection between the two 500kV substations of Hiep Hoa and two 500kV transmission lines of Son La - Hiep Hoa and Quang Ninh -Thuong Tin will unify the 500kV gridline across the country, from South to North, from East to West and together with EVN, contribute to solving the current power shortages and increasing electricity supply for economic and social development of the country in the future.

 By Minh Duc