Vietnam: From April 21, 2020, high-voltage electrical grid means an electrical grid whose nominal voltage is at least 1.000 V

According to Decree No. 51/2020/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government, “high-voltage electrical grid” means an electrical grid whose nominal voltage is at least 1.000 V (instead of “high-voltage electrical works mean the high-voltage grid and the safety corridor of high-voltage grid applicable to the nominal voltage of 6 kV and above” as regulated in Decree No. 14/2014/NĐ-CP).

Moreover, Decree No. 51/2020/NĐ-CP also supplements Clause 5 Article 2 of Decree No. 14/2014/NĐ-CP as follows: ““Insulated conductor” means an electrical conductor coated in an insulation layer whose minimal insulation level is equal to the phase voltage”.

Besides, Decree No. 51/2020/NĐ-CP and Decree No. 14/2014/NĐ-CP stipulates general requirements for safety in generation, transmission, distribution and use of electricty for production as follows:

- The investor of a power plant, power station and/or transmission line ready for operation shall transfer all necessary design, construction and construction completion documents and other technical documents according to regulations of laws on construction to the management unit.

- Overhead transmission lines crossing residential and commercial areas and crowded places shall not be operated in a manner that exceeds the prescribed standards and norms.

- Having all materials on technical regulations and standards for electrical safety; the instructions such as: Procedures, rules and measures to implement the electrical safety regulations at agencies and enterprises on the basis of current technical regulations and standards for electrical safety. Preparing documents, resumé and technical materials related to electrical equipment and organizing the management under regulation.

- At the operating positions, there must be all procedures: Equipment operation, troubleshooting of electrical incidents; power grid outline, rules of fire prevention and fighting, operation logbook, devices, equipment and means of personal protection, restricted signs, signals and other devices and means under regulation.

- Assignment of operation, experiment, construction, installation and repair of electrical line or equipment to the employees must ensure the following conditions: Being trained about skills and techniques suitable for industry requirements; Being trained and issued with electrical safety certificate.

- Electrical equipment granted quality certificates or labels in accordance with technical regulations and standards and other relevant regulations of laws shall be used and must be inspected for compliance with safety requirements as regulated. The Minister of Industry and Trade shall stipulate list of electrical equipment requiring inspection; inspection contents; inspection methods and cycles; inspection procedures; and responsibilities of organizations and individuals involved in electrical equipment inspection.

- Making and issuing plans for prevention and stoppage of incidents or accidents. In case of electrical incidents or accidents, the necessary measures must be applied quickly to help the victims and mitigate loss of people and assets and then investigating to determine, analyze causes, review and determine responsibility.

- Organizing or participating in propagation and wide dissemination of electricity safety.

- Comply with regulations on statistics and report on electrical accidents and violations against regulations on buffer zones of high-voltage electrical grids. The Minister of Industry and Trade shall provide for statistics and reporting regimes for electrical accidents and violations against regulations on buffer zones of high-voltage electrical grids.

View more: Decree No. 51/2020/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government takes effect from April 21, 2020.

Thu Ba

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