A view of the discharge gate of the Thac Mo Hydro-power Plant in southern Binh Phuoc Province. The expansion of the plant is expected to add 52 million kWh to the national power grid. — VNA/VNS File Photo

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Thac Mo Hydro-Power Plant Joint Stock Company began expanding the Thac Mo Hydro-power Plant in southern Binh Phuoc Province on Saturday.

Located on the Be River in the province's Bu Gia Map District, about 170 kilometres from HCM City, the plant is the main power supplier for the southern region.

The VND1.5 trillion (US$70.4 million) project will upgrade its capacity from 150MW to 225MW, adding 52 million kWh of electricity to the national power grid each year.

Japan International Co-operation Agency loans provided investment capital of 5.9 billion yen ($57.8 million), 85 per cent of the total. The rest came from Electricity of Viet Nam's corresponding capital.

Dinh Van Son, deputy director of Thac Mo Hydro-power Plant Joint Stock Company, said that the expansion, expected to be finished in three years, would include a channel, water entrance door, dam system, underground pipelines and water discharging doors. It would also utilise the plant reservoir to reduce construction costs.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, who was attending the inauguration ceremony, thanked the Japanese Government for providing loans for the project and instructed the investor and contractors to ensure that construction progressed quickly and safely. — VNS