Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) on December 20 inaugurated the Lai Chau hydro-electricity plant in Nam Nhun District in the northern mountain province of Lai Chau.

The plant has begun operations one year ahead of the National Assembly’s resolution.

The VND35.7 trillion (US$1.6 billion) plant has three engines with a capacity of 1,200MW. It is the third largest hydro-power plant in Viet Nam built on Da River and is associated with the Son La and Hoa Binh hydro-power plants.

The project will have access to the national power grid, with annual average productivity of 4.7 billion kWh.

The Lai Chau plant will annually earn revenue of more than VND5 trillion.

The plant is expected to produce some 4.2 billion kWh next year, accounting for 2.1 per cent of the country’s output.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held in Lai Chau on December 20, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung said he greatly valued EVN’s immense progress in management and design through its application of the world’s advanced technologies at the plant.

As calculated, in the next 10-20 years, Viet Nam will need to add 5,000MW to 7,000MW annually from new power resources.

To reach the target, Dung asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade and EVN to continue focusing on investment in developing power resources and network and attaching special importance to non-State investment capital to stabilise power supply and meet the demand of socio-economic development.

The deputy PM wanted EVN and Son La Hydropower Company, which was assigned to take over the Lai Chau plant, to operate it safely and effectively.

In particular, during the plant operation process, adherence to the reservoir management system was required to effectively regulate floods, supply the right quantity of water to the lowlands and ensure water for agriculture, Dung said.

He asked local authorities to pay attention to the living and working environment of people in settlement areas, help them gain access to education and training and regularly meet locals’ materials and spiritual demands.

Viet Nam has essentially exploited the hydro-power potential on Da River with three giant plants -- Son La, Hoa Binh and Lai Chau -- which will have total capacity of 6,500MW and total output of 25 billion kWh, or one-third of the country’s productivity by 2020. — VNS