Experts Exchange Program between EVN and PLN on Renewable Energy Policy

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From August 14-25, Vietnam Electricity (EVN) held an Expert Exchange Program with the delegation of PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara – Indonesia (PLN) on Renewable Energy Policy. Vice President of EVN Dr. Vo Quang Lam chaired the opening session.

The exchange of experts between EVN and PLN is within the framework EVN’s initiative as launched by EVN during the HAPUA Working Group 5 Annual Meeting organize in Vietnam last December with the participation of all utilities of ASEAN countries.

The main purpose of the EVN’s Expert Exchange Program is to facilitate favorable conditions for experts from ASEAN’s power utilities to exchange on various topics and fields of mutual interest, topics ranging from technical to non-technical matters.

Dr. Vo Quang Lam said that at present, the topic of renewable energy is the great concern of most countries in the world, especially in the context that energy transition is an inevitable trend. He expressed his hope that after this expert exchange, EVN and PLN will have the opportunity to discuss many other areas of mutual interest such as risk management, internal audit, corporate governance, customer experience…

Ms. Putu Purwaningsih – PLN’s Legal Business Partner Transition Energy Officer, head of the delegation, thanked EVN for creating favorable conditions for PLN experts to have the opportunity to exchange and learn from EVN’s experiences in the subject matters of renewable energy policy. The Indonesian government has set a target of becoming carbon neutral by 2060. Currently, Indonesia is also in the process of developing renewable energy. Ms. Putu Purwaningsih hoped that this exchange program with EVN would help PLN gain valuable experience for PLN’s best preparation on development of renewable energy in the near future.

Many highly practical questions were raised in the discussion session and discussed in detail by experts from both PLN and EVN. The exchange of experts between EVN and PLN is planned to take place from August 14 – 25 at the Headquarters of Vietnam Electricity and in some EVN’s subsidiaries.

HAPUA WG5 Workshop on Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) – Smart Meters

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The rise of smart metering technology has gained widespread attention in recent years.  Utilities have embraced the innovation with open arms, investing millions in large-scale implementation projects meant to catalyze the growth of a nationwide smart grid. Utilities have proven capable partners in these efforts.

As part of the rollout of smart meters in Malaysia, Tenaga Nasional Berhad hosted  the HAPUA WG5 Workshop on Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) – Smart Meters from 14-15 January 2019 in Kuala Lumpur.

The workshop was design to assist utilities to assess the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) – Smart Meter projects carried out in various parts of the world. The engagement with stakeholders who play a big role in the success or failures of these rollouts was also deliberated in detail. Business case especially with respect to the framework of electricity industry in the region was discussed and simple cost benefit analysis was conducted. Various success stories and failures was also shared with the participants. A total of 23 delegates from DES Brunei, PLN & ICON+ of Indonesia, NGCP of Philippines, SP Powergrid Ltd of Singapore, PEA of Thailand, EVN & Central Power Corporation of Vietnam, Sarawak Energy Berhad and Tenaga Nasional Berhad of  Malaysia attended the workshop. The workshop was facilitated by Dato’ Mohandass S. Nair of Tenaga Nasional Berhad.

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Among the key resolution of the workshop:

 

“Suggest to continue interactions within this HAPUA AMI Smart Meter by having annual meeting/training + sharing sessions. Future topics to consider to include roll-out challenges + solutions, new technology (NBIOT), use of smart meter data and beyond smart metering capabilities.”

HAPUA WG5 Workshop on Implementing RCM Analysis

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Electricity of Vietnam hosted the above workshop from 7-11 January 2019 at Laly Hydro Power Company, Pleiku City, Vietnam.

 

Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM) is a corporate-level maintenance strategy that is implemented to optimize the maintenance program of a plant or facility. The final outcome of an RCM program is the implementation of a specific maintenance strategy on each of the assets of the plant. In the case of power generation plants, this would include critical assets such as synchronous generators, turbines, generator transformers, etc.

 

The challenges for power plant owners is to increase reliability and reduce cost. Reliability-based maintenance is a proactive approach to helping power plants achieve better results of delivering the highest availability and reliability at the lowest cost.

 

The ultimate goal of RCM is to achieve optimum environmental, health and safety compliance, and desired plant operability, by establishing the most economical balance of corrective, preventive, and predictive maintenance activities to ensure plant assets perform as required.

