First foreign-funded hydropower plant to commence operations

The Coc San hydro-electricity plant, the first foreign-funded power project in North Vietnam, will start generating power in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai on June 8.

The Coc San hydro-electricity plant.
The Coc San hydro-electricity plant.

Announcing the news at a press conference in Hanoi on June 6, Allard Noov, CEO of Infraco Asia, a Singaporean-based company that invested US$50 million in the plant, said it will offer 130,000 locals access to power at affordable costs.

The 30MW plant is expected to help cut approximately 76,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

The facility has employed 250 people for its construction and will provide 35 stable jobs once fully operational.

According to Allard Noov, Coc San began construction in 2011 and is situated among terraced rice fields, thus no relocation was needed.

Vietnam’s demand for electricity grows about 15% annually, with hydropower accounting for 44% of the national electricity output.