Thai investor suspends $2.3 billion thermal power plant project in Quang Tri

According to Quang Tri Economic Zones Management Authority, on May 29, EGATi sent a letter to the MoIT announcing their decision to halt the development of the Quang Tri project.

With a capacity of 1,200MW (and a gross capacity of 1,320MW), the project was approved by the prime minister in 2013, designating EGATi as the project's investor under the BOT framework.

As per the design, the power plant was intended to consist of two units, each with a capacity of 660MW, requiring a total investment of around $2.3 billion.

Following the project's approval, local authorities agreed on the route alignment, and National Power Transmission Corporation completed the construction of a 500kV power transmission line to facilitate the thermal power plant.

In light of the suspension of the thermal power plant project, Quang Tri Economic Zones Management Authority has proposed that Quang Tri People's Committee ask the prime minister and relevant central ministries to approve a revised plan for a 1,320MW power plant, allowing Quang Tri to explore alternative environmentally friendly fuel sources to replace the use of coal.

Currently, the province has already reclaimed a land area of 56.8 hectares for the project.

This decision by EGATi reflects an emerging trend towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources. The move aligns with global efforts to reduce reliance on coal and transition to cleaner forms of power generation.

Quang Tri, located in the central province of Vietnam, has recognised the importance of mitigating environmental impacts and is seeking solutions to ensure the region's energy needs are met while minimising harm to the environment.

By proposing the exploration of alternative fuel sources, Quang Tri aims to promote the use of more eco-friendly energy options and contribute to the country's sustainable development goals.

At a forum that was held at the headquarters of the Thai Ministry of Energy in October last year, a provincial delegation from Quang Tri participated in a bilateral meeting between the Vietnamese MoIT, the Thai Ministry of Energy, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), and the Thai Ambassador to Vietnam.

The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the future of the Quang Tri project, which is receiving investment from EGAT as the project's owner.

The project has been put on hold due to various factors, including financial considerations, objective obstacles, and the commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 – as agreed to by the governments of both Vietnam and Thailand.

Furthermore, the Thai side had suggested that Vietnam’s MoIT and Quang Tri continue to facilitate opportunities for EGAT and its subsidiary EGATi to seek investments in other renewable energy projects or infrastructure development for energy projects in Vietnam as a whole, and specifically in the central province.

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