On the entire construction route of the 500kV line 3, positions 119, 120, 214 and 215 crossing the Red River and Luoc River are holding the "highest" record with a height of up to 145m. At the construction site, hundreds of officers and employees of Song Da 11 Joint Stock Company are urgently working hard, ready to work "3 shifts, 4 shifts" with the determination to bring the project to the finish line soon.
Racing against time
Near noon, the sun was already harshly hanging on the top of the tens of meters high tower, sweltering, making the tower system at the construction site of steel tower No. 214 (Vu Thu, Thai Binh) hot as hell.
Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, Deputy General Director of Song Da 11 Joint Stock Company, his back was already drenched in sweat, his hands pulling up his safety helmet, squinting up to look at dozens of tons of components being lifted by a nearby 400-ton crane to a height of 145m. Above, 3 workers were "wearing the blazing sky" and waiting attentively. Amidst the rumbling sound of the machines, the howling wind from the Luoc River continued to blow straight towards them.
Only when all 3 steel bars were "secured" did Mr. Dung breathe a sigh of relief. Sharing with reporters, the Deputy General Director of Song Da 11 said that Song Da 11 Joint Stock Company is currently simultaneously implementing 12 construction packages at the 500kV line 3 project from Quang Trach (Quang Binh) to Pho Noi (Hung Yen). Of these, the most difficult are the 4 positions of the power poles across the river on the Nam Dinh I - Pho Noi Thermal Power Plant route.
“Pillars 214 and 215 in Thai Binh province are the two locations that cross the Luoc River, while stations 119 in Nam Dinh province and 120 in Thai Binh province will bring the line across the Red River. With a height of 145m, this is the tallest pole system on the entire 500kV line 3. The volume of steel poles required for construction is very large, up to about 400 tons per pole,” Mr. Dung informed.
Panoramic view of the construction site of pole 214 - one of the tallest poles on the entire 500kV line 3 with a height of up to 145m.
With the recognized experience and capacity of the team of skilled staff and workers, Song Da 11 Joint Stock Company was trusted to be assigned 12 packages of the 500kV line 3 project from Quang Trach to Pho Noi.
These packages stretch from the Central region to the North, including many construction locations on high mountains, rugged terrain across rivers and lakes, causing difficulties in the process of transporting materials and construction, as well as possible risks related to sudden natural disasters.
The most difficult locations that Song Da 11 is currently undertaking construction work on include 4 locations 119, 120, 214 and 215 crossing the Red River and the Luoc River, or location VT319 of package 34 located halfway up the mountain in Thuong Tan Loc commune, Nam Dan district, Nghe An province.
Package 34 alone constructs 15 locations from 305 to 319 in Nam Dan. The locations are located on high mountains in the protective forest in Thuong Tan Loc commune. Transporting materials to these locations is very difficult due to the steep slope, forcing the mechanical transportation of materials to be combined with manual labor. In particular, locations 307 and 319 have complex terrain with steep slopes and deep ravines, requiring manual winches to be used to bring materials to the construction foundation location.
Or like Package 37 and 38 that Song Da 11 is in charge of construction in Nghe An province, spanning many complex terrains, from hills to fields.
For example, column 370 in the pine forest area of Nghi Van commune (Nghi Loc district, Nghe An) is over 70m high and weighs about 180 tons. To construct this column, workers of Song Da 11 Company had to work hard for many days with the support of large-tonnage cranes. In many areas where large cranes could not enter, officers and workers had to struggle to carry materials to the construction site in harsh hot weather, sometimes up to 40 degrees Celsius.
Location of column 119 (far side) and column 120 across the Red River.
Also due to the “record” height, the first difficult problem that Song Da 11 needs to solve is to create a flat surface and construct the foundation pit. Having experience in erecting columns across the Hau River, from Ho Chi Minh City, Director of the Southern branch of Song Da 11 Joint Stock Company Do Quang Cuong received an urgent order to go to the North to find an answer to the problem.
“Everything was very messy at that time. The construction site had very weak ground due to mainly ponds and fields. The first requirement was to create a solid enough flat surface to bring in machinery and materials soon. In particular, this flat surface had to withstand the load of a 400-ton crane - the most important equipment for “erecting columns” later,” Mr. Cuong recalled.
Mr. Nguyen Van Kien, Team Leader at Site 214, recalled that at that time, dozens of workers took turns working day and night, regardless of the difficulties. “At the peak, there were about 40 brothers working at the same time. Everyone was determined to keep the project on schedule.”
