Ensuring energy security, promoting socio-economic development

(Baonghean) - Energy security is one of the prerequisites for maintaining stability and socio-economic development, especially in the current era of industrialization and modernization. In that context, the Quynh Lap 1 Thermal Power Plant project, part of phase 1 of the Quynh Lap Power Center, broke ground on October 1, 2015, expected to be operational in 2020, and is expected to contribute positively to ensuring energy security, meeting the increasing demand of Nghe An province in particular and the country in general.

Approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade for the construction site planning in Decision No. 1359/QD-BCT dated March 20, 2009, Quynh Lap Power Center has an area of ​​about 283 hectares, located in the detailed planning of Dong Hoi Industrial Park in Dong Nam Economic Zone. The total capacity of the project is 2,400 MW including 4 units, divided into 2 phases: Quynh Lap 1 Thermal Power Plant and Quynh Lap 2 Thermal Power Plant (scale 2x600 MW/plant). Both plants were approved by the Prime Minister under the national power development plan for the period 2011-2020 with a vision to 2030 (Power Plan VII). Phase 1 was assigned to the Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Group (TKV Group) as the investor with a total registered capital of about 2.2 billion USD.

Planning map of Quynh Lap 1 Thermal Power Plant.

The Quynh Lap 1 Thermal Power Plant Project is identified as an important project in the Electricity Development Strategy of the Coal - Minerals industry in particular and in the National Power Plan in general. After completion and operation, the plant will supply the national grid with about 6.6 billion kWh/year, contributing to upgrading the infrastructure conditions for economic development to adapt to the growth rate forecast to reach a high level from now until 2030 in the North Central region in general, Nghe An province in particular. In particular, the approved Southeast Economic Zone will be an important load center.

Looking back at the situation of Vietnam's energy sector, thermal power and hydropower are still the two main and popular energy solutions to serve the needs of socio-economic development for many reasons such as: exploiting the advantages of fuel minerals and river networks; technological conditions;... Currently, the country's electricity consumption demand is concentrated about 50% in the South, 40% in the North and 10% in the Central region. In 3 years (2011 - 2013), the country's electricity demand increased by an average of 9.9%/year, with a tendency to overload in some places. One of the solutions to ensure national energy security and limit the increase in electricity production costs is the basic electricity load. At the same time, this solution also meets the demand for use in localities and regions where the socio-economic situation is starting to enter a period of strong growth, such as the Central provinces.

Perspective of the main factory area (Quynh Lap 1 Thermal Power Plant).

For Nghe An, in recent years, the establishment and operation of the Southeast Economic Zone and industrial parks with many projects of various scales have significantly increased the demand for energy. The power supply and transmission line system are identified as one of the important infrastructure components, a prerequisite for the implementation and operation of factories, enterprises, and economic development models. In addition, the acceleration of the completion and synchronization of rural infrastructure, the implementation of the National Target Program on new rural construction are also of special interest to Nghe An province. Currently, the whole province has 18 communes without electricity and is striving to complete the power supply this year (5 communes will be supplied with electricity before the 18th Provincial Party Congress). The groundbreaking ceremony of the Quynh Lap 1 Thermal Power Plant Project on the eve of this important event of the province demonstrates the high determination of both the province and investors, preparing for a 5-year journey that is about to open.

In order for the project to be able to break ground on schedule, the leaders of Nghe An province and the investor have had many meetings, discussions, and coordination to resolve problems as well as solutions to synchronize the project with the overall planning of Dong Hoi Industrial Park. At the meeting on May 4, 2015, at the headquarters of TKV Group, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Duong, Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee affirmed the determination as well as the support and facilitation of Nghe An province for the project and the investor. The issues that both sides are most concerned about, such as the planning of the factory's location, the road system serving the transportation of coal from the seaport to the factory and coal slag from the factory to the processing yard, adjusting the scale of Dong Hoi Port's wharf to ensure economic value for the raw material import stage (6a coal dust), etc., were discussed thoroughly and so far, an optimal solution has been found. Specifically, the province has invested in building a road connecting National Highway 1A to Dong Hoi Industrial Park (grade III road scale), running close to the land for the construction of Quynh Lap 1 Thermal Power Plant. Currently, this road has been connected to the road to Nghi Son Economic Zone (Thanh Hoa). Other infrastructure conditions such as electricity and water have also been established and implemented plans to supply and serve the project in particular and Dong Hoi Industrial Park in general.

For Dong Hoi Port - identified as the raw material import point for the factory, the Provincial People's Committee has decided to allow the establishment of an investment project to build a breakwater and shipping channel, assigning the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board as the investor with a total capital of about 2,702 billion VND. The project has received comments on the basic design from the Ministry of Transport and is being submitted to the Government for capital appraisal. In particular, on May 28, 2015, the Ministry of Transport issued an official dispatch agreeing with the proposal of TKV Group and the Vietnam Maritime Administration to adjust the size of coal import ships from 10,000 DWT to 50,000 DWT.

Quynh Lap 1 Thermal Power Plant, part of Quynh Lap Power Center, is not only expected to make a positive contribution to ensuring energy security for the province, the region and the whole country, but is also forecast to create jobs for thousands of workers during construction and hundreds of workers when put into operation. At the same time, this will be a highlight in the province's industrial infrastructure, contributing to increasing the attractiveness for investors to learn about and come to Dong Nam Economic Zone and Nghe An's industrial parks.

Thuc Anh