Ban Ve Hydropower Plant stops generating electricity to serve the Vietnam-Laos energy development project

On March 31, 2022, Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) issued Document No. 1651/EVN-QLXD to the People's Committee of Nghe An province regarding support for power outages to serve the construction of the 220kV Tuong Duong transformer station and the 220kV Nam Mo (Laos) - Tuong Duong transmission line. Accordingly, EVN is preparing to complete the energization of the above two transformer stations with the goal of implementing the bilateral commitment on cooperation between the Governments of Vietnam and Lao PDR in the field of energy development and implementing the power purchase contract signed between the two Governments.

According to Document No. 2342/UBND-CN of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee dated April 6, 2022 on reviewing and adjusting the water supply and water intake plan downstream to serve the construction of the 220kV Tuong Duong transformer station and the 220kV Nam Mo (Laos) - Tuong Duong line, the power outage of the 220kV line on the Ban Ve - Do Luong route will be implemented from May 10, 2022 to May 15, 2022.

The repair workshop of Ban Ve Hydropower Plant is performing equipment maintenance. Photo: Linh Chi

The power outage on the 220kV Ban Ve - Do Luong line caused the Factory toBan Ve Hydropower Planthad to stop generating electricity, which meant the plant could not operate to supply water to the downstream according to the correct procedure.inter-reservoir operationon the Ca River basin. Therefore, Ban Ve Hydropower Plant has a plan to regulate downstream water to serve the construction and energization of the 220kV Tuong Duong Transformer Station and the 220kV Nam Mo (Laos) - Tuong Duong line, sent to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and has been approved by the Ministry in Document No. 937/TNN-NM dated May 10, 2022.

To limit the shortage of water resources downstream, to meet the irrigation and production needs of the people, Ban Ve Hydropower Plant has adjusted and increased the discharge volume before and after the power outage for the construction of the 220kV Tuong Duong transformer station and the 220kV Nam Mo (Laos) - Tuong Duong line, specifically:

Before the power outage, the factory was operating to discharge water downstream with an average flow of 220 m³/s to 240m³/s (double the normal discharge rate) for local water storage.

After the 220kV Nam Mo (Laos) - Tuong Duong line is energized, the plant will operate to discharge water downstream with an average flow of 220 m³/s to 240m³/s for 3 consecutive days. The following days will operate in accordance with the regulations in the inter-reservoir operation process on the Ca River basin.

The repair workshop takes advantage of regular maintenance on all equipment before the rainy season. Photo: Linh Chi

During the 5 days the Plant had to stop generating electricity, the unit took advantage of the time to carry out periodic repairs and maintenance of all equipment before the rainy season. This is also the main activity in response to Workers' Month 2022.

Along with the maintenance of the plant equipment, this time Ban Ve Hydropower Plant also conducted experiments on two combined circuit breakers of two generators H1 and H2. Installed and repaired power lines; re-tested the protection system of the new repair station in Tuong Duong according to the document of the National Power System Control Center.

Sticking to the theme of Workers' Month 2022 "Vietnamese workers are pioneers, creative, responsible, safe, and adaptive", Ban Ve Hydropower Company is effectively organizing emulation movements in production and labor, ensuring safety, and striving to successfully complete the assigned tasks in 2022.

Ban Ve Hydropower Plant. Photo courtesy

Ban Ve Hydropower Plant is the largest hydropower project in the North Central region, with a capacity of 320 MW. After 11 years of operation, Ban Ve Hydropower Plant has connected to the national grid more than 11 billion kWh, contributing significantly to the task of ensuring energy security for the country, contributing thousands of billions of VND to the State budget.

Ban Ve Hydropower Plant is a multi-purpose project. In addition to the task of supplying electricity for the national economy, the plant also has the responsibility of supplying water to downstream areas during the dry season, cutting and reducing floods during the flood season according to the operating procedures of inter-reservoirs in the Ca River basin.