Hoa Binh hydropower plant will be extended and upgraded capacity in coming time – Photo by Huyen Thuong.
The extension of Hoa Binh hydropower plant was reported to Prime Minister by EVN and Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) and the Prime Minister has approved of putting it into the revised Power Development Master Plan VII.
“EVN is studying to extend 2 units with an estimated capacity of 480MW or 500 MW. The specific capacity solution will be clarified in the period of pre-feasibility study. Currently, Son La Management Board is executing relevant activities”, shared Mr. Phuong.
Regarding the extension of Hoa Binh hydropower plant, Mr. Nguyen Van Minh – Director of Hoa Binh Hydropower Company said that Hoa Binh hydropower plant is the lowest terrace on the Da river system, so that it has advantage of the annual water regulation from higher hydropower reservoirs. The plant consists of 8 units with a total installed capacity of 1,920 MW, the average designed energy is 8.16 billion kWh per year. However, within the last 3 years, after putting these units into operation, Hoa Binh hydropower plant has produced approximately about 10 billion kWh per year.
“The most important target of the extension of Hoa Binh hydropower plant is not about the matter of energy, but to increase the peak capacity for the power system, and then, to utilize the excess water resource during the flood season to generate the power. Currently, Hoa Binh Hydropower Company has fully transferred all documents of the plant for Son La Management Board to complete the feasibility study report”, shared Mr. Minh.
According to the revised Power Development Master Plan VII, unit 1 and unit 2 under the extension project of Hoa Binh hydropower plant shall be put into operation in year 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Thus, in the near future, after completing the extension of the plant, Hoa Binh hydropower’s capacity will be equal to or higher than Son La hydropower plant’s which is currently ranked Number 1 in the Southeast Asia in terms of capacity.