Construction commencement ceremony of Bac Ai pumped-storage hydropower plant project

Construction commencement ceremony of Bac Ai pumped-storage hydropower plant project - phase 2

13:54, 22/02/2025

On 22 February 2025, Vietnam Electricity, Power Project Management Board 3 held the Construction commencement ceremony of the Bac Ai pumped-storage hydropower plant project - phase 2 in Bac Ai district, Ninh Thuan province.

The construction commencement ceremony was attended by comrade Pham Van Hau - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; comrade Tran Quoc Nam - Chairman of the Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Committee; leaders of the Provincial Fatherland Front, leaders of Departments and Branches of Ninh Thuan province, representatives of the Party Committee, Bac Ai district government and representatives of the people in the project area. Also attending the Ceremony were representatives of the Department of Energy - the Committee for Management of State Capital at Enterprises, the Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy, the National Electricity System and Market Operation Company Limited - Ministry of Industry and Trade, leaders of Vietnam Electricity, leaders of Power Project Management Board 3, the French Development Agency (AFD), German Development Bank (KfW) and Joint venture of construction contractors of the project.

The Bac Ai pumped storage hydropower plant project, in Ninh Thuan province (Project) was approved by the Prime Minister under the National Power Development Plan for 2021–2030, with a vision toward 2050. The scale of the project consists of 1,200 MW including 04 turbine/pump-generator/engine units with a capacity of 300MW/unit. The total investment of the Bac Ai pumped storage hydropower project is about VND 21,100 billion, sourced from loans and EVN’s allocated funds. The first generating unit is expected to begin operation in December 2029, and unit 4 will be completed in December 2030, with full project completion scheduled for May 2031.

Vice Chairman of Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Committee Trinh Minh Hoang speaking at construction commencement ceremony

The Bac Ai pumped storage hydropower project is not only an important energy project but also brings many long-term economic, social, and environmental benefits. This project will contribute to ensuring national energy security and promoting the transition to a green, sustainable economy. With the characteristics of the Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan provinces, which have renewable energy projects (solar power, wind power) and in the future, nuclear power plants, the operation of Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant will contribute to regulating capacity and stabilizing the power source in the region. When the demand for electricity consumption is low (off-peak), the plant uses excess electricity to pump water from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir; when the demand for electricity consumption increases (peak hours), water is discharged from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir to generate electricity, helping to stabilize the operation of the regional power grid and the national power system.

EVN’s President and CEO Nguyen Anh Tuan speaking at construction commencement ceremony

Speaking at the construction commencement ceremony, the representative of Vietnam Electricity said that this is the first pumped storage hydropower project to be built in Vietnam and is one of the key projects of EVN to be implemented in 2025. During the investment preparation and implementation of the project, EVN has received attention and close direction from the Government, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Committee for Management of State Capital at Enterprises, along with the support and close coordination of the Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Committee and the provincial Departments and Branches to develop a construction organization plan, select suitable contractors, and ensure requirements on safety, progress, and quality of the project. Vietnam Electricity assigned the task to the Power Project Management Board 3 and the Joint Venture of contractors to manage the project, organize the construction to ensure compliance with requirements on quality and environment, focus resources and equipment to accelerate progress and strive to complete the project by the planned schedule.

Also at the construction commencement ceremony of the Bac Ai pumped storage hydropower project phase 2, Vietnam Electricity donated VND 500 million to Ninh Thuan province to support the elimination of temporary and dilapidated houses in the province.

Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Project, Ninh Thuan Province

Investor: Vietnam Electricity (EVN)
Investor representative to manage and operate the project: Power Project Management Board 3
Location: Bac Ai District, Ninh Thuan Province
Total Investment: VND 21,101,468 million
Start of Construction: February 2025
Planned Commissioning Schedule:
- Unit 1: December 2029
- Unit 2: April 2030
- Unit 3: August 2030
- Unit 4: December 2030
Expected Full Completion: May 2031