Inauguration of the Circuit 3 500kV transmission line - project of willpower, determination and efforts to overcome challenges

The spirit of "enduring the sun, overcoming the rain, not yielding to storms", "focusing on action, not retreating" and overcoming every difficulty and challenge, and resolving seemingly insurmountable obstacles, has led to numerous achievements in this critical energy infrastructure project.

The project has received special attention and close direction from the Government, the Prime Minister, ministries, sectors, and local authorities, with the active involvement of the entire political system and the support from the people and businesses.

The large workload and numerous challenges

Quang Trach – Pho Noi Circuit 3 500kV transmission line is a large-scale project, with a total length of 519 kilometres, two circuits, and 1,177 tower positions. The total investment amounts to over 22.3 trillion VND (nearly 1 billion USD). The project involves over 2.5 million cubic metres of excavation, 705,000 cubic metres of concrete, 70,000 tonnes of foundation rebar, and a total steel tower installation weight of 139,000 tonnes. Almost 14,000 kilometres of various types of conductors were installed. This is a critical and urgent project, highly significant for enhancing the 500kV power transmission capacity from Central to Northern Vietnam, increasing the current capacity of 2,500 MW to 5,000 MW, improving the stability of the power system, boosting electricity supply to Northern Vietnam by 2025 and beyond, reducing the risk of overload for existing 500kV lines and substations, and contributing to national energy security, economic development, and national defence.

The National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) leaders witness the successful energisation of the Quang Trach - Quynh Luu 500kV line. (Photo: Le Linh - EVNICT)

The construction process faced numerous challenges, including a large volume of land compensation and clearance work, with a total area of approximately 1.83 million square metres, spanning nine provinces. Additionally, the support resettlement, and production stabilisation for 167 displaced households and 5,248 affected households and difficulties due to the simultaneous mobilisation of many specialised construction machines and equipment along the route. Challenges were also faced in mobilising a skilled and highly technical workforce for tower erection and conductor pulling.

Other challenges also include terrain difficulties, with many sites on high and steep hills, challenging access roads to tower foundation positions, especially during rainy weather with slippery slopes and unfavourable working conditions and construction during the most adverse weather conditions, such as light rain and cold, extreme heat, and stormy weather with strong winds lasting from 3 to 7 hours, accompanied by thunderstorms, requiring work stoppages to ensure worker and equipment safety, and the difficulties in steel tower supply due to the large total volume and tight deadlines.

Joint efforts of the entire political system

Since initiating the investment and construction, the Circuit-3 500kV transmission line from Quang Trach to Pho Noi has received strong and consistent attention and direction from the entire political system. Particularly, the Government and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh have provided vigorous oversight, with numerous meetings chaired by the Prime Minister to address difficulties, resolve issues, and expedite the project's progress.

The Prime Minister also frequently visited construction sites of the Circuit-3 500kV transmission line in various provinces to assess project progress and grasp obstacles, especially those related to land clearance, and provide timely instructions to investors, contractors, consultants, and local authorities. He has also encouraged and motivated the officials, engineers, and workers on site, ensuring they "endure the sun, overcome the rain" while meeting deadlines and maintaining the quality and aesthetics of the project.

The Circuit-3 500kV transmission line from Quang Trach to Pho Noi. (Photo: Tran Hai)

With new thinking, methods, and approaches compared to previous practices, the project's implementation time has been significantly shortened to meet the completion deadline as directed by the Prime Minister. This unprecedented achievement surpasses previous 500kV transmission line projects.

Installation of insulators on the Circuit-3 500kV transmission line from Quang Trach to Pho Noi in Thanh Hoa Province. (Photo: Tran Hai)

Projects with a similar scale and volume typically require 3 to 4 years to complete. For example, the Pleiku-My Phuoc-Cau Bong Circuit-3 500kV transmission line, which is 437 kilometres long, took nearly 3 years to construct, and the Circuit-3 500kV transmission line’s Vung Ang-Quang Trach-Doc Soi-Pleiku 2 section, which is 740 km long, also required 4 years. However, the Circuit-3 500kV transmission line from Quang Trach to Pho Noi was completed in approximately 6 months. For context, while Circuit-1 500kV North-South required the installation of 60,000 tonnes of steel towers, this project required 139,000 tonnes of steel—over twice as much as Circuit 1.

The optimistic spirit of the officials and workers on the project. (Photo: EVNICT)

Following the Prime Minister’s directives and the decisive and frequent involvement of the provincial Party committees and local authorities in implementing the "4 on-site" principles, EVN/EVNNPT has collaborated with local authorities to mobilise human resources, machinery, equipment, and materials from the project areas, thus accelerating the foundation excavation progress.

