The signing ceremony was jointly organized by Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and the Voith Hydro Shanghai – PowerChina Zhongnan Consortium.

Representatives of parties sign Electromechanical equipment supply contract Package 01TB-BA for Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Project.

Speaking at the ceremony, EVN Vice President Pham Hong Phuong emphasized that the Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Project is Vietnam's first pumped storage hydropower project and one of EVN's key projects for the 2026-2030 period. The electromechanical equipment supply package (01TB-BA) is one of the project's two largest contract packages and directly determines the project's overall progress and quality.

EVN leaders expressed their expectation that, immediately after the contract signing, the contractor consortium would promptly complete the relevant legal procedures to facilitate subsequent activities. They should pay particular attention to reviewing technical documentation, selecting materials and equipment, and coordinating with Power Project Management Board 3 (EVNPMB3) to agree on schedules for submitting design drawings and delivering equipment to the construction site. These activities must ensure quality while striving to meet or surpass the contractual schedule.

EVN Vice President Pham Hong Phuong also instructed EVNPMB3 to organize a contract kick-off meeting as soon as the contract takes effect, establish detailed implementation milestones, and closely monitor contract execution to ensure coordination among the various contract packages and completion in accordance with the approved schedule.

EVN Vice President Pham Hong Phuong delivers remarks at signing ceremony.

Contract Package 01TB-BA covers the supply of the project's main electromechanical equipment. Its scope includes supply, factory inspection and testing, transportation, and handover of integrated main equipment systems at the construction site, including motor-generators, pump-turbines, turbine inlet valves (spherical valves), automatic control systems for hydraulic turbines, turbine governing systems, generator circuit breakers, isolated-phase bus duct systems, auxiliary equipment systems, and associated technical services.

Contract Package 01TB-BA was procured through an open international competitive bidding process. Based on the evaluation of submitted bids, EVN selected the Voith Hydro Shanghai – PowerChina Zhongnan Consortium as the successful bidder. The consortium consists of Voith Hydro Shanghai Ltd. as the lead member and PowerChina Zhongnan Engineering Corporation Limited as the other consortium member. The contract value is VND 4,462.603 billion, with an implementation period of 51 months.

The Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Project, located in Khanh Hoa Province, is included in the revised Power Development Plan VIII approved by the Prime Minister. The investment was approved by EVN's Board of Directors under Decision No. 99/QD-EVN dated May 12, 2015, with a total installed capacity of 1,200MW, comprising four generating units, each with a capacity of 300MW. According to the planned schedule, Unit 1 is expected to commence electricity generation in December 2029, followed by Units 2, 3, and 4 in April, August, and December 2030, respectively. The entire project is expected to be completed in May 2031.

Once operational, the project will provide peak-load generation capacity for the national power system, helping flatten the system load curve by using electricity to pump water into the upper reservoir during off-peak hours and generating electricity during peak-demand periods. The project will also provide frequency regulation, reactive power compensation, and spinning reserve services to support power system stability and reliability.

To date, contractor selection has been completed for 30 out of 35 contract packages under the approved contractor selection plan. Construction commenced on February 22, 2025, and progress is currently in line with contractual requirements. Specifically, excavation and reinforcement have been completed for three tunnel sections and two construction adits, while similar works are underway on seven additional tunnel sections and the underground powerhouse. Cumulative tunnel excavation and reinforcement have reached 7,160 out of 17,000 linear meters, equivalent to 42% of the total contractual volume. Meanwhile, excavation and reinforcement of the underground powerhouse have reached a cumulative volume of 87,835 out of 214,247m³, equivalent to 41% of the total planned volume.

Translator: Thu Hường