Authorities in the central province of Quang Binh are accelerating procedures to turn a 1.2 gigawatt coal-fired power project into using liquefied natural gas (LNG) to match Vietnam’s cleaner energy transition.
The Quang Trach II project in the province was approved by the government in February 2021, with state utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN) as developer. The initially estimated investment, which is for coal as fuel, is VND48.156 billion ($1.9 billion), with 20% from EVN equity and 80% from loans.
Quang Trach II is planned as part of Quang Trach Power Center, which includes the Quang Trach I coal-fired power plant, also being developed by EVN.
The state utility commenced the construction of the thermal power plant in December 2021. Its capacity is also 1.2 GW like Quang Trach II, and operation is set to start in 2025.
Quang Trach II is one of the four LNG-fueled power projects added to Vietnam’s draft national power development plan VIII (PDP VIII), the Ministry of Industry and Trade said in a proposal to the government dated October 13.
The other three are Thai Binh (1.5 GW) in Thai Binh province in the north, Nghi Son (1.5 GW) in Thanh Hoa and Quynh Lap (1.5 GW) in Nghe An, both in the central region.