Ban Ve Hydropower Plant: Awakening the potential of tourism economy

(Baonghean) - Ban Ve Hydropower Plant is built in Yen Na Commune, Tuong Duong District, with a capacity of 320 MW - the largest hydropower plant in the North Central region. The main task of the project is to generate electricity to the national grid, provide water for daily life and production, and promote flood prevention in the downstream area of ​​Lam River. After more than 4 years of operation, the plant has produced electricity exceeding 5 billion kWh, contributing significantly to the stability of the national grid, 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 as an investment project 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 task of generating electricity to the national grid, providing water for daily life, production, repelling salinity, and preventing floods for the downstream area of ​​Lam River. This is a group A project and is the largest hydropower project in the North Central region, permitted by the Prime Minister to be implemented under the 797; 400 mechanism and assigned a consortium of contractors led by Song Da Corporation to carry out the construction and installation of the project. Implementing the direction of the Prime Minister and Vietnam Electricity Corporation (now Vietnam Electricity Group), after more than 1 year of investment preparation with the efforts of the Hydropower Project Management Board 2, the contractor consortium led by Song Da Corporation and Power Construction Consulting Joint Stock Company 1, on August 7, 2004, the project officially started construction, marking a particularly important turning point of the project.

Lake bed near the dam body.

With nearly 6 years of construction for the largest hydroelectric project in the North Central region, in very complex geological terrain conditions and very harsh weather conditions, but with the efforts to overcome difficulties, the tireless efforts and dedication of the staff, engineers, technical workers of the units such as the Project Management Board, design consulting unit, supervision consulting unit and construction units at the construction site, a large amount of work has been completed, ensuring the project's progress, putting the project into operation on time, supplementing the power source for the national grid, especially the Central region during the period of power shortage. In particular, the Hydropower Project Management Board 2 coordinated with local authorities of Tuong Duong, Thanh Chuong and Ky Son districts, with the close direction of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee of Nghe An province and provincial departments, branches and sectors, and the unanimous support of the affected people, so 3,020 households from 34 villages, 7 communes, 2 districts of Tuong Duong and Ky Son in the construction site area and the reservoir area were relocated to resettle in new places.

Power transmission system.

On December 26, 2005, the Project was officially blocked; the first water storage phase was on November 17, 2009; Unit 1 officially generated electricity on April 10, 2010 and Unit 2 generated electricity on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday on May 19, 2010 and Ban Ve Hydropower Plant was officially connected to the national grid. On April 22, 2011, the Board of Members of Vietnam Electricity Group issued Decision No. 228/QD-EVN on the establishment of Ban Ve Hydropower Company to carry out the production and business tasks of Ban Ve Hydropower Plant with the model of the Company Director concurrently Director of the Project Management Board. Over the years, the Party Committee and the Board of Directors of the Company have comprehensively directed all activities in all fields of work; Excellently completed all tasks assigned by Vietnam Electricity Group and Power Generation Corporation 1.

Factory view from above.

The management and operation of Ban Ve Hydropower Plant and Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir have been well prepared from the training - assessment of positions, preparation, incident drills, flood and storm prevention drills, organization of operation and repair work to the completion of procedures, regulations and the organization of inspection - supervision of the implementation of operations according to procedures and regulations. Up to now, officers and employees have completely mastered the equipment from the operation, incident handling and overhaul of the plant's equipment. The Company's commercial electricity output in the years is as follows: In 2011, it reached 1,125 million kWh; in 2012, it reached 1,292 million kWh; in 2013, it reached 1,225 million kWh; in 2014, it reached 1,250 million kWh, equal to 120% of the electricity output plan assigned by Power Generation Corporation 1. In the first 6 months of 2015, electricity generation reached over 600 million kWh. Total accumulated electricity output to date has reached over 5.7 billion kWh. These days, implementing the direction of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the company is focusing on human resources to operate the generators scientifically, releasing water to serve drought prevention work for residential areas in the downstream areas.

Passenger boat on Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir. Photo: Huu Vi

Over the years, the Trade Union and Youth Union organizations have been working steadily according to their functions and tasks, coordinating and organizing practical and meaningful action programs such as: The program of returning to the source, visiting and giving gifts to Vietnamese heroic mothers, wounded soldiers and families of martyrs, supporting people affected by storms and floods, giving gifts to the poor... Sending delegations of athletes to participate and compete to win high prizes in sports competitions organized by Nghe An province, EVN and Power Generation Corporation 1 such as: Third prize in men's doubles tennis for leaders of Nghe An province, First prize in women's singles badminton, Second prize in mixed doubles badminton; Second prize in men's doubles tennis at the Corporation level... The activities of the mass organizations have contributed greatly to the sustainable and in-depth development of the Company.

With outstanding achievements in the process of formation and development, the collective and employees of the Hydropower Project Management Board 2 - Ban Ve Hydropower Company have been honored to receive noble awards from the State and Government: Third-class Labor Medal, Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister, Certificate of Merit from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Certificate of Merit from the People's Committee of Nghe An province and many other noble awards... Looking back at the achievements, generations of employees and workers of Ban Ve Hydropower Company - Hydropower Project Management Board 2 are extremely proud to have contributed worthily to the cause of building and developing the Vietnam Electricity industry; meeting the requirements of economic development and social security, contributing to the economic - industrial - tourism development of the Western Nghe An region.

PV