Overcome the difficulties
Being established in the period of economic crisis (internationally and locally) and difficulties in finance, investment capital and power shortage by EVN, EVNNPT has confronted the risk that the current network could not meet the requirements of power transmission. Overloads were recorded in all three parts of Vietnam (North – Central – South), especially in wide range in North and South parts, with high fault danger. The power transmission charge is also low, at only 6% of average power selling price in EVN, hence it only covers the minimum operating expense, could not compensate the loss from exchange rate difference and could not provide enough capital for construction investment. Beside, the demand on investment in transmission network is getting higher and higher while the principal amortization of EVNNPT is only enough for principal and interest payment. The bad financial indicators could not satisfy the requirements by lenders and the regulations of Ministry of Finance for power transmission projects.
By end of June 2013, EVNNPT has safely transmitted around 440 billion kWh of electricity with the average annual growth rate of over 10%
By deploying the practical, efficient and simultaneous solutions, in 5 years of operation, EVNNPT has safely put into operation 212 projects, with a total investment cost of almost VND 64,000 billion, in which net investment value was over VND 35,000 billion, completed its responsibility to maintain a safe, continuous and stable power transmission for socio-economic, political, security, national defense and power market activities in Vietnam. Currently, EVNNPT manages over 16,591 km of transmission lines (4,841 km of 500kV lines, 16,591 km of 220kV lines), increased by nearly 50% in compare with the figure at the time of EVNNPT establishment. The total capacity of transformers is 45,696 MVA increased by 84% in compare with that of July 1st 2008. National transmission network has spread to nearly all towns and cities and gradually connected to other countries in the region with more and more advanced technologies such as: multiple circuits and multi voltage level transmission line, 220kV underground cable, 220kV GIS substation, integrated and computerize control systems, faults locator devices, online monitoring of oil...
By end of June 2013, EVNNPT has safely transmitted around 440 billion kWh of electricity with the average annual growth rate of over 10%. According to approved plan for 2013, total power transmission capacity could reach 114.16 billion kWh, increased by over 60% compared with that of 2008. The target on transmission line and substation faults is lower than target set by EVN, especially substation faults and permanent faults of 220kV transmission line decreased dramatically. The productivity has increased at an average rate of 10%/year. Transmission loss has been decreased from 3.14% in 2008 to 2.3% in 2013.
Noticablely, after 4 years of financial difficulties, since 2012, EVNNPT has gained profit and allocated a part of profit to compensate the loss of exchange rate difference of previous years, and has begun to have some budgets for purchasing new equipments for network operation, vehicles for workers, welfare, competition and rewards.
* Ensure the sustainability
Although EVNNPT has completed huge investment for past few years, the current network still could not meet the need of power transmission, according to assessment of experts in power sector. The occurrence of overload still presents in many areas, thus the risk of faults affecting on wide areas is still high. The fault on 500kV Di Linh – Tan Dinh transmission line due to violation of a crane at the time of high power transmission shut the link of 500kV North – South system and all 22 towns and cities in the South of Vietnam experienced power cut, with a total capacity of 9400 MW. This fault has caused not only a significant loss for state economy but also raised an alarm about safety and sustainability of national electric network.
From 2014, EVNNPT shall have to invest over 17.000 billion VND/year to speed up the progress of key projects
In order to have a safe, continuous and stable national power network and completely remove full-load and overload of transmission lines and substations, according to analysis by EVN, the capital investment in transmission network in the coming years will be very high. From 2014, EVNNPT shall have to invest over VND 17.000 billion/year to speed up the implementation process of key projects, such as: 500kV transmission lines of Pleiku – My Phuoc – Cau Bong, Vinh Tan – Song May, Phu My – Song May, Song May – Tan Dinh, Quang Ninh – Mong Duong, 500kV Cau Bong substation and feeders. Besides, EVNNPT also has to allocate budget for 47 urgent projects which were reported to Prime Minister in 2013 by Ministry of Industry and Trade, including: 500kV Lai Chau – Son La transmission line, upgrade capacity of series capacitor for 500kV Nho Quan – Ha Tinh transmission line, 220kV Ha Dong – Thanh Cong transmission line. The most important solutions to keep the right pace of projects with huge capital investment lie in budget allocation and site clearance, in which the local authorities play an undeniable and important role in compensation and site clearance.
The target is that by 2020, Vietnam should possess a modern and smart transmission network meeting all requirements so that EVN supply sufficient power to the country, with a transmission capacity of 265-275 billion kWh/year and connects to transmission networks in neighboring countries. 100% substations meet the requirements of environment according to ISO 14001. The whole transmission network shall be equipped with monitoring system, faults locator, online faults warning for power transformer. On the other hand, regulations and standards on operation of transmission system shall be completed, taking into account the installation of nuclear power plants.
In the long term, national power system must concentrate on solutions to improve reliability and stability of transmission network, gradually solve the problems at present such as: full-load and overload of transmission lines and substations, low voltage… Together with strengthening the operational management, updating technical solutions, increasing equipment testing and monitoring, protecting power grid corridor network for early recognizing the faults, problems, avoiding the faults caused by human being, limiting and handling quickly the objective faults, EVNNPT also strengthens management and administration activities to increase the efficiency and to meet the requirements on enterprise management which is suitable to a growing and developing tendency. EVNNPT continues to build a professional, efficient and transparent organization and management model.
To secure the stable financial sources for future operation, the confronted problem is that transmission charge must reach an appropriate level to conserve and develop the state budget in power transmission and also ensure the financial indicators of EVNNPT as regulated to have sufficient fund for construction investment and to gain profits.