Many contractors are slow in constructing the 500 kV line 3 to the North.

Despite being handed over the site by the investor, many contractors are still slow to construct the pile foundation positions of the 500 kV line project, circuit 3, Quang Trach - Pho Noi.

The 500kV line 3 extension project consists of 4 component projects, with a length of 514 km connecting Quang Trach ( Quang Binh ) to Pho Noi (Hung Yen) with a total investment of about 23,000 billion VND (nearly 1 billion USD). These projects will all start construction in October 2023 and January 2024.

Currently, component projects including the 500kV line from Quang Trach to Quynh Luu, the Quynh Luu to Thanh Hoa section, the Nam Dinh I to Thanh Hoa Thermal Power Plant, and the Nam Dinh I to Pho Noi are under construction to be able to be energized in June as directed by the Prime Minister.

However, the project investor, the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT), said that many construction contractors are behind schedule and slow in digging foundations. Many pile foundation locations have been handed over but contractors have not yet brought pile drivers into position for construction. This risks affecting the progress of the entire project.

Due to the very short remaining time, EVNNPT requires the Northern and Central Power Project Management Boards, the consulting and construction contractors to continuously work in 3 shifts, 4 shifts, 24/7, and during holidays to ensure progress.

Supervision consultants must review and report the list of contractors behind schedule so that the Project Management Board can have a solution.

"If the contractor continues to delay progress and does not carry out construction seriously, there will be sanctions," said the investor. The most severe sanction is to terminate the contract to select another contractor with sufficient capacity, according to EVNNPT.

According to Power Plan VIII, the cluster of 500 kV line projects, circuit 3, Quang Trach - Pho Noi, is expected to operate in 2025 - 2026. However, since the beginning of 2023, complicated weather conditions have affected the capacity and output of hydropower plants.

At the same time, the transmission of electricity from the Central region to the North is difficult because the 500 kV North-Central line is always at a high limit (maximum 2,500-2,700 MW). Exceeding this limit leads to the risk of grid collapse, affecting the power supply of the entire system.

The operation of the 500 kV Quang Trach - Pho Noi line will increase transmission capacity to about 5,000 MW, ensuring inter-regional grid connection, contributing to electricity supply and avoiding the risk of power shortages in the North in the coming years.

In addition to the risk of delays due to the contractor, the 500kV line 3 circuit is also facing difficulties due to the lack of regulations and guidelines related to the conversion of forest land use purposes and procedures for impacting forests to open temporary construction roads. According to EVN data, the forest area of the temporary road of the 500kV Quynh Luu - Thanh Hoa line is nearly 3.5 hectares, and the Quang Trach - Quynh Luu section is more than 6 hectares.

At the meeting on February 16, the Minister of Industry and Trade requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to report to the Prime Minister to soon issue a decree amending Decree 156 allowing impacts on forests for project construction. While waiting for this decree to take effect, he proposed that the Government issue a policy allowing localities to convert forest land and agricultural land for construction purposes.

Phuong Dung

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