A consortium of Japanese, South Korean, and Vietnamese companies have been awarded the contract worth VND30.24 trillion (US$1.3 billion) for a thermal power project in central Vietnam.

Representatives of investors and contractors sign the deal on June 17. Photo: Duc Dung/Bnews

The consortium of Japanese Mitsubishi Corporation, South Korean Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd, and Vietnamese Construction Corporation No.1 JSC (CC1) will be in charge of engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of the 1,200-MW Quang Trach 1 Thermal Power Plant in Quang Binh Province.

This contract is part of Quang Trach Thermal Power Center invested by Vietnam Electricity (EVN). The complex project costs an investment of VND41.13 trillion (US$1.86 billion), including 30% from EVN and the remaining from domestic commercial banks.

It is EVN’s first project using commercial loans without a government guarantee.

The consortium will complete the first turbine after 42 months and the second turbine in 48 months since the signing of the contract.

Once put into operations, the plant is expected to contribute 8.4 billion kWh of electricity to the national grid annually.

Mitsubishi Corporation’s Chairman Tetsu Funayama said the plant using ultra-supercritical combustion will substantially mitigate air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions, meeting both Vietnamese and international emissions regulations.

“Our joint venture is not only committed to ensuring the progress but the quality and environment are also at the highest level,” Lao Dong Newspaper cited Tetsu Funayama. 

Ultra-supercritical plants are usually more profitable than subcritical plants since they have lower fuel and other operating costs.

Vietnam’s coal-fired power capacity has so far reached roughly 22,130 MW or 32% of the country’s total installed power generation capacity.

Vietnam has reduced coal-fired power, moving toward renewable energy. However, this kind of power remains the biggest ratio and most stable source for the national grid, according to Tran Viet Ngai, head of the Vietnam Energy Association (VSA).