The site coordination meeting to deploy key tasks for 2026 in the construction of the Bac Ai Pumped-Storage Hydropower Plant Project was held on January 26 in Khanh Hoa Province. EVN Vice President Pham Hong Phuong chaired the meeting, attended by EVN’s functional departments, Power Project Management Board No. 3 (EVNPMB3), Power Engineering Consulting Joint Stock Company No. 4 (EVNPECC4), and representatives of the project’s contractors.

EVN Vice President Pham Hong Phuong (standing) chairing site meeting for Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant Project

The project aims to complete the approval of key documents, including the ESIA (Environmental and Social Impact Assessment) and the ESMMP (Environmental and Social Management and Monitoring Plan), before March 31. Close cooperation with the international consultant SSC in monitoring environmental, social, health, and safety management promises to make the Bac Ai project a model of modern, safe, and environmentally friendly construction management.

Director of EVNPMB3 (left) and Deputy Director of EVNPMB3 (right) presenting and clarifying issues related to project at meeting.

According to EVNPMB3’s report at the meeting, in 2025, the project site completed the through-connection of construction and operation access roads, finished excavation of open foundation pits for major works, and carried out excavation and support for five adits, basically in line with the contractual schedule. Many tasks met and surpassed the approved plan.

Notably, the electrical cable tunnel and ventilation tunnel items completed all excavation and reinforcement work, reaching 100% of the volume on 21 January 2025, surpassing the planned schedule for the year. The site leveling works for the 500kV distribution substation also recorded outstanding results, with the volume completed in 2025 reaching 145,000m³, equivalent to 144% of the annual plan, and the cumulative volume reaching 90%.

The construction and operation access roads VH1, VH2, and VH3A have basically completed roadbed excavation and embankment works, with many items reaching over 96–98% of the designed volume. In particular, Road VH1 has completed 100% of the excavation and embankment volume for the roadbed. Tunnel construction works, including the operation, ventilation, and drainage tunnels, outperformed the quarterly plan in multiple sections, with excavation and support quantities reaching 104–117% of the planned targets.

Representatives of contractors speaking at meeting

In parallel with construction, the contractor selection process has been implemented according to plan, with 28 out of 32 packages completed to date. Compensation and land clearance have been completed, with a total area of ​​106.4 hectares recovered, creating important conditions to accelerate the construction progress of the main items. In 2025, total disbursement amounted to approximately VND 434.371 billion, surpassing the EVN-approved capital plan of VND 430 billion.

From Q1/2026, EVNPMB3 will intensify construction of the Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant, prioritizing items on the project’s critical path. Notably, as of January 22, 2026, construction has officially begun on the project’s main work package - the underground power plant.

Before site coordination meeting, EVN Vice President Pham Hong Phuong and delegation conducting site inspection at Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant Project.

Translator: Hải Yến