Efforts to restore power supply

The floods have damaged many power lines and poles, disrupting power supply to thousands of households, especially in remote areas. The electricity sector is urgently implementing preventive and response measures to ensure the safety of people's lives and state assets.

Pole No. 33 of the 110kV Phuoc Son - DakMi 4 Hydropower Line collapsed due to a landslide. Photo: PHUONG ANH

Many incidents caused widespread power outages.

Da Nang Power Company has seriously implemented the direction of the Central Power Corporation (EVNCPC), urgently implementing preventive measures and responding to complicated weather developments. Regional Power Operation Management Teams proactively coordinated with the local Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Control and Search and Rescue to review high-risk locations, inspect the line corridor, especially areas prone to flooding and landslides.

To prevent electrical accidents during prolonged heavy rains, regional power management teams have cut off nearly 3,500 transformer stations in areas predicted to be deeply flooded, low-lying areas and areas at risk of landslides, to ensure absolute safety for people. Proactively cutting off power in a controlled manner helps minimize the risk of fire, explosion, electrical short circuits and electrical accidents among people, while also making it easier for local forces to organize rescue when needed.

Electricity workers travel by boat to fix power problems in Hoi An. Photo: PHUONG ANH

It is known that many power grid locations in the area have been seriously affected. In the Tra My area, heavy rain caused landslides, causing nearly 15 medium and low voltage power poles to collapse. The terrain of this area is mainly steep hills and mountains, the roads are divided, many points can only be accessed by trails, creating great pressure and danger for the operating workers when performing their tasks.

The most notable incident occurred on the afternoon of October 28, when a landslide in Phuoc Hiep commune completely knocked down pole 33 of the Phuoc Son - Dak Mi 4B 110kV line, the only power supply line for Phuoc Son 110kV station and the entire region (old Phuoc Son district). The backup 22kV line from Hiep Duc district (old) was designed to support power supply when an incident occurred, but was also damaged by the impact of floods. The series of incidents caused a power outage in the entire area, greatly affecting people's lives, communication, command and control work and the implementation of disaster response plans in the area.

Determined to restore power as soon as possible

Immediately after the incident, Da Nang Electricity Company established a special working group, including officers from the Safety Department, Technical Department and high voltage grid enterprise, to urgently approach the scene to directly survey, assess the extent of damage and develop a detailed repair plan.

However, the approach process encountered many obstacles when the roads leading to the center of Phuoc Hiep commune and the landslide area were eroded, with the risk of further collapse, making it impossible for motor vehicles to move. Many sections of the road were completely cut off, and the force had to walk through the forest, ensuring safety in conditions of steep slopes and rocks that continued to slide down.

Leaders of the Safety Department, Technical Department and Da Nang High Voltage Grid Enterprise discussed plans to fix the problem of the 110kV pole and the 22kV power line supplying electricity to the Phuoc Son highland area. Photo: PHUONG ANH

According to Mr. Vo Anh Hung, Deputy Director of Da Nang Electricity Company, the unit has asked the city's leaders to support vehicles, especially excavators, bulldozers, and specialized vehicles to open the road and facilitate the transportation of materials and equipment. "Opening the route is a prerequisite. The electricity industry is mobilizing maximum forces, taking advantage of every hour and every day to restore power supply to the people in the Phuoc Son highlands as soon as safety conditions allow," Mr. Anh affirmed.

According to EVNCPC’s report, heavy rains in the provinces and cities in the Central region recently caused 492 incidents and grid outages. As of 12:00 on October 29, 444,335 customers were still without power in Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ngai and Quang Tri. Da Nang city alone was the most severely affected: 230,899 customers and 2,045 transformer stations were interrupted.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Khanh, Deputy General Director of EVNCPC, Head of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue of EVNCPC Corporation, said that the units are on duty 24/7, closely coordinating with local authorities and rescue forces to ensure electrical safety, and restore power supply as soon as the water level recedes and construction conditions allow.

Electrical safety is the top priority. The Corporation has asked power companies in the area to concentrate human resources, materials, and equipment, ready to restore power as soon as possible, not to let people suffer from prolonged power shortages.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/no-luc-khoi-phuc-cap-dien-3308692.html