The "first fire" signifies the initial ignition of fuel within the turbine's combustion chamber, marking a crucial milestone in its commissioning process. This event precedes the turbine reaching its full operating speed and is a key step towards electricity generation.

EVN said it is determined to put the first turbine into operation in 2025 and generate electricity from both the turbines in 2026.

Early this year, the utility had stated that it aimed to put the first turbine into operation by September 2.

The Quang Trach 1 coal-fired power plant is part of the 2,903 MW Quang Trach Power Center project in the central province.

The plant has two turbines and a design annual output of 9.1 billion kWh, utilizing ultrasupercriticial technology to meet environmental requirements.

EVN assigned the project to the Power Project Management Board 2 which is also in charge of other projects at the 48.6-hectare Quang Trach Power Center in Phu Trach commune, Quang Tri province (formerly Quang Dong commune, Quang Trach district, Quang Binh province before the recent merger of Quang Binh and Quang Tri).

The total investment of the project is over VND42,000 billion ($1.6 billion), using EVN's capital (30%) and domestic commercial loans (70%) sponsored by state-controlled Vietcombank.

The package of design, supply of goods, and construction of the project is implemented by a consortium of Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation, South Korea's Hyundai E&C (Korean Contractor), and Vietnam's Construction Corporation No. 1 - the EPC.

These are all reputable, large contractors with capacity and experience at many large thermal power projects.

The plant is equipped with synchronous wastewater treatment systems and exhaust gas and dust filtration systems, so the amount of gas emissions after treatment will fully comply with current Vietnamese environmental standards and be equivalent to World Bank standards, according to the investor.