In mid-May 2024, the entire system of 4 foundation pits was completed. The project entered the next phase, which was no less difficult and challenging - erecting the “record” pillar system.
At the highest positions where the crane has reached its limit, workers must use additional rope ladders to move and install components on high points.
Speeding up "overcoming the sun, overcoming the rain" for the finishing days
Despite facing many difficulties in terms of progress, technology and weather, up to now, promoting the tradition of Song Da 11, the company's units have made efforts to overcome difficulties, completing the erection of 120/151 pole positions in 12 assigned packages on the entire 500kV line 3, Quang Trach - Pho Noi.
The requirement to complete energization before June 30, 2024 is a difficult requirement, while the workload is large, and the construction is concentrated during the rainy season, but Song Da 11 still strives and is determined to bring the project to the finish line, ensuring progress and quality of the project.
Present at position 119, in package 49, the 500kV transmission line project of Nam Dinh I - Pho Noi Thermal Power Plant (1 of 4 component projects of the 500kV transmission line circuit 3), we witnessed with our own eyes the spirit of working at lightning speed, regardless of the sun or rain, of the workers of Song Da 11 Joint Stock Company.
Although it was almost noon, at a height of about 100m above the ground, a team of 3 workers were still diligently tightening bolts on steel brackets. All were equipped with a very sturdy safety belt.
Worker Chuc Van Tuan, his face red and sweaty, eyes fixed on the 100m floor. While working, he shared that the hot weather that had lasted for the past few days had made them very tired.
The giant components are assembled underground before being lifted up by heavy cranes to be installed on the columns.
“The column equipment and materials are all made of steel, large in size, exposed to the hot sun, so the temperature is always very high. When it rains, it is also very difficult for the workers to transport equipment or go up the columns to install in stormy weather conditions and muddy terrain,” said Mr. Tuan.
The work is so hard, but the workers are always enthusiastic and positive because they receive attention from many units such as the Investor, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the Central Enterprise Party Committee, the Youth Union, etc., who regularly visit the construction site to visit, encourage and give gifts to the workers.
In addition, the workers are also provided with private accommodation, 3 meals a day, clean water for daily activities, full clothing, labor protection equipment, etc. Those who often have to work at heights also receive additional allowances.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited and encouraged leaders, officers and workers of Song Da 11 Joint Stock Company and units at the construction site of the 109-117 cable tie-down section of the Thanh Hoa - Nam Dinh I Thermal Power Plant component project.
On June 22, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inspected the location of VT117 column of the 500kV Nam Dinh I - Thanh Hoa transmission line project; inspected the construction status of the 109-117 cable tie-down section in Cau Loc commune, Hau Loc district, Thanh Hoa province - including locations where Song Da 11 also participated in the construction.
At the construction site, witnessing the cadres, technicians, and workers of Song Da 11 and other units urgently completing the wire pulling, the Prime Minister praised the spirit of selfless and enthusiastic work of the cadres and workers who have been overcoming all difficulties in the hot weather, demonstrating the spirit of "overcoming the sun, overcoming the rain", working "3 shifts, 4 shifts", "eating quickly, sleeping urgently", implementing the spirit of "poles without waiting for foundations, wires without waiting for poles".
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested the investor, contractors, localities and especially the cadres, engineers, and workers at the project site to continue to promote the spirit, momentum, and achievements, to be more determined and make more efforts to complete the 500kV line 3 circuit project on schedule.
To keep up with the schedule, the unit has prepared early for the installation part. All stages such as leveling the ground, constructing foundation pits, etc. are being accelerated as quickly as possible while still ensuring quality and safety criteria.
Along with that, to serve this final stage, Song Da 11 has also mobilized all machinery, combined with high-quality, experienced workers to meet the fastest construction progress.
The Deputy General Director of Song Da 11 also added that thanks to more than 60 years of experience in formation and development, the officers, workers and engineers of Song Da 11 Company have been and are meeting the requirements of the project very well. "We are all working very hard and determined to finish the project on time," Mr. Dung said with a smile.
Crane lifting steel structures to a high place.
Determined to bring the project to the finish line, ensuring progress and quality
With more than 63 years of construction and development, thanks to the efforts of the leadership and employees and the achievements, Song Da 11 Joint Stock Company is considered one of the 5 strongest contractors in the field of construction and installation of power transmission lines and transformer stations with voltage levels up to 500kV, contributing to enhancing the brand reputation and competitive position in the company's industry.
