The country’s largest contractor, state-owned Song Da Corporation, started the project just under two years ago and, with the help of Potain’s tower cranes, has now completed the dam’s body and power house.

The MD 2200 cranes were transported to the site towards the end of 2003 and worked on the body of the hydroelectric dam, while the 50t (55USt) MD 900B was delivered in January 2004 and handled the construction of the dam’s power house. The dam will be completely finished by the middle of 2006.

Both MD 2200 cranes worked with their maximum main jib of 80m (289ft), and at a height under hook of 75.6m (248ft). One of the cranes also worked with the below-jib Nippon Topbelt concrete conveyor system, helping to pour some of the 700,000m3 (920,000yd3) of concrete necessary for the build.

A 7m3 (9.1yd3) bucket was attached to the other MD 2200 crane for pouring concrete, while the 373kW (500hp) winch enabled it to carry out a variety of other lifting duties, including handling formwork.

The MD 900B worked with a 60m (197ft) jib, which gave it a 13.1t (14.4USt) capacity at its tip. It was also equipped with a 6m3 (212ft3) bucket allowing the crane to pour between of 80 and 100m3 (2825 to 3531ft3) of concrete per hour.

Gérard Vezant, sales director for special application cranes at Potain, said the project was an excellent showcase of the cranes’ capabilities.

“It is testament to Potain’s experience and expertise that the contractors on Se San have chosen our special application cranes for such a complex and demanding construction project,” he said.

He added: “Power generation has become a priority in Vietnam with demand growing, on average, by more than 10% a year. With the increase in demand for power we’re finding our MD range is now truly established as the market leader for tower cranes in power construction projects.”

Se San Number 3 is one of eight dam projects underway in Vietnam. The client, state owned power corporation, Electricity of Vietnam, has over 20 other energy generating projects currently under construction.

Located 20km (12 miles) from the existing Yaly hydropower plant, the dam will span Gia Lai and Kon Tum – two of Vietnam’s Central Highland provinces. The dam will use recycled water from the Yaly plant, creating a 17km (10 mile) reservoir with an annual power output of 1.2 billion kWh.