In the context of stressful progress for all of construction items in Nam Theun 1 Hydropower Project along with the super-hot weather in Laos, SCI has always tried its best to meet the schedule of RCC placement for Cofferdam following the commitment with the Main Contractor. At present, SCI has completed 2/3 of total RCC works of for Upstream and Downstream Cofferdam at Nam Theun 1 Hydropower Project (Bolikhamsay Province, Lao PDR).
SCI engineers are working at site
Along with many mechanical items that SCI are executing in such Project such as: Crushing Plant; RCC batching plant; Quarry rock stripping & excavation; Right Bank Rolling Weir excavation ... In April, SCI was entrusted to handle the RCC placement for Cofferdam item at Nam Theun 1 Hydropower Project by JV Main Contractor. Such item is designed with total concrete volume of around 140,000m3, ela. 123-170 starting from the river bed. SCI was assigned to complete within 70 days abiding to the contract signed with the Main Contractor. If the weather is good, SCI shall complete these items timely on the basis of ensuring safety and quality. However, in this time when the rainy season is coming, the sun is shining harsh all daytime and the rain is pouring in the afternoon that has affected to the construction. Mr. Phuong, an engineer from Bac Giang province said ‘The site regularly operates in 3 shifts every day in order to speed up the schedule, but in the 2nd shift at 1pm, the harsh sunshine at 40oC with hot southwest wind affected us very hard, but we always try our best for the common goal of Nam Theun 1 Project.
The site operates three shifts per day
It is peak of sunshine during this time of a year which outdoor temperature might raise up to 40oC along with the exothermic reaction from concrete blocks can caused to the increase in temperature at site up to 60oC. Therefore, in case that the employees are not healthy enough & lack of efforts then it is impossible to fulfill the deadline and requirements.
Despite of such difficulties, all employees in Nam Theun 1 are still working at their best efforts. At present, the Upstream and Downstream Cofferdam items are being constructed at the same time and divided into 3 shifts per day with average concrete volume of 2,500 - 3,500 m3/day. Even the construction has just started 01 month ago, the accumulative volume at Downstream Cofferdam has reached at 20.000/31.000 m3 and Upstream Cofferdam at 65.000/110.000 m3. It is estimated that in June, such cofferdam item will be completed in case of permissible weather.
SCI employees always try their best
The construction of Downstream and Upstream Cofferdam at Nam Theun 1 Hydropower Project is applied with RCC technology. Although it is quite new, SCI expects that such RCC for Cofferdam will be completed on schedule and in the meantime ensured the quality requested by the Main Contractor as well as the Project’s Employer.
Namtheun 1 Hydropower Project is designed with capacity of 650 MW and total investment of 520 million US dollars which is one of the biggest hydroelectric projects in Laos on Nam Kading River in Bolikhamsay province. At this project, SCI Joint Stock Company has signed the package contract valued nearly 500 billion VND with the Main Contractor to carry out many construction works. According to targeted schedule, the Project will be constructed in 4.8 years, and will connect to grid by the end of 2021.
