EVN to Invest US$2.7 Bln into 3,500 Power Projects This Year

State-owned Electricity of Vietnam Group (EVN) plans to invest VND43.3 trillion (US$2.7 billion) into nearly 3,500 power projects in 2008, state media said Wednesday.

EVN will implement 66 power source projects and 653 power grids of 110 kV-500 kV, a company official who declined to be named said.

This year, the group will operate six power plants, including Uong Bi expanded thermal power plant No. 1, Tuyen Quang hydropower plant, Dai Ninh hydropower plant, Pleikrong hydropower plant, Buon Kuop hydropower plant, Song Ba Ha and Haiphong 1 power plants.

EVN will also clinch Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts on five power generation projects with a combined capacity of 4,100 MW this year, including Uong Bi expanded thermo-power plant No. 2, Nghi Son 1 and Mong Duong 1 power plant, Vinh Tan 2 and Duyen Hai 1 power plants.

The group intends to complete negotiations on gas sources in the Southwestern region to deploy O Mon 3 and O Mon 4 power projects in 2008.

Lai Chau hydropower project will be submitted by the government to the National Assembly for approval while report on Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant will be sent to the government this year.

is forecast to face a more adverse power thirst this year, which is early, estimated at 8.6 billion kWh, as the current long-lasting cold spell will lead to a severe drought season in the country, affecting hydropower generation, and the national power demand will grow 15.8 per cent in 2008.

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