Lao Cai - Vinh Yen 500kV Transmission Line: Trying hard to "overcome the sun, overcome the rain", safe construction

Manufacture and install

As the unit responsible for manufacturing 128 steel column positions, Viet Vuong Joint Stock Company is speeding up progress in all stages.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Thang, Deputy General Director of the Company and Director of the Steel Column Manufacturing Factory, said that the rainy season is starting, making transportation and installation difficult, so the production of 128 steel columns (including 52 V-shaped steel columns and 76 pipe columns) with a total weight of 14,500 tons is being accelerated by the unit with a progress of 3 shifts and 4 crews, operating 24/7 to hand over to the construction and installation side as soon as possible.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Thang, Deputy General Director of Viet Vuong Joint Stock Company.

At the Lao Cai - Vinh Yen 500 kV Transmission Line Project, the steel pole production and construction work were combined into one package, so the coordination between the steel pole supplier and the construction contractor was tighter and smoother to ensure urgent construction progress.

The joint venture of Viet A Group Joint Stock Company - Viet Vuong Joint Stock Company is the winning bidder for construction and installation of 128 column positions.

Mr. Thang said that the manufacturing and construction units coordinated very well, ensuring that materials and components for column erection were delivered directly to the foundation location as soon as fabrication was completed, avoiding the situation of "columns waiting for foundations" or "foundations waiting for columns" as happened in other projects.

Steel column manufacturing at Viet Vuong Joint Stock Company.

Also anticipating the difficult reality when the project implementation progress is quite urgent, the project's critical path falls right in the annual rainy season in the North with the risk of flooding and landslides, so from the beginning, this contractor has proactively sought out reliable material suppliers, not waiting until there is a contract to worry. Although expanding production in many areas makes labor recruitment difficult, the company is making great efforts to finish related work early.

“The transport units are long-term partners who understand the requirements of the construction site, helping to coordinate effectively between production and installation. It is expected that all columns will be completed at the factory before June 20,” said Mr. Thang.

Accelerate the production of steel columns

Participating in 4 bidding packages of the Lao Cai - Vinh Yen 500 kV Transmission Line project, including 3 transmission line bidding packages and 1 bidding package for expanding the 500 kV transformer station, Mr. Vu Van Nam, Director of Electrical Construction and Trading Mechanical Joint Stock Company 4, said that the handover of all steel columns of bidding package No. 4 and bidding package No. 5 for expanding the 500 kV Vinh Yen station has been completed. Bidding packages No. 2 and No. 9 are also being accelerated for complete handover in the first few days of June.

Steel pole production at Electrical Construction and Trading Mechanical Joint Stock Company 4.

With a total volume of about 8,500 tons of steel columns, Electrical Construction and Trading Mechanical Joint Stock Company 4 is expected to complete the last shipment on June 24, 20-25 days ahead of schedule.

The 500kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen transmission line project is also one of the projects that Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) has put into use steel pipe poles, requiring high technology and strict progress. Therefore, the company had to mobilize all human resources to work in 3 shifts, 4 shifts to ensure progress, especially when importing materials encountered many difficulties.

Vu Van Nam, Director of Electrical Construction and Trading Mechanical Joint Stock Company 4.

According to Mr. Nam, the first application of steel pipe anchor columns caused a problem in design and manufacturing. However, the company worked closely with the investor and design unit to resolve the problem and ensure technical requirements.

“With experience from previous transmission projects such as circuit 3 and an investment of more than VND20 billion in equipment and machinery, the company has been proactive in terms of resources and is ready to meet the project’s requirements,” said Mr. Nam, adding that the unit is continuing to invest to improve its capacity to meet the needs of future projects.

Compared to the 145-meter poles at the 500 kV Line 3 or the 150-meter poles across the Hau River, the height of the steel poles at the Lao Cai - Vinh Yen 500 kV Line Project that this unit is responsible for manufacturing is 111 meters and an average of 95 meters, which is not difficult for businesses.

Mr. Bui Quang Canh, Director of Power Construction Company 4 (PCC4), said that the initiative, adherence to progress, and even ahead of schedule of steel pole suppliers is "extremely important". Especially for PCC4, the unit that won package No. 2 more than 1 month later than the construction packages along the entire route.

Not only that, there are more than 10 locations with hard rocks; locations 83 - 84 are located in the cave area so the route must be changed/rectified. The route straightening work was just completed on May 25, so compensation, site clearance and construction work must be very urgent to complete the column foundation construction by June 10.

“With decades of experience in constructing transmission lines, as soon as the contract was signed, PCC4 was very aware that the 3 key months of construction would fall from June to August, which is also the rainy season in the North with many unpredictable developments. Therefore, although there are other transmission projects, we have determined that the Lao Cai - Vinh Yen 500 kV Transmission Line project is the number one priority to ensure progress. We have prepared our forces, especially to ensure transportation, PCC4 has used specialized transport vehicles from the Central region to meet the highest progress for this project,” said Mr. Bui Quang Canh.

Be proactive in all plans, prioritize safety

Mr. Do Quang Khai, Deputy Director of Power Project Management Board 1 - the unit assigned by EVN to manage and implement the project, said that by the end of May, 236 locations had completed pouring concrete foundations, and 156 locations were under construction. It is expected that all foundation concrete work will be completed by early June.

“We require contractors to erect poles and pull wires parallel to the foundation construction to avoid delays. 25 locations have completed pole erection, 36 locations are under construction. The remaining locations are also being accelerated to transport poles to the foundation in time for erection,” said Mr. Khai.

Mr. Do Quang Khai, Deputy Director of Power Project Management Board 1.

All 468 foundation locations have been handed over to the Board and contractors by the authorities of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho , and Vinh Phuc provinces. Yen Bai alone has counted 86/90 locations, and it is expected that by the end of May and the beginning of June, compensation will be completed, payment will be made to the people, and the ground for wire pulling will be secured.

The biggest difficulty for the project is considered to be the rainy season weather conditions. Transporting materials and constructing the foundation is hindered by slippery roads and landslides.

“We have directed contractors to proactively take measures to construct immediately after the rain: pump out water, dredge mud, and use special vehicles to transport materials to the foundation,” said Mr. Khai.

According to Mr. Khai, the construction cannot be done sequentially from 1 to 10 but must be carried out at each available location. The Board has identified the “critical paths” of the progress, directing the contractor to prioritize production and assembly at convenient locations to avoid wasting waiting time.

Although the progress from now until completion is only more than 2 months is very urgent, especially the peak of pole erection and wire pulling coincides with the rainy and flood season in the North, Mr. Do Quang Khai, Deputy Director of Power Project Management Board 1 (and Director of the Executive Board of the Lao Cai - Vinh Yen 500 kV Transmission Line Project) also said that the construction on the line must ensure "absolute safety".

The investor has requested contractors to develop safety plans for the rainy season, especially for locations at risk of landslides in the project.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/duong-day-500kv-lao-cai---vinh-yen-doc-suc-vuot-nang-thang-mua-thi-cong-an-toan-d298592.html