All eyes on 500kV transmission line to keep the lights on

The completion of the Quang Trach-Pho Noi 500kV transmission line will help increase power transmission capacity from the central region to the North from 2,200 MW to 5,000 MW, something which is critical to solving power shortages in the northern region during peak summer months.

All eyes are on the construction progress of the 500kV transmission line from Quang Trach (Quang Binh province) to Pho Noi (Hung Yen province) to ensure power supplies are reliable as the hottest period of the summer approaches.

At a meeting on May 23, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked for every resource to be used to put the transmission line into operation by the end of June, emphasising that this is a priority task which requires drastic efforts and determination from all sectors and levels.

The National Power Development Plan (PDP8), approved in May 2023, points out that the country will need around $1.48 billion per year to upgrade grid infrastructure from 2021-2030.

One of the key projects is the circuit-3 500kV Quang Trach-Pho Noi line and four component projects. The line will be 519 km long and run through 211 communes of 43 districts in nine provinces, with a total of 1,177 pylons and an investment of VND22.3 trillion ($876 million).

The completion of the project will help increase power transmission capacity from the central region to the north from 2,200 MW to 5,000 MW and help tackle electricity shortages during the peak summer months.

The PM stressed that Quang Trach-Pho Noi transmission line is an urgent key national project that plays an important role in ensuring the country’s energy security and requires the engagement of ministries, departments and authorities of all localities through which it runs.

“There is great pressure that comes with this goal, requiring strong determination, great efforts, and drastic action,” he stressed.

A miracle

May 27 marks the 30th anniversary of the circuit -1 500kV North-South line which was considered a miracle back in 1994 for uniting the power network across the country’s three regions and contributing to ensuring national energy security. The line, nearly 1,500 km long, was completed in two years.

The PM said that now, with better technology and experience, the construction of the circuit-3 line must be quicker.

The construction of the 500kV Quang Trach-Pho Noi line started in October last year.

According to a note from the Government Office on May 25, a large amount of work of the project has been basically completed, including the handing over of all 1,177 foundation locations and 478 out of 513 anchorage points. More than 53% of electricity pylons have already been put up.

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and the project’s developer Vietnam Electricity (EVN) launched a 120-day labour emulation campaign for the circuit 3 line project which will run to the end of June with five of the best: fastest progress, best quality, safest - most economical, most innovative, and best living care.

According to Truong Huu Thanh, deputy director general of the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT), about 800 technical workers from EVN are installing poles. EVNNPT is also working with other corporations, including Viettel, VNPT, and PetroVietnam Power Corporation to speed up the construction. The wiring is expected to be completed by June 20.

Other efforts

In addition to the circuit 3 500kV Quang Trach-Pho Noi line, PM Chinh also asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to speed up transmission projects to import electricity from Laos.

Plus, it was asked to propose policies to encourage private investments in power transmission projects with the spirit of harmonising benefits and sharing risks.

To ensure a stable power supply for 2024 and beyond, the PM asked for accelerated efforts to diversify power sources, even imports, if necessary, but the focus must be on making the most of domestic sources.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade must ensure an effective combination of different power sources, including thermal, hydro, solar, wind and biomass power, and prevent incidents due to reasons other than force majeure.

The Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (TKV) and Dong Bac Corporation must strengthen coal exploitation to ensure supplies for thermo-electric plants, and efforts must be made to reduce coal imports and prevent coal smuggling.

Priority must be given to supplying gas and oil for power generation in the peak months of June and July.

The PM also asked for a reasonable roadmap for adjusting electricity prices, stressing that prices must be affordable for people and enterprises, and take into account Vietnam's economic situation.

With regard to the direct power purchase agreement (DPPA), the Ministry of Industry and Trade has submitted a draft decree to the Government for approval.

The DPPA mechanism is expected to promote investments in renewable energy, as well as the development of a competitive retail market.

At a recent conference, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien asked investors in gas-fired power projects to report on their progress and propose solutions to achieve commercial power generation before 2029.

According to EVN, the total electricity output, including imported power, reached 142.2 billion kWh in the first five months of this year, representing an increase of 12.1 per cent over the same period last year.

As of the end of May, water stored in reservoirs was equivalent to an electricity output of 7.8 billion kWh, 2.1 billion kWh higher than the plan.

The TKV has supplied around 20 million tonnes of coal for electricity generation since the beginning of this year.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said that these combined efforts meant the power would stay on this year.