Launching 2 large-scale power projects

  Tri An Hydropower Plant Expansion Project​

The largest thermal power project in the South

Nhon Trach 3 and 4 Thermal Power Plant Projects with a scale of nearly 54ha, total investment of about US$1.4 billion, capacity of 1.5 thousand MW is a thermal power project using the first liquefied natural gas fuel. It is the first thermal power project in Vietnam and is the largest thermal power project in the South up to the present time. The project has been approved by the Prime Minister for investment since 2019, is expected to start construction in early 2021, but because of site clearance problems, it will be moved to 2022.

The representative of PetroVietnam Power Corporation (PV Power), the project investor, said that the unit has completed the construction of fuel storage infrastructure located in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province; signed an EPC contract (design - procurement - construction - installation - Testing and Acceptance contract) with a joint venture contractor Samsung C&T Corporation, Vietnam Machinery Installation Corporation (Lilama). Some infrastructure items have started. It is expected that the project will be completed and put into operation by the end of 2024 for Nhon Trach 3 and by the end of 2025 for Nhon Trach 4. At that time, the plant will supply the national electricity grid with about 9 billion kWh per year. equal to about 60% of the total energy demand of Dong Nai Province.

The second project is the Tri An Hydropower Plant Expansion project approved by the Prime Minister in the decision to adjust the national electricity development planning for the period 2011-2020 with a vision to 2030, the largest in the South at the time of approval. The project was assigned to Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) as an investor, with a scale of nearly 95 hectares, a total investment of more than VND3,900 billion, including 2 power units with a capacity of 200MW. The project is in the process of compensation and site clearance.

Mr. Pham Hong Phuong, EVN Deputy General Director said that the unit planned to start the project around the second quarter of 2023, put it into operation in 2026. When all 4 units are in operation (2 old units) will ensure a capacity of 400MW as designed, for an average annual electricity output of 1.7 billion KWh. At the same time, it helps to increase capacity mobilization for load in the South region, stabilize transmission and reduce production costs of the national power system. The investor proposed the Provincial People's Committee to support the site clearance, allowing the investor to convert part of the forest land to the project and plant forests instead.

Tri An Hydropower Plant Expansion Project

More attention paid to the development of transmission infrastructure

In addition to the two power projects of the "big guys" in the industry, PV Power and EVN mentioned above, from now to 2025, the units are Southern Electricity, Dong Nai Electricity and a number of energy investors. Solar also plans to deploy electricity works and projects in the province. The fact that there are more energy works and projects in place is a positive signal, ensuring the need for socio-economic development for the province and surrounding areas. However, this also poses problems on the operation of the power grid and transmission system.

Mr. Thai Thanh Phong, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade said that when implementing power production projects, investors must calculate output and loads (lines, substations) to operate. Because of high output, but the load does not develop in time, it will put pressure on the transmission grid system, transmission lines and substations to operate in overloaded and unsafe conditions. Regarding the hydropower project, Southern EVN oversees the transmission system, while Nhon Trach thermal power plant only produces electricity and sells output to EVN.

The electricity development planning of Dong Nai Province for the period 2016-2025, with a vision to 2035 approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade at the end of 2015 also shows that the electricity demand of Dong Nai Province will still increase in the period 2016-2025; The development of power projects must ensure balance and harmony between the power supply and the grid and ensure the safe operation of the system.

According to Mr. Ho Cong Ky, Chairman of PV Power's Board of Directors, the most important part that basically determines the success and effectiveness of the project is the EPC contract signed by the parties in March. In the coming period, PV Power will continue to consult and coordinate closely with ministries, departments, branches, People's Committee of Dong Nai province, the National Steering Committee on electricity development and relevant agencies to implement the project. project and finalize contracts: power purchase and sale, gas purchase and sale as well as investment in transmission lines in sync with the project's progress. Nhon Trach Thermal Power Project will give priority to power supply to the Southern load center with 3 large load areas: Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai and Ba Ria - Vung Tau.

The investor of the project to expand Tri An Hydropower Plant said that this project helps increase the ability to mobilize capacity for loads in the South region, so the transmission line system, stations and transformers will be invested respectively to ensure output as well as stable transmission.

Working with PV Power on some problems of the previous Nhon Trach 3 and 4 Thermal Power Plant Project, Mr. Cao Tien Dung, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that the project had been approved by the Prime Minister for commercial operation time. Therefore, PV Power coordinated with the infrastructure investor of Ong Keo Industrial Zone to agree on the cost of using common infrastructure within the Industrial Zone and coordinated with the People's Committee of Nhon Trach District to pay compensation for the remaining area. When implementing construction, the investor supervises and ensures the progress and quality of the work in accordance with the provisions of law. Prioritize the supply of electricity to Dong Nai Province and several neighboring provinces and cities.

                                                                                             Phan Anh