Central Vietnam province seeks gov’t help with electricity output, price of LNG project

Vietnam’s central province of Quang Tri has asked the government for help on the first phase of the 1,500-MW LNG-fired power project (LNG Hai Lang Power Center) so it can go into commercial operation in 2027, provincial authorities said.

In particular, Quang Tri urged the government to provide solutions for issues raised by the project investors and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, including a commitment to minimum consumption of the electricity output, direct conversion of the LNG price to the electricity price, and long-term purchases of LNG per international practices.

A delegation of Quang Tri People’s Committee, led by Vice Chairman Le Duc Tien, made the proposal at a Tuesday online working session with a governmental delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Bui Hoang Phuong.

In January, a consortium investing in the $2.3-billion LNG-fired power project said it is committed to beginning commercial operations in the fourth quarter of 2029. The consortium comprises South Korea's Hanwha Energy, Korea Gas (Kogas), Korea Southern Power (Kospo), and Vietnam’s T&T Group. The consortium broke ground for the first phase of the complex in January 2022, but little progress has been made since.

Quang Tri province also seeked solutions to push forward with offshore wind power and gas-fired power projects per the National Power Development Plan VIII (PDP VIII), local authorities highlighted.

Quang Tri leaders and the government delegation also discussed other challenges, including capital for a coastline road project, progress of an urban area project with a loan from the French Development Agency (AFD), a healthcare facility upgrade with official development assistance provided by the Italian government, and construction of a resettlement area for Dong Nam Quang Tri Economic Zone.