Preparing to start construction of O Mon IV Thermal Power Plant in Can Tho

(Chinhphu.vn) - O Mon IV Thermal Power Plant is the first downstream project in the Lot B gas-electricity value chain to officially enter the construction phase on August 19.

Perspective of Gas-Power Chain Lot B

The groundbreaking ceremony of O Mon IV Thermal Power Plant was selected by the Government as one of 250 typical projects to be inaugurated and inaugurated to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025). At the same time, this is also a key project to celebrate the success of the 4th Petrovietnam Party Congress, towards the 14th National Party Congress.

Strategic energy source

The Block B-O Mon gas-power project chain is a key project of the Vietnamese energy industry, consisting of three main components: gas exploitation at Block B-O Mon offshore Southwest (upstream), a 431 km long gas pipeline system (midstream) and a cluster of gas-fired power plants at the O Mon Power Center (downstream).

In particular, upstream projects operated by Phu Quoc Petroleum Operating Company (Phu Quoc POC) and midstream projects invested by Southwest Pipeline Company (SWPOC) are being implemented, creating an important premise for the downstream phase to operate effectively.

Recently, in early August 2025, two items of the housing platform and utility platform under the EPCI package #1 (McDermott – PTSC joint venture) of the Block B gas field development project officially started construction at Vietsovpetro port. At the same time, the Block B – O Mon gas pipeline project also entered the simultaneous construction phase.

With a total investment of about 1.277 billion USD, the 329 km long pipeline under the sea and 102 km onshore will transport 5-6 billion m³ of natural gas per year from the Block B - O Mon field to the mainland, supplying gas to the O Mon Power Center and industrial consumers in the Mekong Delta.

Previously, in March 2025, the groundbreaking ceremony for the pipe coating took place in Vung Tau, along with the signing of two bidding packages PC1 and PC2 for the offshore pipeline at the end of June 2025, before the onshore pipeline officially started construction on July 2, 2025. Thus, all three key components of the Block B chain have entered the simultaneous implementation phase.

Perspective of O Mon Thermal Power Center

In this chain, O Mon IV Thermal Power Plant is the first power plant to start construction. The plant has a designed capacity of 1,155 MW, with high efficiency, fuel economy and environmental friendliness.

It is expected that by December 2028, when synchronized with the process of bringing gas from Block B field to shore, the plant will be completed and generate commercial electricity.

Providing clean electricity directly to the Mekong Delta

When operational, O Mon IV will increase the total power capacity managed and operated by Petrovietnam to more than 9,300 MW, equivalent to about 10% of the total capacity of the national power system. This will be a clean, stable power source, increasing the reliability of the power system, supplying directly to the Mekong Delta region.

The groundbreaking of O Mon IV Thermal Power Plant is of key significance because it is the first downstream link in the chain that is qualified for construction, creating a foundation for receiving gas flows and generating commercial electricity in the near future. From this project, the progress of other downstream projects in the O Mon Power Center will also be promoted. The Lot B gas-power chain, therefore, is not only of industrial value, but also of strategic significance to the country.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended and gave a speech at the signing ceremony and implementation of the Block B - O Mon Gas Power Project Chain in October 2023.

With a total reserve of about 100 billion m³ of gas, the Project chain will be a "new energy source" for Vietnam for decades to come. Once operational, 5–6 billion m³ of gas per year will be brought to the mainland, converted into tens of billions of kWh of clean electricity, stably supplementing the power system, reducing dependence on traditional sources that are increasingly difficult to expand, such as coal or hydropower.

Not only ensuring fuel supply, the project chain also creates momentum for the development of supporting industries, logistics services, improving domestic manufacturing and installation capacity, especially the increasingly deep participation of Vietnamese enterprises in the entire implementation process.

For the Mekong Delta, where electricity demand is growing rapidly but there is a lack of local power sources, the establishment of the O Mon power center will be an important turning point. From a land of rice and seafood, the "land of nine dragons" will now have more development momentum from electricity, supporting industries and energy infrastructure.

It can be seen that from Block B offshore to O Mon on land, an energy chain is being extended by the determination, internal strength and strategic vision of Petrovietnam. When the gas flows from the Southwest seabed are brought back to light up every roof, bringing energy to each operating industrial zone, it will contribute sustainable value to ensuring national energy security.

Phan Trang

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/chuan-bi-khoi-cong-nha-may-nhet-dien-o-mon-iv-tai-can-tho-102250817013858916.htm