$1.82 billion Thai Binh 2 Thermal Power Plant urged to begin operation in 2022

Thai Binh 2 Thermal Power Plant will play an important role in ensuring energy security for Vietnam

In a recent working session with Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh, director of the Thai Binh 2 Thermal Power Project Management Board Nguyen Thanh Huong reported that to date, the project is 86.8 per cent completed. Notably, the design work is 99.9 per cent complete while the construction is 84.2 per cent completed. The test operation work has reached 13 per cent completion.

The remaining construction work includes completing the coal transportation system, coal storage, slag discharge pipeline, bidding packages for several stages of test operation, and building out an online environmental monitoring system. The first turbine will begin commercial power generation in November 2022 and the second unit a month later.

While trial operation is being implemented, it is running behind schedule because foreign contractors could not bring experts in to the country to keep up with initial plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The deputy prime minister said that delaying ycommercial operations will cause serious economic damage by increasing loan interests for the investor, the locality will draw no budgetary revenue from the project, and EVN will not be able to purchase electricity from the plant which is designed to generate over 7 billion kWh. In addition, the northern region's electricity supply in the coming years is expected to face difficulties.

The Thai Binh 2 thermal power plant is an important project in Thai Binh Power Center. The plant was designed with two units with the total capacity of 1,200MW, invested by PetroVietnam. The plant is located in south My Loc commune, Thai Thuy district, about 20km to the east of Thai Binh city.

PetroVietnam Construction JSC (PVC) is the EPC contractor with a $1.2 billion contract.

The construction was started in 2011 and was expected to start operations in 2020 but has been delayed by the pandemic.