The Agence Française de Developpement (AFD) and a consortium of technical consultants, including Tractebel and Bureau Veritas Vietnam, worked with the Power Project Management Board 2 (PMB2) and Vietnam Electricity (EVN) during a recent visit to the Ialy hydropower plant extension project in Kon Tum and Gia Lai provinces.

This site visit was part of the technical assistance project that AFD and Team Europe sponsored for EVN.

Accordingly, the parties performed a survey on the current status of EVN’s health, safety, and environment (HSE) management system in the hydropower plant extension project as per ISO 14001 (Environment management system) and ISO 45001 (Occupational health and safety management system) standards.

The delegation worked with the PMB2 on implementation, the construction management, HSE commitments, and the next action plan.

In the first phase, the consortium of technical consultants has supported EVN in developing HSE criteria for selecting contractors and construction and installation packages. In addition, the experience learned during the deployment of the HSE management system in Ialy will be shared with other EVN hydropower projects.

The technical consulting team proposed improvement recommendations on the environment, social, health and safety system (ESHS). So far, the project has achieved results related to the HSE management system.

Do Trung Thanh, deputy director of PMB2 of Ialy hydropower plant extension project, said: “What we have achieved in the very first phases of ESHS management with the technical assistance of Tractebel and Bureau Veritas Vietnam has proved AFD and EVN's dedication in developing, constructing, and operating hydropower project in an efficient, sustainable, and environmentally responsible way."

“Following that, we attained high worker health and safety standards, with minimised impacts on local inhabitants, and a better-regulating impact on the surrounding environment and ecosystems.”

Nguyen Thi Thanh An, head of the climate and energy team at AFD Vietnam, said: “AFD is proud to be a partner of Vietnam in a variety of initiatives that contribute to the country's energy transition."

“With the assistance to EVN in improving HSE practices toward international standards, with Ialy hydropower extension project as a pilot application of such HSE system, we expect to help improve EVN’s current practices, in particular for hydropower construction projects where all employees work healthily, safely and environmental impact will be at the lowest level. This will be a crucial step in the journey towards sustainable energy for the country.” — VNS