Sumitomo-invested 1,432 MW thermal power plant approved for full operation
The 1,432 MW Van Phong 1 coal-fired power plant, invested by Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation, was approved for full commercial operation last week after Deputy Minister of Construction Bui Xuan Dung gave the green light for its second turbine.
The $2.58 billion project is being developed in Vietnam’s central province of Khanh Hoa on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis by Van Phong Power Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Corp.
Deputy Minister of Construction Bui Xuan Dung (standing) conducts an on-site check of Van Phong 1 power plant in Khanh Hoa province, south-central Vietnam, December 28, 2023. Photo courtesy of Xay Dung (Construction) newspaper.
Van Phong Power Company, as the project investor, reported that the construction of the project began in November 2019 and finished in September 2023. The coal suppliers for the thermal power factory are Indonesia and Australia, with 3.6 million tons a year for two turbines of 716 MW each.
The factory completed the installation and connected turbine No.1 to the grid in April 2023, and turbine No.2 in August 2023. Since then the power plant has been operating on a trial basis. The approval of turbine No.1 for commercial operation was given in October 2023.
Van Phong 1 thermal power plant in Khanh Hoa province, central Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Xay Dung (Construction) newspaper.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam welcomed 4,298 MW of new power sources in 2023, including 1,200 MW from Thai Binh 2 thermal power plant, 1,432 MW from Van Phong 1 thermal power plant, and 1,201 MW from 21 renewable energy projects that had completed their commercial operations date (COD) procedures.
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