Lao Cai unanimously overcomes difficulties, speeds up progress of 500 kV transmission line project

In early July 2025, the group of reporters had the opportunity to survey the construction site of VT93 electric pole, Viet Tien commune ( Lao Cai ) - where the pole was designed with a 6 meter offset; and VT140 pole in Luc Yen commune - a difficult construction location, with a long access road, steep slopes, and hard rock geology.

In the blazing sun of a silent, windless summer, construction workers wearing orange shirts still nimbly work with a series of equipment, machines, cranes, climbing and installing on precarious electric poles on the hilltop.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Bui Quang Canh, Director of Power Construction Company 4 (PCC4), the contractor of package 2, including VT93 pole, said that in relatively favorable locations, a 35-ton crane can be used. In other locations, the poles must be erected manually.

“The most difficult part of the routes is that most of the terrain and geology are difficult, the hills are steep, and the inter-village and inter-commune roads in this area are all small concrete roads, cranes cannot use them, the curves are very sharp, so transportation is very difficult, especially on rainy days, all construction activities are almost impossible to carry out,” Mr. Canh shared.

However, the construction received support from all the people and soldiers.

Present at the VT140 column construction area, nearly 30 soldiers are assisting the construction unit in leveling the roads that machines cannot access, supporting the loading of iron and formwork onto trucks to transport to the column foundation locations, and working at the column foundation locations such as dredging the column base, weaving steel and formwork to prepare for pouring concrete for the foundation.

Senior Lieutenant Do Duc Anh, Deputy Company Commander, Company 4, Battalion 1, Regiment 174, Division 316, Military Region 2 said: “The road from the foot of the hill to the pole location is about 1.8-1.9 km, mainly having to walk up and down continuously during the day, quite hard. In the past few days, there has been heavy rain, mud, and machinery cannot enter, we have to use hoes, shovels, and dredge the mud so that the construction unit can work conveniently.”

It is known that in Lao Cai province, there are 3 pole positions with the most difficult access, which are being supported by soldiers.

Sharing about the process of mobilizing and propagating people to hand over the land where the power grid corridor passes through, Mr. Hoang Van Coi, Vice Chairman of Lam Thuong Commune People's Committee, said that in the 500kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen power line project, there are 5 poles passing through Lam Thuong Commune. "As soon as we received information and instructions about the project, we mobilized people to donate land and receive support money for the trees on the land, about 46 households have received compensation money".

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Hoang Van Hiep, a resident of Na Khen Nam Cho village, Lam Thuong commune, affirmed his high consensus. “I was compensated more than 60 million VND for trees, where people mainly grow cinnamon, and the hilly land along the power line corridor was donated by us for the project. More than 30 households also donated land like me. I am very happy that the power project will run through, which will help ensure electricity for the whole province and this whole area,” Mr. Hiep shared.

With the consensus and support of the entire political system and people of Lao Cai province, Mr. Canh - Director of PCC4 affirmed his determination to complete the construction and installation of the 500 kV power pole as planned.

“This package No. 2 has a total of 47 foundation positions. Up to this point, the foundation has been basically completed, and the columns have been completed at 18 positions, 8 positions are being erected and the next 10 positions are being prepared for deployment,” said Mr. Canh. The remaining columns were imported from China and will arrive around July 12 and will be quickly brought to the construction site.

“Although package 2 is behind the other packages, we are trying to stick to the general progress of the 500 kV transmission line project set by EVN Group and assigned by the Prime Minister, which is that by August 19, 2025, it will be eligible for energization,” Mr. Canh affirmed.

The 500 kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen transmission line project is a national key project that has been approved by the Prime Minister in principle for investment, with EVN assigned as the investor and Power Project Management Board 1 as the investor representative.

This is a 500 kV double-circuit line project with a total length of 229.5 km, with a total of 468 pole foundation locations, and a total investment of more than 7,410 billion VND. The project passes through Lao Cai and Phu Tho provinces, with the starting point being the Lao Cai 500 kV station and the ending point being the Vinh Yen 500 kV station.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/lao-cai-dong-long-vuot-kho-day-nhanh-tien-do-du-an-duong-day-500-kv-d327747.html