Construction of 500 kV Lao Cai transmission line

This morning, March 3, 2025 in Yen Bai, Vietnam Electricity Group and Power Project Management Board 1 held a ceremony to launch the construction of the 500 kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen transmission line, the section passing through Yen Bai province.

This morning, March 3, 2025 in Yen Bai, Vietnam Electricity Group and Power Project Management Board 1 held a ceremony to launch the construction of the 500 kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen transmission line, the section passing through Yen Bai province.

The 500 kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen Transmission Line Project is one of the national key projects approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 1274/QD-TTg dated October 26, 2024 and approved by the Board of Members of Vietnam Electricity Group for the Investment Project in Decision No. 23/QD-HDTV dated January 16, 2025.

This is a special-level energy industry project, belonging to the list of important national programs, projects and works, key to the energy sector, playing a very important role in the socio-economic development of the country in general and the northern provinces in particular.

Delegates performed the ceremony to launch the project.

The project has a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 04 provinces including Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, with a total of 468 pole foundation locations. The starting point of the project is Lao Cai 500 kV station, the end point is Vinh Yen 500 kV station. Of which, the section passing through Yen Bai province is 90.2 km. The project is expected to be completed before September 2, 2025.

The total investment of the Project is more than 7,410 billion VND, arranged from 80% loan capital from the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) and 20% counterpart capital from the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) (before tax).

Once put into operation, the line will release about 2,000 MW from hydropower plants in the Northwest region and neighboring provinces to the national grid and increase the ability to import electricity. At the same time, it will create a strong connection between regions in the power system; improve the ability to operate safely and stably for the national power system; reduce power loss in the transmission grid; increase the efficiency of EVN's electricity production and business.

Construction at the foundation position of column 171 in Yen Bai province of Lao Cai 500 kV Line

The section passing through Yen Bai province alone is 90.06 km long, with 173 pole foundation locations (from VT102 to VT274), passing through 02 districts: Luc Yen and Yen Binh. The project contributes to ensuring energy sources for the province's medium and long-term development goals, increasing budget revenue, and creating job opportunities for local businesses and workers.

Speaking at the construction launch ceremony, the representative of Vietnam Electricity Group said that during the investment preparation and implementation of the project, EVN received the attention and close direction of the Government, the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises, along with the support and close coordination of the Provincial Party Committee, the People's Committees of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho and Vinh Phuc provinces, the Departments and Branches of the provinces; District Party Committees, People's Committees of 12 districts in the 4 provinces, the joint efforts and consensus of the people in the Project area to speed up the progress of compensation, support and resettlement.

Mr. Pham Hong Phuong, Deputy General Director of EVN spoke

Mr. Pham Hong Phuong, Deputy General Director of EVN said that after 3 months of preparation, the project preparation steps under the authority of the investor and the responsibility of the ministries and branches have been urgently carried out. The initial site clearance work has been implemented smoothly, with results and sufficient conditions to implement each bidding package of the project.

"Currently, the work of approving and paying money to people is being vigorously implemented with the goal of quickly completing this work to clear the entire route to serve the construction work," said Mr. Phuong.

Vietnam Electricity Group also requested the leaders of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee, leaders of departments and branches of Yen Bai province; leaders of local districts and communes in the project area to continue to pay attention to and direct the implementation of compensation, support, and resettlement work, and soon complete the handover of the entire site of pole foundations and route corridors so that the Investor can organize and synchronously implement construction of pole foundations along the entire route to meet the project's progress.

Vietnam Electricity Group assigned the Power Project Management Board 1 and contractors to manage the project, organize construction to ensure compliance with quality and environmental requirements, focus resources and equipment to speed up progress, and strive to complete the project according to the set plan.

On the local side, Mr. Ngo Hanh Phuc, Vice Chairman of Yen Bai Provincial People's Committee said that in order to meet the construction progress according to the Prime Minister's direction, in the past time, the province has focused on directing departments, branches, and district People's Committees to closely coordinate with units of Vietnam Electricity Group to speed up the project progress, periodically organize working sessions with investors to promptly remove and resolve difficulties and problems in the implementation process, especially in compensation and site clearance. Up to now, the site has been basically handed over to implement the construction of the 500kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen transmission line (the section passing through Yen Bai province).

Mr. Ngo Hanh Phuc, Vice Chairman of Yen Bai Provincial People's Committee spoke

According to the Investor's report, to implement the project, it is necessary to reclaim an area of 24.31 hectares of land in 23 communes and towns of Luc Yen and Yen Binh districts with 65 households having to resettle.

The leaders of Yen Bai province also requested the Investor, Power Project Management Board 1 and contractors, related units to organize construction in strict compliance with technical procedures and regulations, ensuring the highest progress and quality; closely coordinate with Yen Bai provincial departments, branches, local authorities in resolving related issues and recommendations of the people. Strive to complete the project before September 2, 2025.

Relevant departments, branches and sectors of the province are also required to perform well the State management function, have the responsibility to closely inspect and supervise the project implementation process, and at the same time coordinate and promptly remove difficulties and obstacles, creating the most favorable conditions for the Investor and construction units to successfully complete the project implementation tasks.

Also on this occasion, EVN and the contractor presented social security gifts to the locality and scholarships to local students.