O Mon III and O Mon IV Thermal Power Plant Projects with a capacity of 1,050 MW/plant, located at O ​​Mon Power Center, Phuoc Thoi Ward, O Mon District, Can Tho City. Currently, O Mon III and O Mon IV Thermal Power Plant Projects are in the investment preparation stage. O Mon III and O Mon IV Thermal Power Plant Projects are component projects in the Lot B gas-power project chain (Project Chain), including upstream projects (gas field), midstream (gas pipeline project) and downstream (power plant). The project chain has the opportunity to be implemented in 2023 to meet the schedule of having the first gas flow by the end of 2026. According to the VIII power plan, the Lot B gas-power project chain will be an important source of electricity, providing additional power to the national power system in the Southern region in the period of 2026-2030. In addition, the project chain is also in line with the energy transition trend and meets the goal of reducing carbon emissions.

Representatives of Vietnam Electricity Group and Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) signed the handover minutes.

In the past, despite receiving support and guidance from the Government, ministries, branches and agencies, the implementation of the project chain is unprecedented, the interface is complicated with the participation of many investors and the parties need to have synchronous decisions while there is not much time left due to the urgent requirements of the project. If timely decisions are not made from the downstream stage, the project chain will face the risk of not meeting the above schedule. At that time, the delay will not only directly affect the current work of the upstream and midstream but also affect the feasibility of continuing to implement the project of domestic and foreign partners. In order to ensure the progress of the implementation of these two projects, in Document No. 77/TTg-CN dated June 24, 2023, the Prime Minister agreed to transfer the investor of the O Mon III and O Mon IV Thermal Power Plant projects from EVN to Petrovietnam.

At the handover ceremony, representatives of EVN and Petrovietnam signed the handover minutes of a number of contracts related to the project, including: O Mon Power Center planning documents; Pre-feasibility study report (Pre-FS) of O Mon III Thermal Power Plant project; Feasibility study report (FS) of O Mon IV Thermal Power Plant project; and documents related to capital arrangement and other documents.

The handover has affirmed the sense of responsibility of Petrovietnam and EVN in urgently and seriously implementing the Prime Minister's direction. This will help ensure the project's progress and facilitate its implementation in 2023. In the coming time, with the guidance of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Petrovietnam and EVN will continue to closely coordinate and quickly hand over the project to implement the next steps to put the projects into operation on schedule. At the same time, negotiate the power purchase agreement (PPA) for O Mon III and O Mon IV Thermal Power Plants after the competent authority approves the investment project to minimize the impact on the progress of the commitment to receive gas from the upstream and midstream of the two plants and some related work.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Dang Huy Cuong, Member of the Board of Members, in charge of the Board of Members of EVN, said that the transfer of the project to Petrovietnam aims to ensure common interests, so that the project chain can be implemented as soon as possible, ensuring the overall progress of the entire Block B Gas project chain as well as contributing to ensuring national energy security. Petrovietnam General Director Le Manh Hung affirmed that accepting the role of investor in the O Mon III and O Mon IV thermal power projects is both an honor and a great responsibility assigned by the Government and the Prime Minister. Petrovietnam, with its leading experience in Vietnam in the field of gas-fired thermal power and especially the experience at the recent Thai Binh 2 thermal power project, will be a great motivation for Petrovietnam to confidently complete the O Mon III and O Mon IV thermal power projects to meet the progress and quality of the project.

Article and photos: AN SON