Having grown through many large projects such as Thac Ba Hydropower Plant, Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant, Yaly Hydropower Plant, Son La Hydropower Plant, Lai Chau Hydropower Plant, etc., along with bold breakthroughs in power line and station construction projects, Song Da 11 has been highly appreciated and trusted by Vietnam Electricity Group, National Power Transmission Corporation, and other agencies, departments and branches to undertake many large projects with high progress and quality requirements to meet the requirements of power transmission nationwide.
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visits Son La hydropower construction site.
Some of the projects that bear the mark of Song Da 11 include the 500kV line circuit 2 Pleiku-Phu Lam section, the 500kV line Quang Trach-Doc Soi-Pleiku, the 500kV line Pleiku-My Phuoc-Cau Bong, the 500kV line My Tho-Duc Hoa, the 500kV line West Hanoi-Thuong Tin, the 500kV line circuit 3 Quang Trach-Pho Noi, the 500kV line Van Phong-Vinh Tan, the 500kV line Son La-Hoa Binh, the 500kV station Thach My, the 500kV station Quang Ninh, the 220kV line Dak My 4, the 220kV line Hua Na hydropower plant, the 220kV lines Xe Kaman 3 and Xe Kaman 1 hydropower plants, etc.
Officials and workers of Song Da 11 Joint Stock Company participate in the construction of the power transmission line.
On the morning of June 23, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his delegation inspected and urged the implementation of the 500kV power transmission line project, circuit 3, Quang Trach-Pho Noi, through Nghe An province.
When inspecting the construction status of column 22 (Quynh Trang commune, Hoang Mai town, Nghe An province) of the Quynh Luu-Thanh Hoa power line project - the location Song Da 11 is in charge of construction, the Prime Minister highly appreciated the implementation results of the forces, when they transported nearly 200 tons of steel on rugged and difficult mountainous terrain to erect the column to a height of 88m.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh encouraged Song Da 11 staff and workers to participate in the construction of VT22 pole.
The Prime Minister commended and highly appreciated the efforts of contractors, staff, engineers and a large number of workers who worked in the sun and rain, all for the goal of completing the project on schedule, ensuring technical, aesthetic and safety standards.
The Prime Minister said that the 500kV line 3 project is extremely important in supplying electricity to regions, so units must be highly determined, make great efforts, act decisively, "clearly identify people, clearly identify work, clearly identify time, clearly identify products".
Sharing the difficulties that workers are facing, the Prime Minister asked units to work with the spirit of "overcoming the sun, overcoming the rain", "only discussing work, not discussing retreat", overcoming all difficulties, striving to work in "3 shifts, 4 shifts", and striving to bring the project to the finish line on schedule.
Song Da 11 workers participate in the construction of VT22 pole position in package 9, 500kV transmission line project, Quynh Luu - Thanh Hoa section.
Currently, the company has converted to a joint stock company model. Song Da 11 continues to maintain and further promote the tradition of more than 60 years of formation and development, while at the same time making many innovations in management, production and business.
Thanks to that, Song Da 11 continues to grow, with its position increasingly affirmed nationwide. The team of cadres, workers, skilled workers of Song Da 11 has left positive impressions, united to promote potential, strive to work to achieve productivity and quality, contributing to the construction and development of the country.
The company always fulfills its obligation to pay the State budget, while ensuring policies and benefits for employees such as social insurance, health insurance, etc., creating more jobs and stabilizing the lives of officers and employees.
Song Da 11 workers on the construction site of the 500kV line 3.
In particular, for the 500kV line 3 project, thanks to the experience of completing large projects, Song Da 11 Company has mobilized available resources, provided maximum support, created all conditions for construction units to ensure progress, as well as organized the best logistics, places to eat, stay, live, and travel to ensure convenience, hygiene, safety, and health for officers, engineers, workers, and laborers.
Identifying the 500kV line 3 as a project of special importance and urgency to enhance the capacity of the 500kV transmission grid between the central and northern regions, contributing to minimizing the risk of overload for the existing 500kV line, Song Da 11 is determined and makes every effort to bring the project to the finish line, ensuring the progress and quality of the project, thereby creating trust with the Party, the State and the people, as well as with the electricity industry to continue to accompany in the upcoming bidding packages.
Source: Nhan Dan Newspaper
