Located in Nam Nhun district, the northern province of Lai Chau, the VND35.7 trillion (US$1.6 billion) hydropower project is the third on Da River aiming to ensure electricity supply to the national electricity system and control floods for on the Northern Delta, while contributing to socio-economic development and national security in Lai Chau, Dien Bien and the northwestern region.
The first 400MW turbine of the three-turbine plant was connected to the national grid on December 14, three months ahead of schedule, paving the way to complete the whole project by 2016, a year ahead of the Government's decision.
The facility will supply over 4,600 million KWh of electricity to the national grid per year when all of its three of its turbines become operational, generating a yearly turnover of VND7 trillion (US$308million).
Speaking at the ceremony, PM Dung stressed that Lai Chau hydropower plant is a key national project with large scale investment. When it becomes fully operational, the 1,200 MW facility together with two other hydropower projects on the Da River-Son La and Hoa Binh could generate about 1/3 of the country's hydropower total output.
The project is not only significant to ensure power supply for socio-economic development but also important to control floods in the rainy season and regulate water in the dry season for downstream areas, the PM said.
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PM Nguyen Tan Dung visits the plant’s operations room. (Credit: VGP)
He praised the efforts by investor EVN and over 8,000 staff, engineers, workers, and labourers over almost five years on the site to ensure the project’s progress. He also spoke highly of co-operation among relevant ministries, agencies and units to support EVN during the project’s implementation, as well as efforts by Lai Chau province to carry out resettlement for about 8,500 people.
PM Dung asked EVN in 2016 to ensure effective operation of the facility’s first turbine and to conduct synchronous work striving to put the remaining two turbines into operation by 2016 as committed.
EVN should strengthen efforts to firmly develop and play a pivotal role in providing adequate power for the national industrialisation and modernisation, the government leader suggested, adding that the group needs to constantly improve its service quality, promote administrative reform, and enhance productivity.
On the occasion, PM Dung praised efforts by Lai Chau authorities and people in overcoming difficulties to reach positive results in national construction and socio-economic development.
He urged the province to promote its achievements towards rapid and sustainable development and improve people lives, especially those who had been displaced for the Lai Chau hydropower project.
Along with Hoa Binh (1,920 MW) and Son La (2,400 MW) hydropower plants, Lai Chau plant in full operation will increase the total capacity of hydropower projects on Da River to 6,500 MW, supplying about 25 billion kWh of electricity per year for the grid.