 

15 participants from Laly Hydro Power Company attended the workshop facilitated by Mr Fazle Ayob and Mr Marwan Mohamed of Tenaga Nasional Berhad

 

The 1st Workshop of The ASEAN AGTP & ATSO

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Mr. Ignatius Rendroyoko as the Alternate HAPUA Secretary In Charge delivered his welcoming address in the opening of the 1st Workshop of The ASEAN Generation and Transmission System Planning Institution (AGTP) and ASEAN Transmission System Operators Institution (ATSO) Study that held from 7 – 8 February 2018 at The Century Park Hotel Jakarta, Indonesia.

Mr. Rendroyoko stressed in his speech the importance of the study to help ASEAN Member States to pursue the objective of APAEC phase 1 (2016 – 2020) in accelerating the realization of the ASEAN Power Grid. At the end of his speech, Mr. Rendroyoko thanked Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and HAPUA Working group 2 for their contribution for making this workshop possible.

The workshop is attended by the total of 50 participants consists of the National experts from eight ASEAN Member States, JAPAN – ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Nord Pool, and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO).

10 HAPUA Member Utilities Participated in Public Relations Management Workshop

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Fifty five Public Relations (PR) practitioners from 10 utilities of 6 HAPUA Member States participated in the HAPUA Workshop on Public Relations Management on 6 – 7 September 2017 at the Anvaya Beach Resort, Bali, Indonesia.

This is the second Communication and PR workshop held among HAPUA Members, after previously PLN hosted the Communication Workshop for Communication Practitioners among HAPUA Member States in Bandung, Indonesia, in 2016.

The HAPUA Workshop on Public Relations Management aimed to allow participants to exchange knowledge and experience(s) in Public Relations Management as a Corporate’s strategic and comprehensive function, as well as to have a deeper understanding toward Southeast Asia utilities public to promote the traditional spirit of ASEAN solidarity and cordiality in HAPUA Member States.

During the first session, two Communication experts, Mr. Noke Kiroyan and Mr. Mardian Marsono delivered their presentation on Constructing A Strategic Communications Plan and Re-Focusing Public Relations Through Stakeholder Approach. In the subsequent sessions of the Workshop, the participants from each utility were given opportunity to share the PR practices in their respective companies. The participants actively participated in the discussion that widen their perspective in PR Management.

Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) Benchmarking Visit for Middle Managers to Sarawak Energy Berhad

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Middle Managers of Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) had a benchmarking visit to Sarawak Energy Berhad, Malaysia from  6th until 10th March 2017.

This initiative is part of HAPUA (Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities) Working Group No. 5 on Human Resource program and was organised by People & Leadership Development Department of Sarawak Energy Berhad.  The objective of this benchmarking visit is mainly knowledge sharing in the following areas:

  • Grid System Operation,
  • Distribution Network Services
  • Operation & Maintenance Hydro Power Plants

Day 1 – Knowledge Sharing by General Manager (Planning, Strategy & Corporate Development), Mr Leslie Chai

Visit to Batang Ai Power Station

Part of the activities – Lunch at Ulu Ai, Batang Ai

Visit to Sejingkat Power Corporation

 

EVN and TNB Collaboration on Transmission Unmanned Substation

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Twenty engineers from EVN National Power Transmission Corporation attended a 5 day training program Transmission Unmanned Substation from 17-21 April 2017 at Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Malaysia

Knowledge and skills in advanced technologies for managing transmission substation provides a competitive advantage and most likely to be of help to planners of transmission grids in responding to the challenges of the future. These issues have increased importance because of administrative complication and the fragmentation of public opinion expressed on the build-up of new infrastructure.

With phenomenal growth in the power to be transferred, it has become essential to transmit power with least interruptions and minimum losses with optimum number of transformations, to ensure least possible losses. These substations are the nerve centres of the transmission system by controlling and protecting the entire transmission network.

Of late, the regulators are also enforcing higher performance standards for transmission utilities to comply with. Penal provisions for non-compliance are in the offing. Efficient and economical design, erection and operation and maintenance procedures of substations without any compromise become paramount in providing reliable supply besides prolonging the life of equipment.

Meeting this changing scenario requires special skills on the part of the professionals of the transmission sector to handle the system efficiently and economically. This training programme is designed to provide a comprehensive knowledge and skills of planning, designing, operating and monitoring the system with advanced technology in mind.

The following topics were covered during the training: 

  1. Overview of Transmission Grid Operation Philosophy
  2. Control Centre SCADA/Energy Management System (EMS)
  3. Transmission Substation Operation and Design
  4. Advance Technology – Online Monitoring System
  5. Advance Technology – Digital Substation & Substation Interrogation and Monitoring System
  6. Advance Technology – Active Network Management and Grid Automation
  7. Site visit to Conventional Transmission Substation or Network Control Centre (Depending on approval)
  8. Site visit to Digital Transmission Substation

NGCP Shares Best Practices on Power System Operations with Southeast Asian Utility

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In line with the HAPUA’s efforts to foster regional cooperation among power utilities and authorities, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) hosted the Power System Operations Program for Vietnam Electricity (EVN) last March 20 to 23 in Ortigas and Quezon City, Philippines.

