Discussing ways to overcome difficulties for power transmission projects in Lai Chau

Plan ahead to avoid overload.

To ensure power supply for load development in Lai Chau province and to release hydropower capacity in the province, Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) has assigned the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) to invest in the construction of 8 transmission grid projects with 3 lines, a total of 125 km and 5 transformer stations with a total capacity of 3,300 MVA.

According to Mr. Pham Hong Phuong, Deputy General Director of EVN, currently in Lai Chau province there are 3,135 MW of hydropower resources in operation, including large hydropower plants such as Lai Chau, Ban Chat, Huoi Quang and other medium and small hydropower plants.

Perspective of 220 kV Pac Ma transformer station project.

The 500 - 220 kV power grid includes the 500 kV Lai Chau hydropower line - 500 kV Lai Chau - Son La transformer station; the 220 kV Muong Te - Lai Chau, Than Uyen - Ban Chat - Huoi Quang lines; the 500 kV Lai Chau transformer station, the 220 kV Muong Te transformer station, and the 220 kV Than Uyen transformer station.

EVN representative also said that with the current scale of power sources and load demand, the power transmission lines as well as transformers in the province are currently carrying high loads. According to the Plan, the Plan to implement the adjusted Power Plan VIII, it is expected that by 2035, the total planned capacity of power sources will increase significantly, exceeding the transmission capacity of the existing 500 - 220 kV grid.

To ensure power supply for load development in Lai Chau province and to release hydropower capacity in the province, EVN has assigned EVNNPT to invest in the construction of 8 transmission grid projects with 3 lines, totaling 125 km and 5 transformer stations with a total capacity of 3,300 MVA.

Still difficult to clear land

Regarding the construction progress of transmission projects, Mr. Pham Le Phu, General Director of EVNNPT, said that all transformer stations are being constructed as scheduled.

EVNNPT General Director Pham Le Phu reported at the working session with Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee and Vietnam Electricity Group.

Specifically, the Phong Tho 220 kV transformer station (2x250 MVA) started construction on December 13, 2021, is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025. The Pac Ma 220 kV transformer station (2x250 MVA) also started construction at the end of 2021 and is under construction, with progress synchronized with the Pac Ma - Muong Te 220 kV line.

At the Lai Chau 500 kV Substation Capacity Upgrading Project (from 2 x 450 MVA to 2 x 900 MVA), construction is underway with an expected energization date of January 2026.

The installation of the third 220 kV transformer at the 220 kV Than Uyen transformer station is currently being approved for investment policy, but there are no more problems after EVNNPT provided explanations as requested by the province.

The most challenging is still the power line projects with site clearance.

For example, the Phong Tho - Than Uyen 220 kV line (2 x 87.87 km) is planned to start construction in the third quarter of 2025 and be energized in the fourth quarter of 2025. However, the project is currently stuck in investment approval procedures because it is finalizing the dossier according to the appraisal opinions of the provincial departments.

Meanwhile, the Pac Ma - Muong Te 220 kV Transmission Line Project (2 x 30.9 km) started construction on December 29, 2022 and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025, but is stuck in procedures for approving investment policies and changing forest use purposes.

For the 220 kV Than Uyen Line - 500 kV Lao Cai Substation (2 x 73.2 km, the section in Lai Chau province is 5.7 km long), on May 22, 2025, EVNNPT approved the project and is currently in the stage of technical design and total estimate.

EVNNPT leaders also requested that Lai Chau province support EVNNPT in approving investment policies and investors for power grid projects according to regulations.

In order to successfully complete the assigned tasks, contributing to the socio-economic development of Lai Chau province, EVN,/EVNNPT proposes that the People's Committee of Lai Chau province continue to create favorable conditions and support EVN and its member units in the investment and construction of power source and grid projects, and electricity supply in the province. In particular, creating favorable conditions for EVNNPT to proactively select units to carry out cadastral measurement work to serve the work of planning, compensation, and resettlement support to increase the initiative in work progress.

With the reality that the Project to merge a number of provincial administrative units, not organizing at the district level, and continue to merge commune-level administrative units in localities, not organizing at the district level, will take effect from July 1, 2025, EVN also requested the People's Committee of Lai Chau province to soon appoint a focal agency to carry out compensation and site clearance work of the locality to carry out related work of the project so that EVN and the Corporations can coordinate to speed up the work.

EVN/EVNNPT also recommended that Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee direct hydropower investors in Muong So area to invest in 110 kV lines to serve the transmission of hydropower plants' capacity to the system, in sync with the progress of Phong Tho 220 kV transformer station, to relieve the capacity of hydropower plants and at the same time contribute to increasing the local budget.

In an exchange with EVN/EVNNPT, Chairman of Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee Le Van Luong also said that the two sides had held meetings in previous meetings regarding the problems related to power transmission projects, and that the problems are now being resolved. In particular, some transmission projects have had their investment policies approved.

For other projects, the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Finance, the Department of Industry and Trade, and the People's Committees of the districts to coordinate and advise the Provincial People's Committee, synthesize the contents, discuss plans, to jointly implement and soon approve the investment policy of the remaining projects as soon as possible.

The Chairman of Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee also emphasized that the power source and grid projects implemented in Lai Chau province are all projects that ensure the country's energy security goals as well as ensure the province's socio-economic development.

Therefore, the province will have the highest responsibility to closely coordinate with EVN, EVNNPT and other units to complete the projects soon. During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties or problems, EVN, EVNNPT and other units will proactively propose to assign specialized agencies to study and propose solutions to meet the project progress.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/ban-cach-go-kho-cho-cac-du-an-truyen-tai-dien-o-lai-chau-d302206.html