Lilama to Build Two Hydropower Plants in Northern Province

Lilama to Build Two Hydropower Plants in Northern Province

The Vietnam Machinery Installation Corporation (Lilama) will try to start construction on the Nam Soi and Nam Cong hydropower plants in northern mountainous Son La province in the first quarter of 2006.

The VND100 billion (US$6.33 million) Nam Soi plant, which had been approved by the Ministry of Construction and Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), is designed to have annual capacity of 6.1 MW.

Lilama, the investor of the two projects, is expected to complete the feasibility study of the Nam Soi hydroelectric power plant by the end of this year and kick off construction in early 2006. The corporation is now preparing to clear the project site and build a road to the construction site.

Meanwhile, Lilama is also conducting a survey on the Nam Cong hydropower project in order to begin a feasibility study. The project is expected to be approved by the end of 2005 and start early next year.

Despite having a smaller designed capacity of 5.1 MW, the Nam Cong plant will need a larger amount of investment capital, around VND135 billion, (roughly US$8.54 million) because the location's terrain will pose difficulties for the construction, as well as the transportation of machinery and equipment.

Besides the two above-said projects, Lilama will also invest in building the 5.5 MW Sardeung hydropower plant in central highland Lam Dong province. Site clearance work for this project is currently underway.

Vietnam & World Economy