The first circuit of North - South 500 kV transmission line has been energized and officially put into operation since May 27, 1994 with an initial length of 1,487 km, going through 14 provinces and cities. Given the increase in load demand, the North - South 500 kV transmission system has been constantly growing in terms of scale, reliability and stability in operation. At present, the 500 kV transmission network consists of three circuits, connecting power systems between the regions, where the first circuit and the second circuit have played a role as the "backbone" of the North - South transmission network.
The 500 kV transmission line system runs along the country, crossing many areas with complex terrain conditions, mountainous areas, far from residential areas, poor road infrastructure and transport conditions, adjacent to borders. The operation and management of these lines has encountered many difficulties due to very complicated security status in some areas, especially in areas where people spontaneously exploit gold, aluminum, minerals or collect garbage, etc.
The 500 kV transmission network is especially important in ensuring national energy security
In some areas where people's intellectual level and legal knowledge is limited, with economic difficulties and low living standards, there are potentially high risks of sabotage, theft of equipment, violation of rights of way of high - voltage grids. Over recent years, many cases of stealing equipment or violating rights of way of the 500 kV transmission line have occurred in reality.
Failures of 500 kV transmission lines may result in a collapse of the national power system and massive blackout, leading to extremely serious economic, social, security and defense consequences of the country. For example, a violation of rights of way of 500 kV power grid on May 22, 2013 in Binh Duong province caused a massive power outage in all the province in the South of Vietnam.
Due to the special importance of 500 kV transmission network to the national development, the Prime Minister signed a Decision to include the network in the list of significant projects related to national security. This Decision demonstrates a special interest of the Prime Minister, concerned ministries and agencies in ensuring the absolute safety and securities of these projects.
At the ceremony to announce the Prime Minister’s Decision on including the 500 kV network into the list of national security projects being held recently, Vice Minister of Industry and Trade Dang Hoang An stated that many more 500 kV transmission projects will be constructed in the coming time. And in the future there will be new transnational 500 kV transmission lines, interconnecting to power grids of other ASEAN countries, of the Greater Mekong Sub-region, and promoting economic cooperation. Therefore, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Vietnam Electricity expect that the Ministry of Public Security, local authorities and people throughout the country will maintain their attention, enhance their sense of responsibility and involve in the protection of 500 kV projects in order to ensure electricity for socio - economic development of the country.
|
500 kV transmission network:
- Over 7,500 km long, stretching over 42 provinces and cities.
- 28 500 kV substations with a total capacity of over 30,000 MVA.
- By the end of 2017, 20% of the total consumed electricity volume in the southern provinces and cities had been transmitted via 500 kV lines (19.7 billion kWh).
|