Recommendation for the Government to assign EVN as the investor of the Quang Trach 3 LNG Thermal Power Project

The Quang Trach Power Center, comprising the Quang Trach 1, 2, and 3 Thermal Power Plants, is expected to serve as a strategic lever to drive socio-economic development for both present-day Quang Binh Province and the newly merged Quang Tri Province.

EVN held a working session with the Quang Binh Provincial Party Committee regarding projects at the Quang Trach Power Center. Photo: Khieu Quan.

At the beginning of the working session on June 11, Secretary of the Quang Binh Provincial Party Committee Le Ngoc Quang acknowledged and highly appreciated the strong and responsible leadership of EVN, especially the Power Project Management Board No. 2 and the contractors, in implementing the projects at the Quang Trach Power Center. He stated that the province had submitted an official proposal to the Prime Minister requesting that EVN be assigned as the investor of the Quang Trach 3 LNG Thermal Power Plant project, with the goal of establishing an integrated complex and turning the Quang Trach Power Center into a national-level mega energy project.

At the session, EVN Chairman of the Members’ Council Dang Hoang An also proposed that the Provincial People's Committee, the Government Office, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade continue to assign EVN as the investor of this project.

According to Decision No. 768/QD-TTg dated April 15, 2025, issued by the Prime Minister approving the revised Power Development Plan VIII, the Quang Trach 3 LNG Thermal Power Plant Project is planned to have a capacity of 1,500 MW and is scheduled to be operational during the 2031–2035 period, to supply electricity to the northern region.

Assigning EVN as the project investor is considered appropriate and advantageous, as it can leverage existing infrastructure such as the cleared site, port facilities, access roads, electricity and water systems for construction, and connection infrastructure to the 500 kV transmission lines (third circuit). Additionally, having EVN implement the projects at the Quang Trach Power Center in a synchronized manner will enhance investment efficiency and shorten the construction timeline.

Also, during the working session, EVN provided a detailed report on the difficulties encountered in the implementation of projects at the Quang Trach Power Center. A prominent issue is the land clearance obstacles in areas Chom 1, 2, and 3 (Vinh Son Hamlet) and the site designated for the construction of the Quang Trach 2 LNG Power Plant, which need to be resolved promptly and definitively. This is a crucial condition to ensure the goal of bringing Unit 1 of the Quang Trach 1 Thermal Power Plant into operation by August 19, 2025, as directed by the Prime Minister.

According to the report from Power Project Management Board No. 2, the infrastructure project for the Quang Trach Power Center has essentially completed the construction of key components, including the coal import terminal, trestle bridge, and breakwater. Currently, the contractor is carrying out dredging of the port and channel, as well as installing the coal conveyor system, which is expected to be completed by August 2025 to ensure a timely coal supply for the Quang Trach 1 Thermal Power Plant. However, issues related to compensation and land clearance in areas Chom 1, 2, and 3 (Vinh Son Hamlet) and the site of the Quang Trach 2 LNG Power Plant remain unresolved, affecting both the dredging schedule and the overall progress of the project.

For the Quang Trach 1 Thermal Power Plant project (comprising two units with a total capacity of 1,403 MW), the overall progress has reached 92.93%. Specifically, design is 99% complete, procurement is at 98.92%, installation is at 81.71%, and testing and commissioning are at 4.36%. Currently, the contractor is conducting pressure testing of the boiler for Unit 1 and accelerating installation efforts to achieve initial grid synchronization before September 2, 2025.

In addition, the Quang Trach 2 LNG Power Plant project (with a capacity of 1,500 MW) is in the process of finalizing its feasibility study report and other technical documentation. Unit 1 is expected to begin power generation in the fourth quarter of 2028, and Unit 2 is expected to begin power generation in the third quarter of 2029.

In conclusion of the working session, Secretary of the Quang Binh Provincial Party Committee Le Ngoc Quang requested that relevant agencies, units, local authorities, and EVN urgently coordinate and focus on completing land clearance in a timely and definitive manner, and accelerating the construction progress of key components of the Quang Trach 1 Thermal Power Plant project. In particular, he emphasized the need to promptly hand over the entire cleared site to ensure Unit 1 can begin power generation on August 19, 2025, as scheduled.

In addition, Secretary of the Quang Binh Provincial Party Committee Le Ngoc Quang urged EVN, along with relevant departments, agencies, and local authorities, to focus on resolving legal and environmental procedure issues related to the Quang Trach 2 LNG Thermal Power Plant project. He called for efforts to shorten the implementation timeline, aiming to bring the project into operation two years earlier than scheduled in the revised Power Development Plan VIII. At the same time, relevant agencies were asked to closely coordinate with EVN to accelerate investment preparation for the Quang Trach 3 LNG Thermal Power Plant project.

He also requested that the Provincial People's Committee, departments, and local authorities work closely with EVN to expedite the progress of the projects. Commune-level authorities, in particular, should actively engage in dialogue, communication, and advocacy efforts with residents to build consensus during project implementation.