Forever flowing "white energy" source in the upper Chu River

(Baonghean) -On September 20, the Hua Na Hydropower Project, after 5 years of construction on the Chu River, held its inauguration ceremony. With a total investment of more than 7,000 billion VND, a capacity of 180 MW for an average annual electricity output of 717 million kWh, Hua Na Hydropower is the second largest hydropower project in Nghe An province connected to the national grid, contributing to effectively exploiting the potential of the Western region of Nghe An.

Five years ago, on March 28, 2008, the Hua Na Hydropower Plant Construction Project officially started. At that time, the Western Nghe An region was an attractive destination for investors in the field of exploiting "white energy". The Chu River, which had been peaceful and gentle for generations, flowing through the communes of Dong Van and Thong Thu (Que Phong), was suddenly awakened by the sounds of machines and explosions drilling and tunneling. It was clearly stated that this was the first hydropower project of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN) and one of the key hydropower projects of the whole country under the Power Master Plan VII, developing the economy of the Western Nghe An region. The construction conditions were extremely difficult, the geology was complex, so the investor and contractors made great efforts to overcome difficulties to ensure the project was completed on schedule.

Panoramic view of the main dam of Hua Na Hydropower Plant.

It can be said that, in order to have resources to focus on investing to complete the project on schedule as today, first of all, it is necessary to make an important decision to restructure the finances of the entire project. From a member shareholder (only 15%), Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN) upgraded Hua Na Hydropower Joint Stock Company (PVPower HHC) to become the controlling shareholder, accounting for 52.33% of capital. Providing enough capital to ensure construction according to the project's progress, but according to PVN's task requirements, PV Power leaders assigned Hua Na Hydropower Joint Stock Company, Song Da contractor, and Vietnam Machinery Installation Corporation (LILAMA) to commit to achieving the goal of generating electricity and connecting to the national grid within 3 years.

Receiving orders without a specific “solution” to the extremely complex geological problem of constructing the main items of the project and the relocation and stabilization of the lives of over 1,300 households is truly “unimaginable”. However, with the “spirit of petroleum”, all for the progress of the project, the investor and contractors signed a competition agreement: 90 days and nights for the goal of blocking the river; 162 days and nights for the goal of clearing the water tunnel, basically completing the work of compensation, support and site clearance, 100 days and nights for the goal of storing water in the reservoir…

The project management board has implemented a rolling method and required the supervisory unit to closely follow the project to immediately accept each step. The Oil and Gas Power Project Consulting Joint Stock Company (PV Power PCC) has established a supervision consulting office at the construction site and sent a construction supervision force with specialized construction engineers, equipment installation and geological engineers to ensure the construction and installation of factory equipment. To stimulate creativity in production labor and promote the spirit, the investor and construction units strictly regulate disciplined, technical and highly productive labor, while at the same time highly promoting initiatives, technical and management improvements...

In "necessity is the mother of invention", a series of breakthrough initiatives and innovations have been applied by PV Power HHC to overcome limitations such as removing the concrete jacket structure of the diversion tunnel; or converting single formwork into double formwork in the construction of the diversion tunnel, improving the water diversion plan for the 2011 flood season under the condition that the main dam has not been completed; in order to overcome the slow progress of the construction of the Western Nghe An road, PV Power HHC decisively opened a service road to install a shaped steel bridge to replace the reinforced concrete bridge, which has shortened the time to transport materials and equipment to the construction site, contributing significantly to ensuring the progress of the project.

With creativity, effort, and all for the power generation project according to the committed schedule, Hua Na Hydropower Joint Stock Company and contractors completed a huge amount of work: On February 1, 2013, Unit 1 officially generated electricity and less than 2 months later, Unit 2 also officially generated electricity and connected to the national grid. After 6 months of connecting to the national grid, the Plant operated safely and produced nearly 400 million kWh of electricity.

The joy of factory leaders, engineers and workers at the moment of connecting electricity to the national grid.

A great success of the Hua Na Hydropower Project is thanks to the close coordination between the investor and local authorities at all levels, so the resettlement work is guaranteed to progress. In just a short time, the infrastructure items serving the resettlement work have been completed by the investor and the Resettlement Compensation Council to hand over to the people to ensure their lives in the new place. Currently, 1,362 households in 14 villages of 2 communes Dong Van and Thong Thu have stabilized their lives at 13 resettlement sites.

Here, the investor and Que Phong district temporarily allocated land for forestry production according to the prescribed standards, gradually surveyed and approved the project to support production development for the people. In the immediate future, Que Phong district will integrate programs to support people in raising fish in hydroelectric reservoirs, growing clean vegetables on semi-flooded land, and planting rubber trees. To support people in resettlement and food issues, the investor and the district have provided enough rice for households at the rate of 30 kg/person/month for 4 years.

Being present at the resettlement sites of Pieng Cu, Xop Co- Nam Nieng or Puxai Cang... you can feel that a new life for the Thai people is really beginning. The stilt houses are close together according to the overall infrastructure plan, promising a change in life tomorrow. What people are concerned about is that there is no official land for production in the field, there is no support plan for people to grow trees or raise animals on the new land, both the investor and the district and commune are rushing to implement...

Hua Na Hydropower Plant resettlement site in Puxaicang (Thong Thu commune - Que Phong).

Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hua Na Hydropower Joint Stock Company shared: The success of the project is thanks to the consensus of the people, the attention and close direction of the authorities at all levels, of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN), the Vietnam Oil and Gas Power Corporation (PVPower), shareholders and the solidarity and determination from the investor to all officers, workers at the construction site, contractors such as Lilama, Song Da... What we are most proud of is the spirit of oil and gas that has created a solid foundation for the success of the Hua Na Hydropower Project. From a desolate land, Hua Na Hydropower Plant has "lit up" the Western region of Nghe An, regulated the climate, regulated floods in the upper reaches of the Chu River, created an annual electricity output of 717 kwh, contributing to the economic development of Western Nghe An in particular and the socio-economic development of the country in general.

Article and photos: Hong Son