Which technology should be chosen for the $2 billion coal-fired power plant project in Quang Tri?

The Standing Committee of the Quang Tri Provincial Party Committee unanimously agreed on the principle of implementing the Quang Tri thermal power plant project, noting the need for "modern, clean technology that minimizes environmental pollution."

The Quang Tri thermal power plant is being built in the Southeast Quang Tri Economic Zone - Photo: HOANG TAO

On February 14th, the Quang Tri Provincial Party Committee Office announced that the Provincial Party Committee had issued a notice summarizing its conclusions on several important socio-economic issues.

Modern technology required.

In this regard, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee basically agreed with the proposal of the Provincial People's Committee to continue implementing the Quang Tri thermal power plant project, and assigned the Provincial People's Committee to work with Vietnam Electricity Group to propose to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to consider assigning Power Generation Corporation 1 to study and implement the Quang Tri thermal power plant project.

In particular, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee noted: "The technology used for the coal-fired power plant project is modern, clean technology that minimizes environmental pollution in the project area and surrounding areas."

In the event that Vietnam Electricity Corporation (EVN) does not proceed with the investment in the Quang Tri thermal power project, the Provincial People's Committee is tasked with proposing to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to consider and allow the conversion of the project from coal-fired to LNG and its inclusion in the revised Power Development Plan VIII.

EVNGENCO1 wants to be the investor.

Previously, on February 7th, Power Generation Corporation 1 (EVNGENCO1) sent a document to Quang Tri province proposing to be the investor for the Quang Tri thermal power plant project with a total investment of 55,000 billion VND, expected to start generating electricity by the end of 2030.

On February 11th, Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) also submitted a proposal for EVNGENCO1 to be the investor for this project. EVN assessed that Power Generation Corporation 1 has the capacity, experience, and capital to invest in and operate thermal power plants.

The Quang Tri thermal power plant, with a capacity of 1,320MW, consisting of two units, each with a capacity of 660MW, has been added to the list of delayed coal-fired power projects under the National Power Development Plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.

In August 2013, the Prime Minister approved the project, allowing the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand International (EGATi) to be the investor and implement it under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, with a total investment of over 55,000 billion VND.

By July 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Trade agreed to have EGATi halt this project. Therefore, the project currently has no investor.

In October 2024, Quang Tri province sent a document to the Ministry of Industry and Trade requesting a conversion of the project from a coal-fired power plant to an LNG-fired power plant, while increasing the capacity from 1,320MW to 1,500MW. This proposal has not yet received a response from the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/lua-chon-cong-nghe-nao-voi-du-an-nhiet-dien-than-2-ti-usd-o-quang-tri-20250214095735032.htm