NGCP is a private corporation that manages, operates and maintains the Philippines’ power transmission grid.

The Power System Operations Program was facilitated by nine (9) subject matter experts from NGCP’s System Operations Group, and attended by 10 Engineers and Power System Operators from the National Load Dispatch Center, Central Region Dispatch Centre and South Regional Load Dispatch Centre of EVN.

The 4-day program covered topics on managing, operating and maintaining the power grids of both countries. The exchange of best practices, information and ideas contributed to make the sessions engaging and interactive.

According to NGCP’s Deputy Assistant Chief Technical Officer for System Operations Santiago A. Dimaliwat, IV, “nothing beats being with fellow power system engineers from an ASEAN nation with similar desire of providing best service for their countrymen.” He also commended the learning and exchange opportunities as a good start in building strong relationship between the Philippines and Vietnam.

 

HAPUA WG5 Program on Labour and Productivity Improvement

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Increasing labour productivity is generally hailed as a positive outcome of technological innovation.  High employee productivity is the heartbeat of a successful business. When system and processes are not systematic and organized, they will affect employee’s productivity. When employees are distracted and unhappy, their work performance declines, and ultimately so does the organization. When employees experience problems, they don’t perform to their highest potential. Research has shown that management practices impact productivity significantly – a single point improvement in management practice is associated with the same increase in output as a 25% increase in labour force or 65% increase in invested capital. This ultimately will generate higher profit margin for the company in the long run.

To keep abreast with the latest technological innovation, Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) working with Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) hosted the HAPUA WG5 Program on Labour and Productivity Improvement from 27th February – 1 March 2017 in Da Nang City, Central of Vietnam with the theme  Making It Work for Employees and Organisation.

Methodology

In this innovative and insightful program, Mr Suhaimi Sudin a Senior Lecturer from Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) Malaysia led the program  using experiential learning techniques based on andragogical or adult-learning approaches such as Interactive lectures and discussions, case studies analysis, individual and small team presentation, and experience sharing from actual cases. He was assisted by Ms Zuliawati Binti Mohamed Saad.

The program discussed issues pertaining to:

  • Understanding Productivity Management and Practices
  • The Workforce Productivity Framework
  • Implementing and Sustaining Productivity Drive
  • Measuring Productivity and Developing Indicators

A total of 37 delegates participated from PJB, Indonesia, NGCP Philippines and EVN Vietnam.

EDL / EDL Gen hosted The HAPUA WG5 Training Program on Operation and Maintenance of Hydro Power Plants

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Experience of running hydropower stations in Lao has shown that even after careful project planning and good quality control measures from construction to commissioning, unforeseen problems do occur in service resulting in unplanned outages / low generation and load shedding etc. This causes disruption to consumers and reduced cash generation for the operator. A contributing factor to these operational problems is the fact that hydro power equipment and plant is custom built. The equipment cannot be fully assembled or tested in a factory before sending it to site. Maintenance activities at predetermined time intervals are necessary to ensure the reliability and efficiency of the plants.

Interaction amongst working staff at various power stations in the country needs to be organized to improve performance of plant and equipment in totality so as to implement good Operation & Maintenance Practices. Therefore to refresh its employees knowledge and to give advanced technical information to improve their work quality,  Electricite du Laos (EDL) and EDL Generation Public Company (EDL Gen) hosted the Operation and Maintenance of Hydro Power Plants Training Program  from 27thFebruary – 2nd March 2017 in Vientiane , Laos.

The program collaborated with Tenaga Nasional Berhad, was attended by 26 participants from Electricite du Laos (EDL) and  EDL Generation Public Company (EDL Gen) of Lao and 4 delegates from Sarawak Energy Berhad of Malaysia.

The 4 days program focus on the overview of hydro plant, hydro plant major component and systems (including civil structure and hydro plant systems), hydro plant operation, hydro plant isolation and normalization including hydro plant testing and re-commissioning and was facilitated by Ms Soh Ley Bau, Principal Trainer and Mr Muhamad Munawir Bin Mohd Yatim, Subject Matter Expert of Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Malaysia.

Ms Rattana PRATHOUMVAN Managing Director and CEO of EDL Gen graciously officiated the event on behalf of EDL.