Vietnam Electricity (EVN) has begun construction of a VND9.22 trillion (US$400 million)-hydropower extension plant that is located on Da River or Black River.

Overview of Hoa Binh Hydropower Extension Plant. Source: EVN

The investment for Hoa Binh Hydropower Extension Plant includes 30% of the investor and 70% from Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).

A consortium of domestic contractors namely the Ministry of National Defence’s Truong Son Construction Corporation, Construction Joint Stock Company 47, and Lilama 10 Joint Stock Company will build the extension plant capacity 480 megawatts (MW).

Once put into operation in 2024, the extension will raise Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant to 2,400 MW, equal to Son La Hydropower Plant, the largest hydropower project in Southeast Asia.

Upon completion, three hydropower plants on Da River namely Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant, Son La Hydropower Plant, and Lai Chau Hydropower Plant will have total capacity of 6,000 MW, contributing 30% of the country’s electricity output.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the ground-breaking ceremony of the hydropower extension plant. Photo: Quang Hieu

“We kick off Hoa Binh Extension Hydropower project as part of efforts to tap potential of the water resources to contribute to the country’s development,” Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said at the ground-breaking ceremony early this week.

Big hydropower projects on Da River symbolize Vietnam’s industrialization and modernization, the PM said.

The construction of Hoa Binh plant must be absolutely safe for the sustainable development, especially the downstream areas, PM Phuc emphasized.

EVN’s General Director Tran Dinh Nhan said the Hoa Binh plant is aimed to make full use of Da River and utilize abundant water in flood seasons to work at highest capacity and ensure safety for the national grid.

Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant was built between November 1979 and December 1994 with design, equipment, and support by the USSR. It took the makers twice for river closure in 1983 and 1986.

With storing capacity 9.8 billion cu.m of water, the plant helps regulate water and prevent floods for the Red River Basin and Hanoi.

After more than 30 years of operations, the plant has supplied nearly 250 billion kWh.