Vietnam builds $1.27 thermal power plant in the north

The project in the province’s Thai Thuy District is 85-percent funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency official development assistance (ODA) and the rest is funded by EVN.

The station included two plants to supply a total capacity of 600 MW. Marubeni won a contract to build the major compartment, valued at $1.02 billion.

The station is expected to use 1.5 million tons of anthracite coal from Quang Ninh mines.

According to EVN chairman Hoang Quoc Vuong, the project was launched in 2007 and so far, all site clearance has been completed for plant construction.

The first plant is expected to open in 2017 and the second one a year later.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai said thermal power stations in Thai Binh were designed for socio-economic development from 2011-2020.

“Thai Binh thermal power stations will not only supply power for northern provinces but also for southern region via the 500kV line,” he said at the groundbreaking ceremony on February 22.

He also instructed Thai Binh authorities to take care of resettled residents and supervise the project to ensure it would not cause pollution.

Vietnam relies on hydropower for about 40 percent of its electricity. The country is seeking other power supplies, including planned nuclear power plants in Ninh Thuan Province.