Unit 1 of the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant Expansion Project was officially connected to Vietnam’s national grid on August 19. The unit, with a capacity of 240MW, was commissioned and synchronized at 04:27 the same day.
The inauguration and synchronization ceremony took place in Phu Tho Province with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Truong Thanh Hoai, and Phu Tho Provincial Party Secretary Dang Xuan Phong. Leaders from Vietnam Electricity (EVN), representatives of contractor companies, and financial partners including the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and Vietcombank were also present.
According to EVN, the new unit will add to the plant’s existing roles in electricity generation, flood control, water supply, and navigation. Construction teams are continuing work on Unit 2, which is scheduled for completion in October. The full expansion project is expected to be finished by the end of 2025.
The expansion is located on the right abutment of the existing Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant dam. It shares the reservoir, dam, and spillway with the current facility, while new construction works include an intake channel, intake structure, headrace tunnel, and powerhouse.
Once completed, the project is expected to provide additional peak load capacity for the national power system, improve grid stability, and reduce operating costs. EVN has stated that it will also help extend the lifespan of existing generating equipment by reducing their workload and lowering maintenance needs.
The Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant Expansion Project has an installed capacity of 480MW and is projected to generate around 488.3 million kilowatt-hours annually. The total investment is VND 9,220.83 billion. Construction began in January 2021, with EVN’s Power Project Management Unit 1 representing the investor.
