EVN accelerates 500kV Van Phong-Vinh Tan transmission line

EVN proposes solutions to accelerate 500kV Van Phong – Vinh Tan transmission line

Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) has sent a document to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as well as the people's committees of Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan provinces to request support to change the use purpose of forest land allocated for the transmission line project so that legal procedures related to the forest land can be completed before December 31.

Due to COVID-19, EVN also proposed the authorities appraise the dossier on changing the use purpose of forest land via online meetings. After that, the authorities can implement a post-check after the change.

At the online meeting with the leaders of Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan people’s committees in early September, Tran Dinh Nhan, general director of EVN requested the two provinces to complete legal procedures for land clearance in order to hand over land to develop the power station before December 30 and the grid safety corridor before June 2022.

EVN proposed the two provinces establish a steering committee for land clearance to monitor the work between September 2021 and June 2022. Additionally, the two provinces were tasked with organising meetings to monitor and punish people, who either refuse the approved compensation or deliberately obstruct the project’s implementation.

In July, through National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT), EVN started the construction of the 500kV transmission line project from Van Phong Thermal Power Plant to Vinh Tan Thermal Power Plant.

The project is scheduled to be constructed within 18 months, which is relatively quick compared to other projects of similar size and nature, while COVID-19 spells further delays for the implementation process.

In construction activities, difficulties have arisen in employment due to movement restrictions for construction workers and vehicles crossing provinces. In addition, the supply of construction materials and equipment has been delayed since many businesses are closed or supply is limited. The delivery of many bid packages have been delayed, affecting the scheduled commissioning plan.