The “Project of the Century” for Vietnam Takes a New Turn: A Silver Lining at 11:30 a.m.

The successful installation of the 110-ton rotor is a crucial step in preparing for the assembly of the first unit’s rotor, expected to be completed by June 2025. Photo: EVN

This is the



Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant.



On November 6, 1979, the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant officially began construction. By the end of 1988, the first unit was put into operation, and the remaining seven units were gradually put into use over the next six years. In 1994, the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant was inaugurated.

During the construction process, the contractors excavated more than 20,000 cubic meters, filled nearly 27,000 cubic meters of earth and rock, drilled 205,000 meters, installed nearly 47,000 tons of equipment and metal structures. This is Vietnam’s largest hydroelectric project, known as the country’s century project, with the largest scale of facilities and technology in Vietnam in the 20th century. It was also one of the largest hydroelectric projects in Southeast Asia.

Recently,



this project has once again made a significant step forward.

Specifically,



at 11:30 on May 23, 2025,



at the construction site of the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant Expansion Project (Hoa Binh Province), the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN), Project Management Unit No. 1 (EVNPMB1), and related units



successfully installed the working wheel (unit 1) into the construction position.

This is considered one of the important technical milestones, marking a new step in the equipment installation process of the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant Expansion Project.

Notably, the working wheel weighs 110 tons and is a super-heavy equipment imported from abroad. The installation was carried out by Lilama contractor, requiring precise and absolutely safe coordination between the relevant parties.

According to EVNPMB1, completing the installation of the working wheel is a prerequisite for continuing to deploy the installation of other important equipment such as the turbine pit cover, turbine shaft, guide ring, and turbine bearing… This is a necessary step in preparing for the assembly of the first unit’s rotor, expected to be completed by June 2025.

In fact, the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant Expansion Project, with EVN as the investor and EVNPMB1 as the investor representative managing and executing, includes the installation of two units with a total capacity of 480 MW. When put into operation, this plant will contribute about 500 million kWh of electricity annually to the national power system, helping to improve peak capacity utilization while enhancing the safety, stability, and efficiency of the national power system.

Currently, EVN, EVNPMB1, and contractors are striving to meet the schedule, aiming to put the first unit into operation before September 2, 2025, and



complete the entire project in 2025.

Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant Expansion Project is on track for completion this year

The Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant Expansion Project is an important power source in the Master Plan for National Power Development for the period of 2021 – 2030, with a vision to 2050, contributing to ensuring sufficient power supply to meet the growth and socio-economic development goals as directed by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Industry and Trade. The project, which started in early 2021, includes two units with a capacity of 480 MW,



with a total investment of more than 9,200 billion VND,



and is expected to generate electricity for the first unit in Q3/2025 and the second unit in Q4/2025.

According to the set plan, in the second quarter of 2025, the project must complete several important milestones. For the intake gate item, it is necessary to complete the concrete structure to elevation 122.5m before April 5, 2025; complete the demolition of the intake gate cofferdam; excavate stage 3 pit and reinforce the channel wall at elevation 95m before June 15, 2025.

In the area of the plant and spillway channel, EVNPMB1 also aims to demolish the downstream cofferdam with a volume of 52,500 cubic meters and implement the reinforcement of the spillway channel concrete wall with an area of 8,400 square meters; at the same time, complete the installation of the first unit’s rotor assembly in June 2025; deploy the assembly and installation of the second unit’s turbine from May 15, 2025.

The Hoa Binh Hydropower Project has four main tasks, including flood control and ensuring the safety of Hanoi and the Red River Delta, with power generation being the most important.

On May 25, 2021, the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant reached a milestone of 250 billion kWh of electricity production, making a significant contribution to ensuring the country’s energy security. This is also a production milestone that no other hydropower plant in Vietnam has achieved so far.

In addition, the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant has played a strategic role as a multi-purpose hydropower project, participating in effective flood control and reduction for the downstream area. In fact, the operation and regulation of the reservoir with a capacity of 9 billion cubic meters have helped to basically eliminate flooding in the Red River Delta region.

Since the plant began operating, Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant has controlled dozens of major floods with a flow rate of over 10,000 cubic meters per second. Notably, there was a historical flood in August 1996 with a flow rate of over 22,650 cubic meters per second and a late flood in October 2017 (when the reservoir was already full) with a flow rate of nearly 16,000 cubic meters per second, with very complex and unpredictable developments. In addition, Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant has also maintained the safety of the project and the Red River Delta region.