Ban Ve Hydropower Plant: Awakening its tourism economic potential.

(Baonghean) - The Ban Ve Hydropower Plant, built in Yen Na commune, Tuong Duong district, has a capacity of 320 MW - making it the largest hydropower plant in the North Central region. Its main functions are generating electricity for the national grid, providing water for domestic use and production, and enhancing flood control in the downstream area of ​​the Lam River. After more than four years of operation, the plant has produced over 5 billion kWh of electricity, making a significant contribution to stabilizing the national power grid and becoming a highlight of the economy and tourism in Western Nghe An.

The Ban Ve Hydropower Plant construction project was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 665/QD-TTg dated June 19, 2003, with an installed capacity of 320 MW, a normal water level of 200m, and a reservoir capacity of 1.83 billion m3. It is a multi-purpose project with the main tasks of generating electricity for the national grid, providing water for domestic use and production, and controlling saltwater intrusion and flooding in the downstream area of ​​the Lam River. This is a Group A project and the largest hydropower project in the North Central region. The Prime Minister authorized its implementation under mechanisms 797 and 400 and designated a consortium of contractors led by the Song Da Corporation to carry out the construction. Following the directives of the Prime Minister and the Vietnam Electricity Corporation (now Vietnam Electricity Group), after more than a year of investment preparation with the efforts of the Hydropower Project Management Board 2, the consortium of contractors led by Song Da Corporation and Power Construction Consulting Joint Stock Company 1, the project officially commenced construction on August 7, 2004, marking a particularly important milestone for the project.

The reservoir near the dam body.

With nearly six years of construction on the largest hydroelectric project in the North Central region, under extremely complex geological conditions and harsh weather, the tireless efforts and dedication of the staff, engineers, and technical workers from the Project Management Board, design consultants, supervision consultants, and construction units on the construction site have ensured the completion of a large volume of work, guaranteeing the project's progress and bringing it into operation on time, supplementing the national power grid, especially in the Central region during a period of power shortage. In particular, the Hydropower Project Management Board 2, in coordination with the local authorities of Tuong Duong, Thanh Chuong, and Ky Son districts, under the close guidance of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee, and provincial departments and agencies, and with the unanimous support of the affected people, successfully relocated 3,020 households from 34 villages, 7 communes, and 2 districts (Tuong Duong and Ky Son) within the construction site and reservoir area to new resettlement locations.

Power transmission system.

On December 26, 2005, the project was officially dammed; the first phase of water impoundment began on November 17, 2009; Unit 1 officially started generating electricity on April 10, 2010, and Unit 2 started generating electricity on May 19, 2010, coinciding with the 120th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday, marking the official connection of the Ban Ve Hydropower Plant to the national power grid. On April 22, 2011, the Board of Members of Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) issued Decision No. 228/QD-EVN establishing Ban Ve Hydropower Company to carry out the production and business tasks of the Ban Ve Hydropower Plant, with the Company Director also serving as the Project Management Board Director. Over the years, the Party Committee and the Board of Directors of the Company have comprehensively directed all activities in all areas of work; successfully completing all tasks assigned by Vietnam Electricity Group and Power Generation Corporation 1.

The factory as seen from above.

The management and operation of the Ban Ve Hydropower Plant and Ban Ve Reservoir have been well-prepared, from training and testing for job positions, to preparation, emergency response drills, flood and storm prevention drills, organization of operation and maintenance, to the completion of procedures and regulations, and the organization of inspection and supervision of operation according to procedures and regulations. To date, the staff have fully mastered the equipment, from operation and troubleshooting to major and minor repairs of the plant's equipment. The company's commercial electricity output in the following years was as follows: 1,125 million kWh in 2011; 1,292 million kWh in 2012; 1,225 million kWh in 2013; and 1,250 million kWh in 2014, reaching 120% of the electricity production plan assigned by Power Generation Corporation 1. In the first six months of 2015, electricity generation reached over 600 million kWh. The total cumulative electricity production to date has exceeded 5.7 billion kWh. Currently, following the directives of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the company is focusing its resources on operating the generators scientifically and releasing water to support drought relief efforts for downstream communities.

Passenger boats on the Bản Vẽ hydroelectric reservoir. Photo: Hữu Vi

Over the years, the Trade Union and Youth Union organizations have consistently performed their duties and responsibilities, coordinating and organizing practical and meaningful action programs such as: the "Returning to the Roots" program, visiting and giving gifts to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, war invalids and families of martyrs, supporting people affected by storms and floods, giving gifts to the poor, etc. They have also sent teams of athletes to participate in and win high awards at sports competitions organized by Nghe An province, EVN, and Power Generation Corporation 1, such as: Third place in men's doubles tennis for Nghe An provincial leaders, first place in women's singles badminton, second place in mixed doubles badminton; second place in men's doubles tennis at the Corporation level... The activities of these organizations have contributed greatly to the sustainable and in-depth development of the Company.

With outstanding achievements throughout its formation and development, the collective and employees of the Ban Ve Hydropower Project Management Board 2 - Ban Ve Hydropower Company have been honored by the State and Government with prestigious awards: the Third-Class Labor Medal, Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister, Certificates of Merit from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Certificates of Merit from the People's Committee of Nghe An province, and many other prestigious awards… Looking back at the achievements, generations of employees and workers of Ban Ve Hydropower Company - Ban Ve Hydropower Project Management Board 2 are extremely proud to have made a worthy contribution to the construction and development of Vietnam's electricity industry; meeting the requirements of economic development and social welfare, and contributing to the economic, industrial, and tourism development of the Western Nghe An region.

PV