EVN Okayed to Build US$2.6Bln Coal-fired Plant in South

Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), the country’s sole power supplier, has just got the permission from the Ministry of Industry (MoI) to construct a coal-fired thermal complex at an estimated cost of US$2.6 billion in the southern province of Soc Trang, state media said.

 

The six-turbine plant with designed capacity of 2,400-3,600 megawatts, to be built on an area of 320 ha in Long Phu district, will help generate more electricity for the Mekong delta region and ensure environment safety, a MoI official said.

 

The first turbine with capacity of 600MW is expected to start operations in 2010, the official added.

 

In related news, MoI has submitted the EVN’s proposal to the government for approval to build a 500-kV transformer station costing VND991 billion ($61.94 million) in the northern province of Son La that is scheduled to be linked to the country’s largest hydropower plant with annual capacity of 2,400MW in 2010.

 

Vietnam’s power sector needs about US$5 billion to build 68 power works including 17 coal fired and gas-fuelled plants in the 2006-2025 period in order to raise capacity from 11,500MW now to 81,000MW to meet Vietnam’s rising power demand.

 

This year, the sector expects to provide 59 billion kWh of electricity, up 10 per cent on year, of which around 3.146 billion kWh will be imported from outside sources, an increase of 29.79 per cent over that a year ago.
Vietnam Economic Times, MoI