Quang Trach I Races Towards December Grid Connection Goal
All construction efforts are currently focused intently on a crucial deadline for the Quang Trach I Thermal Power Plant: connecting Unit One to the national grid by December nineteen, a milestone vital for completing the project in strict accordance with the Vietnamese government’s demanding energy requirements.
According to the state-owned utility EVN’s Power Project Management Board No. Two (EVNPMB2), the project’s overall progress has been exceptionally good, with many key construction and equipment packages already successfully completed and integrated into the system.
An important technical achievement that marked the transition to the next stage of integrated trial operations was the successful conducting of the first oil-firing test of the massive boiler.
Nguyen Minh Hoang, deputy director of EVNPMB2, emphasized the commitment of the workforce, stating, “We are racing against time. Most auxiliary systems, from water treatment, compressed air, and lubricating oil, to the crucial cooling system, have all been rigorously tested and are now operating stably. December nineteen is not just a deadline; it is a commitment shared by thousands of dedicated workers striving day and night on the Quang Trach site.”
The project’s construction timeline has been challenged significantly by harsh weather conditions, including prolonged rainfall and severe storms that made the ground slippery and forced necessary adjustments to many intricate installation plans.
However, instead of allowing progress to slow, engineers and the workforce strategically organized rotating shifts and positioned temporary rest shelters directly near the work areas to ensure continuous, uninterrupted efforts.
This demonstrates a deep commitment to maintaining the aggressive schedule required for this key national Investment and ensures the timely delivery of a critical baseload power source to the Economy.
Advanced Technology and Commitment Ensure Project Quality
The successful execution of the Quang Trach I project is driven by both the intense dedication of the contractors and the application of cutting-edge technology, positioning it as one of EVN’s fastest, safest, and most comprehensively executed thermal power projects in recent years.
Representatives of key Vietnamese contractors, Lilama Ten and Lilama Eighteen, who are responsible for the vast majority of mechanical and installation work, have reiterated their unwavering determination to meet the deadline alongside the investor.
Pham The Thao, site manager of Lilama Eighteen, underscored the sheer scale of the undertaking, noting, “We are handling up to sixty-eight thousand tonnes of equipment. So far, more than eighty-eight per cent has been completed. The rain and wind have made the installation of the boiler, turbine, and dust filtration systems far more difficult, but once we take on a task, we are committed to finishing it on schedule.”
Over four thousand skilled workers are present on the Quang Trach site at any given time, supported by twenty-four/seven dedicated teams.
Trinh Quang Tuyen’s crew from Lilama Ten is one example of the relentless effort, stating, “To meet the schedule, we have arranged continuous shifts, with meals and rest areas set up on the construction site. As a Vietnamese contractor contributing to a national-scale project, we must strive to improve every day.”
A major technological highlight is the plant’s application of the advanced ultra-supercritical (USC) technology, which operates the boiler at extremely high pressure and temperature to significantly improve energy conversion efficiency and drastically reduce coal consumption to approximately two hundred eighty grams/kWh.
This commitment to modern USC technology not only enhances operational Business efficiency but also significantly lowers harmful emissions like CO2, SO, and NO, ensuring full compliance with stringent domestic and international environmental standards.
Strategic Grid Stabilization and Long-Term Green Energy Vision
The Quang Trach I plant represents a critical strategic Investment for Vietnam’s national Economy and energy security, going far beyond merely meeting immediate power demands.
The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art environmental controls, including a flue gas desulfurisation system, an $\text{NO}_x$ reduction system, high-efficiency electrostatic precipitators, and an automatic emissions monitoring system.
Representatives of EVNPMB2 confirmed that they “optimize technology not only to enhance operational efficiency but also to fully meet both domestic and international environmental standards,” with stack emissions meeting stringent requirements considered among the most advanced for coal-fired power plants in Vietnam.
Another notable achievement is the high participation rate of local companies, such as Lilama and CC One, in major component construction.
This strategic localization effort has successfully helped reduce overall project costs and, crucially, strengthened Vietnam’s domestic mechanical and energy industry capabilities, generating significant long-term Business value.
Once operational, Quang Trach I will provide an essential baseload power source for the Central region, which currently faces severe capacity shortages, while also stabilizing the entire national grid, particularly amidst the rapid but intermittent growth of renewable energy sources.
The project, which has a total investment of VND forty-one to forty-two trillion (US one point sixty-five billion) and an installed capacity of one thousand two hundred to one thousand four hundred three MW (for two units), is expected to supply eight point four to nine billion kWh annually, alleviating transmission pressure between the North and Central regions and boosting local budget revenue and long-term employment.
Furthermore, the plant’s design notably incorporates the potential for a future fuel transition to biomass or ammonia, demonstrating the project’s alignment with Vietnam’s long-term Net Zero two thousand fifty roadmap and its commitment to a cleaner energy future.
Impact Assessment: Central Vietnam’s Power Market and Finance Dynamics
The imminent one thousand two hundred to one thousand four hundred three MW capacity injection from Quang Trach I will fundamentally alter the power Economy of Central Vietnam, transitioning the region from a chronic net energy importer to a more self-sufficient, and potentially net exporting, zone.
This immediate baseload power boost directly addresses the current supply deficit in the Central region, which frequently faces grid instability and forced industrial power cuts, thereby reducing the systemic $\text{GDP}$ volatility associated with energy scarcity.
From a Finance and Investment perspective, the successful completion of Quang Trach I de-risks future renewable energy Investment in the region (solar and wind), as the plant provides the necessary firming capacity to manage intermittent output, enabling faster grid integration for variable renewable energy assets.
This complementary dynamic increases the IRR of renewable projects by mitigating curtailment risk.
The plant’s application of Ultra-Supercritical (USC) technology sets a high environmental and operational benchmark, potentially rendering older, less efficient sub-critical thermal plants in the region commercially obsolete sooner than anticipated, forcing accelerated decommissioning or costly retrofits.
The localization of construction work strengthens the domestic Business ecosystem, transferring critical knowledge and reducing reliance on foreign engineering and procurement contracts for future large-scale national infrastructure projects, creating a long-term Investment multiplier effect for Vietnam’s heavy industry.
Finally, the forward-looking design for fuel transition (biomass/ammonia) is a key factor for ESG Finance; it allows EVN to secure green transition Investment capital in the future, despite the plant’s current coal dependency, thereby aligning a major national asset with Vietnam’s Net Zero commitment.
