500kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen transmission line project determined to energize by September

The 500kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen line is situated on high mountains, in treacherous locations, making cable installation extremely arduous. (Source: EVN)

For several days, the construction units working on poles from positions 100 to 113 in Khanh Hoa commune, Lao Cai province, have been urgently addressing the issue of a broken compression sleeve (used to connect conductor ends) during the cable installation of the 500kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen line.

Sharing about these relentless efforts, Nguyen Duy Hung, Director of Hung Phu Thinh Electrical Construction Company, stated: “Throughout the National Day holiday, our team remained on site, waiting for replacement equipment from Hanoi while simultaneously installing pilot wires to the pole tops and setting up scaffolding to support the cables. Everyone is striving every hour, every minute to complete the task in the coming days.”

Notably, each electrical coil is over 2km long and weighs nearly 5 tons, making the task of laying and hanging cables on pole tops far from simple, requiring mechanical assistance.

Vu Quang Chien from the Lam Dong Transmission Team, part of Power Transmission Company 3, who worked through the recent holiday, said: “Stringing 500kV cables across rivers and mountains is a challenging phase for the power sector, demanding workers with both endurance and experience. When the cables are hoisted to the necessary positions, two workers are ready to secure the cables to the insulators. The cable installation requires seamless coordination, as each person is positioned tens of meters apart, so everyone uses walkie-talkies to communicate.”

The workers directly involved in the construction noted that the pole positions in Lao Cai province are on steep terrain with narrow foundations, and 100% of the foundations are placed on cone-shaped, uneven surfaces. Previously, due to continuous rain, transporting equipment to the pole bases required road clearing and using excavators to remove mud.

Nguyen Huu Hung, an engineer responsible for the technical aspects of package 2 (from pole VT52 to VT99, Company TNHH MTV Electrical Construction 4), added: “Moreover, some pole positions encountered weathered rock right from the surface when digging foundations. This type of rock is very tough, breaking only into fragments when drilled. Foundations encountering rock require multiple drill bits and expanding agents to separate the rock before it can be excavated. We had to mobilize three large excavators with hydraulic hammers to simultaneously dig and remove the rock to the disposal site. It took nearly two months to complete, so we are taking advantage of favorable weather to work around the clock.”

Safety officers from the Gia Lai Transmission Team closely monitor the construction process, regularly inspecting equipment and ensuring operations comply with safety regulations. (Source: EVN)

According to Do Quang Khai, Deputy Director of Project Management Unit 1 and Director of the 500kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen Transmission Line Project, over 2,000 workers and machinery were maintained before and after the National Day holiday on September 2 to complete the final stages.

“The entire line is working with a sprint spirit and high determination. Currently, teams and construction units are striving to overcome difficulties to complete the project as soon as possible,” affirmed Do Quang Khai.

It can be said that all personnel and machinery are currently focused on the highest goal of ensuring progress, quality, and absolute safety for the project. The spirit of “overcoming challenges, rapid action, decisive victory” has become a rallying cry, motivating the collective of officials, engineers, and workers on the construction site.

The 500kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen line is not just an infrastructure project but a symbol of the aspiration to rise, realizing the policy of sustainable energy development. When the first electricity flows through the substation, it will be a testament to the strength of unity, resilience, and Vietnamese intelligence. The line will go down in history as a mark of solidarity and tenacity when human willpower triumphs over terrain and challenges, bringing light to every village and home.

The pole positions in Lao Cai province are on steep terrain with narrow foundations, and 100% of the foundations are placed on cone-shaped, uneven surfaces. (Source: EVN)