Miracle progress of 500 kV line 3 project

Promoting the strength of the entire political system

The 500kV line 3 project is a key, urgent project of great significance to increase the power transmission capacity through the 500kV system from the Central to the North with a capacity of 2,500MW at present to 5,000MW, improve the stability of the power system operation, increase power supply to the North in 2025 and the following years, reduce the risk of overloading and overloading of existing 500kV lines and stations, and contribute to ensuring national energy security.

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The 500kV line project, circuit 3, Quang Trach - Pho Noi is a large-scale project, with a total length of 519 km, 2 circuits with 1,177 pole locations, and a total investment of more than 22,300 billion VND (nearly 1 billion USD). The project has a volume of earth and rock excavation of more than 2.5 million m³, using more than 705,000 m³concrete, nearly 70,000 tons of foundation steel; total steel column erection volume is 139,000 tons; pulling a total of nearly 14,000 km of various types of conductors.

The construction process encountered many difficulties and major challenges in terms of compensation and site clearance, shortages in mobilization, and at the same time, many specialized construction machines and equipment along the entire route as well as highly skilled and specialized forces to construct poles and pull wires. Then there were difficulties in the terrain of the construction route with many locations on high, steep hills, unfavorable weather conditions, etc., so at many times the construction had to be stopped to ensure the safety of workers and construction equipment...

In Nam Dan district, Mr. Vo Thanh Chung - Vinh Power Transmission Team said that participating in the installation of the pole at position 343, his job was to pull the cable from 357 to 360; participating in the construction project for more than 3 months. Mr. Chung shared: The work at the project site is extremely hard and difficult; the weather is extremely hot, the terrain is complex. However, myself and my fellow engineers and workers all share the same will and determination to overcome difficulties and contribute to completing the project on schedule.

At many meetings to review and urge progress as well as inspect the actual construction site in recent times, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh praised the leaders of ministries, branches, localities, political and social organizations, EVN, EVNNPT, consulting units, equipment and material suppliers, and construction units for working with the spirit of "overcoming the sun, overcoming the rain, not losing to the wind and storm", "only discussing work, not discussing retreat", "not enough work during the day, working at night", "eating quickly, sleeping urgently", working continuously 24/7, "3 shifts, 4 shifts", "working through holidays, Tet, and days off". With that effort, the project was completed, energized and put into operation in accordance with the requirements directed by the Prime Minister.

Since the beginning of the investment and construction, the Quang Trach - Pho Noi 500 kV line 3 project has received strong and regular attention and direction from the entire political system, especially the direction and management of the Government and the Prime Minister himself. With new thinking, methods and approaches compared to previous methods, the project implementation time has been significantly shortened, meeting the requirements for project completion as directed by the Prime Minister. This is unprecedented with previous 500 kV line construction projects.

Implementing the direction of the Prime Minister, the drastic and regular participation of the Provincial Party Committee and the People's Committees of the provinces in implementing the "4 on-site" motto, EVN/EVNNPT has coordinated with local authorities to mobilize human resources, machinery, vehicles, and materials in the localities where the project passes through, thereby speeding up the progress of digging and casting the foundation.

In Nghe An, about 2,000 people participated in the construction with more than 180,000 working days; 700 soldiers from the military with about 21,000 working days; 74 youth volunteer teams with the participation of more than 1,100 union members and youths to support the erection of poles, transporting poles, clearing the ground, supporting the pulling of ropes; security forces are regularly on duty at the locations, ready to handle cases that hinder the construction,...

Many lessons learned from the project's success

In Nghe An, the project includes 2 component projects: The 500kV Quang Trach - Quynh Luu Transmission Line Project is about 82.33 km long, including 168 pole foundation locations, corresponding to 169 pole intervals in the districts of Nam Dan, Nghi Loc, Dien Chau, Yen Thanh and Quynh Luu.

The 500kV Quynh Luu - Thanh Hoa Transmission Line Project in the province is about 17.5 km long, including 34 column foundation locations, corresponding to 34 column intervals, located in Quynh Luu district and Hoang Mai town.

With the effective participation of the entire political system, Nghe An province completed the handover of 202/202 column foundation positions to the construction unit on March 10, 2024, only 52 days after the groundbreaking date; handed over all 87/87 anchorage spaces on June 18, 2024 after 5 months of groundbreaking, ensuring the project's wire pulling construction progress. The "4 on-site" work was carried out by Nghe An province throughout the project's construction process.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the project, recently, comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation said: The 500kV Line 3 project was inaugurated after 7 months of construction, a "miracle" of the Vietnam Electricity industry, contributing to meeting the increasing energy demand for production and people's daily life.

The images of cadres, engineers, workers and laborers at construction sites “braving the sun and rain”, working “3 shifts, 4 shifts”, “through the night, through the holidays” in the past time have left good feelings and admiration in the people. Through the success of the project, from a local perspective, Nghe An has gained valuable lessons in leadership, direction, management and implementation to apply to other large projects in the area.

First, clearly define responsibilities and have high political determination, great efforts, "only discuss doing, no retreat" in performing tasks.

It can be said that when there was a policy to implement the project passing through the province with a length of nearly 100 km, 202 column foundation locations, the province was also under a lot of pressure due to the urgent requirements for progress; the project implementation area is large, spanning 6 districts, many points have complex and rugged terrain; it is necessary to recover and convert large areas of forests and land of all kinds, many households are affected, many works and architectural objects must be dismantled and relocated. Following the direction of the Government and the Prime Minister, the province identified the project implementation as one of the key, important political tasks with top priority; immediately directing the political system to get involved, focus on overcoming difficulties, and strive to carry out the task with the determination to complete it as soon as possible and with the highest level.

Second, to urgently, resolutely and flexibly carry out the tasks, "solving difficulties wherever they arise". The province has organized many working groups to inspect and work to speed up the project's progress. When problems and situations arise, provincial leaders are present at the scene to focus on handling them; upon receiving information reflecting problems, the province inspects and directs immediate handling without waiting for written reports.

To resolve the problem of forest areas affected by the project that could affect the progress, the province has proactively directed the implementation of forest use purpose conversion in batches, with eligible areas being implemented first and unqualified areas being implemented later, with the land being handed over as the project progresses. Thanks to this, the entire affected forest area has been converted in a timely manner, in accordance with regulations, to serve the project site.

Third, clearly assign tasks to people, work, responsibilities, time, and products, combined with regular inspection, supervision, and evaluation; promote the strength of the entire people in project implementation.

The province has proactively established a steering committee on compensation, support and resettlement to implement the project; assigned a standing unit for the project, maintained a daily and weekly information mechanism. Promoted propaganda and mobilized people to agree and support the project implementation; strengthened security and order in the areas where the project was implemented. Closely and smoothly coordinated between agencies, units and departments, especially investors and contractors, to carry out the tasks. Mobilized over 70% of construction machinery of all kinds; 90% of unskilled labor; 100% of local construction materials to participate in the project. Mobilized nearly 5,000 people, cadres, soldiers, union members and youths to contribute tens of thousands of working days to support site clearance, relocation of architectural objects, transportation of materials, pulling wires... contributing to the success of the project.

In the coming time, Nghe An province will continue to closely coordinate with the Electricity sector to complete the remaining tasks of the project, stabilize people's lives and production; protect the safety of the project, develop power sources and power grids according to the plan to promote the effectiveness of the project in the province.