The Hoa Binh hydro power plant expansion project is expected to start in the second quarter of 2020 and be completed in 2023, according to Vietnam Electricity (EVN).

An overview of Hoa Binh Hydro Power Plant.
(Source: baochinhphu.vn)
 

The EVN Member Council has issued Decision No. 383/QD-EVN dated September 27, 2019 on the project investment with total capital exceeding 9.22 trillion VND (396.46 million USD), including 30 percent of reciprocal capital and 70 percent from commercial loans.

The project aims to raise the national power network’s peak power and maximise utilisation of water discharged from the plant in the flood season for generating power.

In addition, it will help improve frequency modulation capability and stablise the frequency of the national electricity system and reduce the working intensity of available turbines of the plant, thus prolonging the life of equipment and saving maintenance and repair costs.

The plant expansion project will include two turbines with total capacity of 480MW and electricity output of about 488.3 million kWh per year.

According to EVN, the project was assigned and managed by the Hydropower Project Management Board No. 1, which has experience in operating major hydro projects such as Son La and Lai Chau.

Pham Hong Phuong, director of the board, said the board has focused on selecting the project’s contractors to ensure the schedule, while coordinating with Hoa Binh province in compensation and land clearance work.