Vietnam targets 6,634 MW from gas-to-power plants in 2030

Vietnam has no gas-to-power plant operating at the moment, but plans to have four such facilities with a total capacity of 6,634 MW operational in 2030.

A report sent to the Prime Minister by the Ministry of Industry and Trade regarding gas-fired and offshore wind power projects in the national power development plan VIII (PDP VIII) clarifies that the only gas-to-power plant that is operational, namely the 660-MW O Mon 1 in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, is actually using oil as fuel.

The thermal power plant will shift to gas fuel when supplies from Block B become available.

Two major gas-to-power facilities under construction are Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4. Construction of the $1.4 billion project with a total capacity of 1,620 MW began in 2021 with the initial task of ground levelling. The facilities will use LNG supplied from the LNG Thi Vai terminal in the southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

Power plants that can potentially become operational by 2030 are a sub-project of the O Mon power hub, Nhon Trach 3, Nhon Trach 4 and Hiep Phuoc, the ministry reported.

It also noted investors’ demand for power purchasing agreements (PPAs) that include government guarantees, exchange rate-related guarantees and state utility Vietnam Electricity's (EVN) long-term commitment to purchase power.

The ministry suggested that the government establish a multi-sector working group to research and draft mechanisms and policies to resolve issues related to gas-to-power plants.