A distinctive feature of the power transmission network in the Northwest is that its 220kV and 500kV transmission lines and substations stretch across high mountains and steep passes, traversing dense forests, streams and mountain slopes that are highly susceptible to landslides.
Each prolonged spell of rain not only increases the risk of flash floods, erosion around tower foundations and embankment failures, but also damages and completely isolates many patrol routes. At some locations, staff have to walk for hours, crossing forests and streams and making their way along slippery mountain slopes to inspect facilities, promptly detect potential safety risks and take timely remedial action to ensure the security of the transmission grid.
Amid torrential mountain rain and roads buried by earth and rocks, the safe operation of the transmission system relies on the tireless efforts of the leadership, technical staff and operation management teams of Northwest Power Transmission 2 in responding to natural disasters. Despite the harsh weather conditions, operation teams continue to remain on transmission routes and at substations, maintaining regular inspections and closely monitoring vulnerable locations to ensure that no situation catches them unprepared.
The unit has proactively implemented a wide range of coordinated measures to ensure the safe and continuous operation of the power system. These include strengthening coordination with local authorities and the Departments of Industry and Trade of Son La, Dien Bien and Lai Chau provinces to monitor developments in heavy rainfall and flooding; inspecting areas at risk of landslides; promptly reinforcing and repairing locations affected or showing signs of instability; and regularly updating information from operation management teams to adjust response plans accordingly. At the same time, the unit has fully prepared materials, equipment, vehicles and personnel on 24-hour standby, ready to respond swiftly to any incidents or emergencies.
Alongside conventional measures, Northwest Power Transmission 2 continues to promote the application of science and technology in operation management. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), specialised cameras and digital transformation solutions are flexibly deployed to high-risk areas to support site inspections and infrastructure monitoring, reducing access time and minimising risks to workers under hazardous weather conditions.
The rainy and storm season in the mountainous Northwest remains highly unpredictable. Every spell of heavy rain is a test not only of the safety of the transmission system but also of the determination and resilience of those responsible for its operation and management. Overcoming the dangers of the high mountains, they continue to work quietly day and night, staying on transmission routes and at substations to keep the power transmission lines operating smoothly, thereby helping ensure a safe and uninterrupted electricity supply for socio-economic development, national defence and security, and people's daily lives.
Amid the vast forests of the Northwest during the rainy and flood season, the orange uniforms of the power transmission workers remain a constant presence along every patrol route and at every transmission tower. This represents not only professional responsibility but also the silent dedication of those who always place the safety of the national power system above all else.