For the tasks of tower erection and conductor pulling, the agencies and units have actively supported the EVN, EVNNPT, and contractors in all aspects. In terms of human resources, additional personnel were deployed, including more than 3,300 workers directly involved in tower erection and conductor pulling. The Military Industry-Telecom Group (Viettel), Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), and Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN) provided support with nearly 250 people. Local police and military forces, such as the Military Region 3, Military Region 4, and local militia, mobilised over 1,500 people, contributing thousands of man-days to the project. Regarding transportation, Vietnam Railways Corporation promptly transported nearly 1,000 containers of imported materials and equipment to Vietnam for delivery to construction units.

Additionally, the provincial Youth Unions mobilised hundreds of teams with over 6,000 members to support house and structure clearance under the transmission line corridor and manage traffic flow. The Vietnam Fatherland Front, Labour Federation, and Women’s Union in the provinces also regularly visited, encouraged, and actively participated in logistical support, ensuring food and supplies for engineers and workers involved in the project. Local authorities and police forces ensured security and order at construction sites and arranged accommodation and dining facilities for the construction workers, significantly contributing to the project's accelerated progress.

The construction of the Circuit-3 500kV transmission line, with the spirit of "enduring the sun, overcoming the rain, and not yielding to storms". (Photo: Thanh Vinh - EVNICT)

Central and local media agencies have promptly reported with engaging and dynamic news articles and reports, creating beautiful images of officials, engineers, and workers on the construction site. These reports have motivated and encouraged, creating enthusiasm and inspiration for the workers on the project. In particular, the articles and images from the construction sites served as vivid evidence of the comprehensive strength of the entire political system and the great unity of the people, highlighting the support and assistance from various local forces and organisations.

Many valuable lessons and experiences

In recent meetings to review and expedite progress, as well as in on-site inspections, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has praised the leadership of ministries, sectors, local authorities, political and social organisations, EVN, EVNNPT, consultants, equipment suppliers, and construction units for their spirit of "enduring the sun, overcoming the rain, and not yielding to storms", "only discussing action, not retreating", "working days and nights, taking advantage of every moment" and operating continuously all day with "three shifts, four teams" working through holidays, festivals, and rest days. Thanks to these efforts, the project was completed and energised as directed by the Prime Minister.

Through the implementation of the Circuit-3 500kV transmission line from Quang Trach to Pho Noi, PM Pham Minh Chinh has highlighted six key lessons learned:

The Circuit-3 500kV transmission line’s section through Thanh Hoa Province. (Photo: EVNICT)

Firstly, the leadership and direction must be focused, decisive, and scientific, along with enhanced inspection, supervision, encouragement, and timely and sincere sharing.

Secondly, the assignments must be clear regarding individuals, tasks, responsibilities, timelines, and measurable outcomes to facilitate monitoring, supervision, and evaluation.

Thirdly, it is crucial to harness comprehensive strength and mobilise the entire political system, including local authorities, relevant ministries and sectors, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and political-social organisations.

Fourthly, effective communications and public mobilisation are also necessary to create consensus and voluntary cooperation from the public in land handover and participation in project execution with local authorities and construction units.

Fifthly, investors and construction units must carry out the project with high determination, great effort, decisive action with clear priorities, and positive coordination with local areas. They should assess and utilise capable local resources, create opportunities for local enterprises and contractors to grow, gain experience, and work together for mutual success and development. Enhancing coordination between forces, levels, and sectors is crucial for scientific and effective work.

The erection of towers for the Circuit-3 500kV transmission line. (Photo: EVNICT)

Sixthly, a vibrant emulation movement was promoted, and the encouragement and rewards were conducted timely, creating an enthusiastic work atmosphere and striving to achieve results, all for the national and ethnic interests and the country's development.

Continuing the proud 70-year tradition of the Vietnamese electricity sector, the rapid completion of double or triple the workload, within a significantly shortened timeframe compared to previous projects of Circuit 1 and Circuit 2, demonstrates the tremendous effort and determination of EVN, EVNNPT, project management units, contractors, on-site support units, and over 23,000 officials and workers involved in the project. In the future, EVNNPT—the project investor—will continue to coordinate with agencies to complete remaining tasks, such as environmental restoration and cleanliness, ensure compliance with legal regulations for acceptance and final settlement, conduct comprehensive reviews and evaluations of the project implementation and organise effective and safe operation of the facility.

The efforts to overcome numerous difficulties and challenges and to complete the project on schedule is a source of honour and pride and tangible action to celebrate the 79th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (September 2) as well as the 70th anniversary of the Vietnamese electricity sector (December 21, 1954 - 2024).