The Electricity of Vietnam National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) plans to spend a record 19.51 trillion VND (929 million USD) on transmission projects in 2015 so as to ensure power supply for the south.

The move is prompted by the slow progress of a number of projects and the overloaded operation of the North-South 500kV transmission line.

This year, EVNNPT is to complete and put into operation 72 projects, including the 500kV line between northern Son La and Lai Chau provinces, another in central Ha Tinh province’s Vung Ang Economic Zone, and the upgrading of the 500kV substation in Son La, said Deputy General Director Tran Quoc Lam, adding that the corporation plans to start 61 other projects.

General Director Vu Ngoc Minh said the firm will intensify the management and supervision of the grid’s operation, conduct further research on measures preventing thunderbolt-caused damage, increase communication activities to raise public awareness and strictly punish violations.

He said that in 2014, EVNNPT poured about 17.99 trillion VND (856.66 million USD) into its projects and put into use 52 220kV and 500 kV transmission lines, helping ensure power supply for socio-economic activities, especially in the south and key economic regions.

It also kickstarted 55 projects, many of which aim to improve power supply for Hanoi and the southern region, he added.

VNA