Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung hailed the EVN for completing the project one year earlier than the schedule set by the National Assembly. He also required the EVN to ensure efficiency and absolute safety in the management and operation of the plant.
The local authorities in Lai Chau and Dien Bien province were also asked to coordinate with the EVN to help people displaced by the power plant’s construction secure long-term livelihood and ensure proper living conditions for them.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, Vietnam will need additional 5,000-7,000 MW of electricity in the next 10-20 years. Hence, EVN and the Ministry of Industry and Trade should continue to invest in developing the power generation and transmission systems to serve the country’s socio-economic development targets.
The Lai Chau hydro power plant is the third large-scale hydro power plant built on Da River, after Son La and Hoa Binh with a total investment of 35.7 trillion VND (1.7 billion USD). It has three turbines with a combined capacity of 1,200 MW.
The plant is expected to supply nearly 4.7 billion kWh of electricity each year while regulating water flow to prevent flood and provide water in the dry season for the northern delta region.
In December 2015, the plant’s first turbine wasput into operation while the two others became operational in June and November 2016, respectively.
