Removing obstacles of site clearance for the High-voltage power projects

​Construction of 500kV transmission line of Long Thanh - Phu My - Song May in Trang Bom District.

6 projects with site clearance problems

According to the Southern Power Project Management Board, the unit is constructing and energizing 6 high-voltage power projects in the province; It is expected that in 2022, the unit will start construction of 6 new projects. Construction works are all entangled in a few positions of foundation pillars or line installing. This affects the efficiency of investment capital, project progress and the ability to supply electricity to the regions.

Among the projects under construction, there are 2 key projects supplying electricity to Long Thanh Airport area: 500kV Long Thanh - Phu My - Song May line; Long Thanh 500kV transformer station and connecting lines. "These works all started in 2019. The line is long, through many districts and many communes, it only takes a few poles to complete and turn on electricity" - the representative of the investor shared.

Regarding the construction of the 500kV transmission line of Long Thanh - Phu My - Song May, Mr. Do Ngoc Nam, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Trang Bom, said that the area passing through Trang Bom District still has two positions of foundation that have land not been handed over because the landowner complained about the low price and compensation policy. The district has assigned units to review legal procedures, necessary for the district to issue a coercive decision to hand over the land in May 2022.

Also on the 500kV line of Long Thanh - Phu My - Song May, the section through Long Thanh District area, currently 25/25 positions of the foundation position have been handed over to the investor for construction. However, during the construction process, it was discovered that there were 2 positions of the pillar foundation overlapping with the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Highway; Many households received compensation but did not allow towing the construction line because they thought there was a difference in compensation prices between Long Thanh District and Trang Bom District.

For the project of Long Thanh 500kV substation and connection lines, Long Thanh District has cleared the ground for the construction site of the substation, but the connection line has only been handed over to 36/56 posts.

Similarly, 4 220kV projects through the districts of Trang Bom, Long Thanh and Bien Hoa City, the localities have difficulty in applying the price to submit the compensation plan for approval. The investor proposed the province to set up a site clearance working group for two 500kV power projects, directing localities to be determined in site clearance for power projects.

Electricity infrastructure must be developed one step ahead

Mr. Nguyen Hong Que, Director of the Land Management Sub-Department, Department of Natural Resources and Environment said that the procedure and time for price appraisal, price approval, approval of compensation plan are still complicated and lengthy. When the Provincial People's Committee approves the compensation price, within 6 months, the locality must have a compensation plan for the people, avoiding the situation that the same project approves the compensation plan many times, in many installments, at many prices, leading to the complaint of the people.

Mr. Huynh Tan Loc, Vice Chairman of Bien Hoa City People's Committee, said that the reason for the delay in the power project site was partly the fault of the investor. To approve the compensation plan for a case, the locality has to check and verify it many times, but the investor waits 6 months to transfer the compensation money. At that time, the compensation price was different, then the interest rate was incurred, who would be responsible.

Mr. Tran Minh Dat, Head of Engineering and Energy Management Department of the Department of Industry and Trade, said that regarding the overlapping pillar positions within the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Highway, the Provincial People's Committee has directed the construction to stop, departments, branches and Long Thanh District will check the status quo and suggest relocation location.

Mr. Vo Tan Duc, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that electricity infrastructure must be developed one step ahead to serve other infrastructures. However, the planning on the location of the pillars and the alignment must be in sync with the land use planning and energy development plan of the province. When implementing construction, the investor closely cooperates with localities in site clearance.

“Last time, the coordination between the Southern Power Project Management Board and localities in site clearance was not tight, the investor was slow to transfer money to pay compensation to the people, this issue must be an experience” - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vo Tan Duc emphasized.

For the 6 upcoming projects, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment cooperates with the People's Committees of districts and cities with lines to support the investor in the registration procedures for additional land use plans to promptly submit the plan to the Provincial People's Committee for approving the land use plan in 2022 as a basis for site clearance and project start-up; inspect and take measures to prevent people from building houses and structures under the power grid corridor.

Box: According to the Southern Power Project Management Board, the unit is constructing 6 high-voltage power projects: 500kV line of Long Thanh - Phu My - Song May; Long Thanh 500kV transformer station and connecting lines; 220kV An Phuoc substation; Tam Phuoc 220kV transformer station; 220kV Dinh Quan transformer station; 220kV Song May - Tam Phuoc transmission line.

Phan Anh