Central Highlands to be Largest Hydropower Center in Vietnam by 2010

The central highlands region of Vietnam is expected to become the country’s largest hydropower center by 2010, as it will have hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 5,000 MW by that time, state media reported.

 

The figure will account for one third of the current capacity of the national power grid, the

 

According to a report by the Central Highlands ’ Steering Board, central highlands provinces are building a series of hydropower plants in the region’s rivers of Serepok, Se San and Dong Nai. Many other projects were put into operation, providing electricity to the national grid, including Dray H’Linh plant in Dak Lak, Ya Ly and Se San 3 plants in Gia Lai.

 

The report said that six projects with a combined capacity of 750 MW will be built in Serepok River in Dak Lak province. Of the projects, construction has started on five.

 

Central highlands provinces also encourage businesses to invest in hundreds of small and medium hydro-power plants. Dak Lak province alone zoned off 100 sites for hydropower plants, 29 of them are under construction.

 

Power-thirsting Vietnam plans to raise the total capacity of hydropower generation projects to more than 18,000 MW and the annual output of over 80 billion kWh by 2015.

 

The country will lack 8.6 billion kWh of power this year. (VNA)