$2.4 bln coal-fired power plant in central Vietnam to connect with national grid in Dec

The 1,320-MW Vung Ang II thermal power plant, with an investment of $2.4 billion, is set to run its first turbine in late October and connect the turbine to the national grid in December.

Vung Ang II Thermal Power LLC (VAPCO), the project investor, made the statement at a recent meeting with authorities of Ha Tinh province in central Vietnam.

The first turbine is scheduled to reach commercial operation in June 2025. The second is set to start commercial operation in October 2025. The project can employ over 160 people.

Japan’s Mitsubishi and Chugoku hold 40% and 20% stakes in the project, respectively. The remaining 40% is held by South Korea’s KEPCO.

Since the start of construction in 2021, the project investor has contributed over VND2.2 trillion ($88 million) to the state budget, VAPCO said.

In September, the local customs agency has completed clearance procedures for 54,000 tons of coal imported from Indonesia for the power factory’s operation.

Last week, Ha Tinh authorities announced the power factory’s recruitment plan of one CEO for the period from February 2025 to January 2027, and one maintenance director for the September 2025-August 2027 period. The deadline for submitting profiles is October 21.

It is one of six under-construction coal-fired plants featured in the national power development plan VIII (PDP VIII).

The six plants, also featured in PDP VII, are expected to account for 6,125 MW of the total of 30,127 MW produced by all coal-fired power plants in Vietnam by 2030.

In keeping with Vietnam’s sustainable development growth target, all coal-fired power plants are set to use biomass and ammonia as fuel from 2050. PDP VIII has already discontinued dozens of coal-fired power projects with a combined capacity of 13,220 MW.