Nhon Trach 3 and 4: A pioneering milestone for Vietnam's LNG power generation.

Tomorrow, December 14th, the Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4 power plants will be inaugurated. The national power grid will have access to clean, green electricity from the first LNG power plant project. Thousands of engineers and workers are overwhelmed with emotion and pride for contributing to the success of this modern, internationally-standardized power plant project, which holds significant importance in Vietnam's roadmap to achieving its Net Zero commitment.

Báo Đại biểu Nhân dân•13/12/2025

Overcoming numerous challenges

The Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4 power plants are the first LNG gas-fired power projects in Vietnam, invested by Vietnam Oil and Gas Power Corporation (PV Power) and with the Lilama - Samsung C&T consortium as the EPC general contractor. The plants are being built at the Nhon Trach Power Center, in Dai Phuoc commune, Dong Nai province, covering an area of over 56 hectares, with a total investment of approximately VND 32,486 billion.

The Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach power plants are expected to supply over 9 billion kWh per year.

Once fully operational, the two power plants, with a combined capacity of 1,624 MW, are expected to supply over 9 billion kWh annually. This is a crucial supplementary source of electricity in the context of increasing demand for base electricity in the southern region.

One of the project's technical highlights is the GE (USA) 9HA.02 gas turbine system, which belongs to the group of the world's most advanced technologies. Thanks to this turbine, Nhon Trach 3 and 4 achieve an efficiency of 62-64%, placing them among the highest-efficiency gas-fired power plants in Vietnam.

According to Le Ba Quy, Head of the Nhon Trach 3 and 4 Power Plant Management Board, as the country's first LNG project, Nhon Trach 3 and 4 faced unprecedented challenges; from the legal framework, bidding organization, LNG power development mechanism, selection of high-tech contractors to handling a large volume of investment and construction procedures.

Nevertheless, thanks to PV Power's decisive efforts and the close support of regulatory agencies, the project has maintained its progress and quality, creating a foundation for the stable operation of Vietnam's first two LNG plants in the near future.

One of the outstanding technical highlights of the NT3&NT4 plant is the 9HA.02 generation gas turbine system manufactured by GE (USA).

Mr. Le Ba Quy recounted that the bidding process coincided with the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic (in 2021), and the entire team had to operate according to the "three on-site" principle.

"Many tasks were done on-site and through the night to meet the deadline. In particular, the construction plan was meticulously and logically developed down to the smallest detail, because tons of equipment couldn't just sit waiting at the port, nor could they be stored in a warehouse and searched for individual screws among tens of thousands of components," he said.

According to Mr. Quy, a notable point is that the financing process was carried out without a government guarantee, while simultaneously meeting the stringent environmental and social standards of international financial institutions. The project has received significant funding from many reputable institutions such as SACE (Italy), SERV (Switzerland), KSURE (Korea), SMBC (Japan), ING (Netherlands), Citi (USA), and Vietcombank .

Head of the NT3&NT4 Power Plant Management Board, Le Ba Quy, shared about the challenges encountered during the construction of the plant.

He argued that this fundraising process is proof of PV Power's project management capabilities, financial management, and reputation, as well as its ability to implement large-scale energy projects in an increasingly competitive and transparent market.

The task of grid connection and power release also presented a major challenge, requiring continuous coordination between the investor and relevant units. Throughout the implementation process, the project received close guidance from the Government, the State Steering Committee for National Key Projects, ministries, and the People's Committee of Dong Nai province. Thanks to this coordinated effort, many obstacles related to grid connection, power release, legal issues, and land acquisition were resolved, helping the project reach completion on schedule.

The intelligence and resilience of the Vietnamese people after the green electricity wave.

Nhon Trach 3 and 4 are among the most efficient gas-fired power plant complexes in Vietnam today.

Behind the two state-of-the-art LNG power plants lies a massive construction effort, totaling over 10 million labor hours. Throughout the construction process, 3,257 engineers, workers, and laborers from the investor, general contractor, and 138 subcontractors were directly involved. Approximately 40,000 tons of steel structures and equipment, along with 120,000 m³ of concrete, were installed on the site, creating one of the largest gas-fired power plant infrastructure complexes in the country.

The project's general contractor consortium consists of Samsung C&T (61%) and Lilama (39%). Samsung is responsible for supplying key equipment such as gas turbines, generators, steam turbines, and heat recovery boilers. Meanwhile, Lilama handles all construction, installation, and building work. With experience in implementing many large projects such as Song Hau 1, Ca Mau, and Uong Bi, Lilama is also responsible for constructing the cooling water, compressed air, and water treatment systems, as well as the 220kV and 500kV substations.

Deputy Head of the Technology Department of PVPower Power Project Management Board, Luu Hoai Nam (second from the right), introduces the modern technology of the plant.

According to Luu Hoai Nam, Deputy Head of the Technology Department of the PVPower Power Project Management Board, the role of Vietnamese engineers and technicians is clearly evident in this project. Approximately 80% of the construction workforce is Vietnamese. Lilama's technicians are highly regarded for their skills, with many adjustment tasks taking only 7-10 days instead of the usual months. A team of skilled technicians with 40-45 years of experience has also been mobilized to train the next generation of workers.

"The skills of Vietnamese craftsmen are superior to those of many other countries in the region," commented Fitner's chief consultant (Switzerland).

Engineer Nguyen Hoang Ha, from Samsung's general contractor, instructs Vietnamese engineers on operating the system in the control room.

Engineer Nguyen Hoang Ha (Samsung's general contractor) previously worked in many countries with advanced LNG power generation technology before returning to Vietnam. Directly supervising Vietnamese engineers operating the system in the project's control room, he observed that the young domestic engineering team possesses high-level skills, comparable to international engineers.

For technically complex tasks such as aligning the long coaxial shaft model between Lilama, Samsung, and GE, or the initial power-on, substation testing, and commissioning stages, the process often takes longer and requires very high precision. Thanks to the solid skills and quick learning ability of Vietnamese engineers, along with the efforts of all parties involved, the Nhon Trach 3 and 4 power plant project was completed on schedule.

“These days, as Nhon Trach 3 and 4 are about to begin commercial operation, the engineers and workers all feel a very special joy,” shared Tran Kim Bich, Deputy Project Director of Lilama. “Having been involved with the project from the beginning, we truly understand the hardships and pressures that the team has had to overcome. From the contractor and equipment suppliers to the construction team, everyone has coordinated seamlessly and is determined to bring the project to completion on schedule.”

For the Deputy Project Director of Lilama, "contributing a small part to Vietnam's pioneering LNG power plant project is a great source of pride. The two plants coming into operation not only strengthen national energy security but also contribute to realizing Vietnam's commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050."

The project's success stems from the selection of large, reputable partners in the general contracting field, while also showcasing Vietnamese ingenuity.

Nhon Trach 3 and 4 not only mark a milestone in Vietnam's LNG power generation industry but also affirm the technological capabilities of Vietnamese engineers and technicians on international-scale projects.

The green electricity from Nhon Trach 3 and 4 will be integrated into the national grid starting tomorrow; and the pride of those who created this pioneering project will continue to spread, as a confirmation: Vietnam can absolutely conquer new technological heights on its journey to realizing its Net Zero commitment.

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