New electricity grid ensures stable supply

The 500kV electricity grid from Pleiku – My Phuoc – Cau Bong is expected to be operational by the end of April, providing a stable electricity supply for southern provinces.

More than 400 workers and engineers of the No 1 Electricity Construction Joint Stock company are finishing the final work on the grid located in Ben Cat District, Binh Duong Province.


"We have built 69 km of the grid in the southern provinces of Binh Phuoc and Binh Duong through challenging terrain in mountainous areas. We have had difficulties in ground clearance and all our human resources have been mobilised to work through noon until sunset," Dang Van Nghia, deputy general director of the company, told the Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper.

The 427km project, starting from Pleiku in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai to HCM City, runs through 21 districts of six provinces with 926 pillars. About 5,000 households had to move out of the district.

The project was carried out by the Viet Nam Electricity Corporation's National Power Transmission company and managed by the Central Power Construction Management Unit.

"Currently, 95 per cent of work has been completed. The final ground clearance will be done on April 10 to make sure everything is finished on April 30," Nguyen Van Tuan of the management unit said.

In Cu Chi District in HCM City, 700 households had to move for the project and only 40 of them remain.

"At present, Cu Chi district has 43 projects that require ground clearance. The 500 kV is one of the most important three national projects. We will meet directly and try to solve and explain everything for those who have to move," said Le Minh Tan, chairman of the Cu Chi People's Committee.

According to figures, southern provinces will save at least VND1.2 trillion (US$56 million) on oil to run thermoelectric supply with a capacity of 400 million kWh.