Promoting international collaboration for sustainable development of hydropower projects in Vietnam

From April 25 to 27, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the consortium of technical consultants including Tractebel and Bureau Veritas Vietnam met and worked with the Power Project Management Board 2 (PMB2) belonging to Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) during the visit to the Ialy Hydropower Plant Extension project located in Kon Tum and Gia Lai.

The site visit was part of the technical assistance project that AFD and Team Europe sponsored for EVN.

Accordingly, the parties performed a survey on the current status of EVN’s health, safety, and environment (HSE) management system in the Ialy Hydropower Plant Extension project in the comparison with the requirements of ISO14001 (environment management) and ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety management).

The delegation worked with the PMB2 on the project implementation status, the construction management, the HSE commitments, and the next action plan.

The AFD delegation visited and worked with PMB2 and contractors on the Ialy Hydropower Plant Extension project

In the first phase, the consortium of technical consultants including Tractebel and Bureau Veritas Vietnam, has supported EVN in developing HSE criteria in the phase of selecting contractors and installation packages for the hydropower plant.

In addition, the experience learned during the deployment of the HSE management system in Ialy will be shared with other EVN hydropower projects which are under construction and in operation.

The technical consulting team proposed improvements to the environment, social, health, and safety system (ESHS). So far, the project has achieved certain results related to its HSE management.

Accordingly, environmental concerns are efficiently monitored thanks to dust reduction works such as installing the misting system on the road near the construction site, construction of wastewater treatment and sullage treatment tanks, and installation of waste bins at construction sites and camps as well as hazardous waste storage facilities, among others.

Regarding social concerns, the investor has provided compensation for crop damage to locals in Ya Tang commune, Kon Tum province.

In terms of health, all workers receive health checks periodically and understand first aid procedures. The onsite medical clinics have sufficient equipment available. The contractors also installed equipment to measure light, air quality, and noise in the tunnel to maintain a safe and healthy working environment.

When it comes to safety, rule signs have been placed around the construction areas and protective equipment is disseminated before each shift. After nearly a year of construction, there had been no labour accidents or explosions.

“What we have achieved in the very first phases of ESHS management with the technical assistance of Tractebel and Bureau Veritas Vietnam has proven AFD and EVN's dedication to developing, constructing, and operating hydropower projects in an efficient, sustainable, and environmentally responsible way,” said Do Trung Thanh, deputy director of the PMB2 of Ialy Hydropower Plant Extension project. “Following that, we attained high worker health and safety, with minimised impacts on local inhabitants and better-regulated impacts on the surrounding environment and ecosystems.”

Nguyen Thi Thanh An, head of the Climate and Energy Team at AFD Vietnam said, “AFD is proud to be a partner of Vietnam in a variety of initiatives that contribute to the country's energy transition. The assistance to EVN in improving its HSE practices towards international standards – with the Ialy hydropower extension as a pilot of such HSE system – we expect to help improve EVN’s current practices, in particular for hydropower projects where all employees work healthily, safely, and environmentally friendly. This will be a crucial step in the journey towards sustainable energy for the country.”