Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and its Power Project Management Board 2 held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Quang Trach II liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant on October 20 at the Quang Trach Power Center in the Hon La Economic Zone, Quang Tri Province.

The event also marked the announcement that electricity from the Quang Trach I thermal power plant had been fed into the national grid.

Speaking at the ceremony, EVN Deputy General Director Nguyen Tai Anh said the group is the investor in both projects, with Power Project Management Board 2 responsible for project management.

The two plants will have a combined four generating units with a total capacity of 3,015.8 MW and investment exceeding VND82.145 trillion (approximately $3.1 billion).

Quang Trach I consists of two coal-fired units, each with a capacity of 701.5 MW. According to EVN, these are the largest-capacity and most efficient coal-fired generating units in Vietnam.

Quang Trach II will feature two 806.4 MW units using LNG-fired combined-cycle gas turbine technology.

Nguyen Tai Anh described the two plants as major national energy projects that, once completed, are expected to generate more than 17.2 billion kWh of electricity annually.

The additional output will strengthen national energy security while supporting socioeconomic development and improving living standards in Quang Tri Province.

EVN has been tasked with accelerating construction and bringing both Quang Trach I and Quang Trach II into operation to help meet Vietnam's electricity demand during the 2026-2030 period.

Vu Hong Phuong, Director General of the Department for State-Owned Enterprise Development under the Ministry of Finance, said Vietnam is entering a new development phase with ambitious economic growth targets.

The country aims to achieve average annual GDP growth of at least 10% during 2026-2030 and in subsequent years, making a reliable electricity supply increasingly important.

He stressed that developing a modern, coordinated power generation and transmission system capable of meeting rising demand is a strategic priority for Vietnam.

As a major state-owned enterprise, EVN plays a central role in ensuring a safe, stable and uninterrupted electricity supply for economic activities and daily life.

The Quang Trach Power Center is planned to comprise three thermal power plants, Quang Trach I, II and III, with a combined capacity of approximately 4,500 MW and total investment exceeding VND121.82 trillion (around $4.6 billion).

It is one of Vietnam's major power generation hubs and is expected to play an important role in the national electricity system.

Once all three projects are completed, the center is projected to supply more than 26 billion kWh of electricity annually.

This additional generation capacity will help strengthen electricity supply, improve energy security and meet the country's growing socioeconomic development needs, while providing fresh momentum for Quang Tri Province and the wider central region.

Phuong said the simultaneous announcement of electricity generation from Quang Trach I and the groundbreaking of Quang Trach II reflected the continuity of Vietnam's investment in new power sources.

The projects will also contribute to diversifying the national energy mix and advancing the country's green energy transition.

For large-scale power projects such as Quang Trach I and II, he emphasized the importance of meeting construction deadlines and quality standards while ensuring effective investment management.

He called for strict cost controls, sound financial planning, long-term investment efficiency and the preservation and development of state capital invested in enterprises.

Speaking at the event, Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee Chairman Bui Hoang Phuong described EVN's investment in the Quang Trach Power Center as an important strategic step.

He said the development would help expand the province's energy sector while contributing to Vietnam's broader goal of ensuring national energy security.

The ceremony marked Quang Trach I's transition from construction to electricity generation while launching another major energy project, Quang Trach II, which will use modern LNG power generation technology.

Tam An