The Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) recently announced that on May 23, 2025, at 11:30 am, at the construction site of the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant Expansion Project in Hoa Binh Province, EVN, Management Board of Power Project 1 (EVNPMB1), and related units successfully installed the working wheel (unit 1) into the construction position.
According to EVN representatives, this is one of the important technical milestones, marking a new step in the equipment installation process of the project.
The working wheel, weighing 110 tons, is a super-heavy equipment imported from abroad. The installation process was carried out by Lilama contractor, requiring precise and absolutely safe coordination between the related parties.
The project management board stated that the completion of the working wheel installation is a prerequisite for continuing to deploy the installation of other important equipment such as turbine pit cover, turbine shaft, guide ring, and turbine bearing…
The working wheel weighs 110 tons – Photo: EVN
This is also a necessary step in preparing for the assembly of the rotor of unit 1, which is expected to be completed in June 2025.
According to the report of the Management Board, by the first quarter of 2025, the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant Expansion Project had basically completed the targets for some items. The specific volume in the first quarter was as follows: concrete construction of the intake reached 157% of the plan; concrete construction of the plant reached 84.7% of the plan; excavation of turbine pit 25%; removal of intake dyke reached 122% of the plan; concrete construction of tunnel 1 reached 115.8% and tunnel 2 reached 121.4% of the plan;…
In the second quarter of 2025, the project will have to complete some important milestones such as: complete all concrete pouring of the intake structure to elevation 122.5m; complete the removal of the intake dyke; carry out phase 3 excavation of the turbine pit; reinforce the channel wall below elevation 95m before June 15, 2025.
As of May 2025, the project has completed more than 80% of the construction volume and equipment installation. Contractors are making efforts to closely follow the schedule, striving to put unit 1 into operation before September 2, 2025, and complete the entire project in 2025.
When put into operation, the plant will add about 500 million kWh of electricity
The Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant, initially constructed in 1979 and completed in 1994, is the largest hydropower plant in Southeast Asia in the 20th century. The plant was designed and equipped by the Soviet Union and plays an important role in flood control and ensuring the safety of Hanoi, the Red River Delta provinces, and providing what was considered vital electricity. Over the past 30 years of operation, Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant has produced about 230 billion kWh, contributing more than VND 1,000 billion to the provincial budget of Hoa Binh each year.
After more than 10 years of project research, in late January 2021, the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant Expansion Project was officially started by the Vietnam Electricity Group. The project is located on the right bank of the current Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant dam. This project was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 389/TTg-CN dated April 11, 2018, and is a special construction project of great importance to increase the ability to generate peak power, improve frequency modulation, and stabilize the frequency of the national power system.
The Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant Expansion Project has a total investment of more than VND 9,200 billion, invested by EVN, and directly managed and operated by EVNPMB1. The plant has a capacity of 2 units with a total capacity of 480 MW, each unit has a capacity of 240 MW. The annual average output is expected to be about 488.3 million kWh, equivalent to providing enough electricity for the whole country during the peak half-day.
The power plant under construction – Photo: EVN
The main plant is located in Phuong Lam Ward, the intake and inlet channel belong to Thai Binh Ward, Phuong Lam Ward, and Thai Thinh Ward, Hoa Binh City, Hoa Binh Province. The main construction package is carried out by a consortium of Truong Son Construction Corporation – Construction Company 47 – Lilama 10, with a contract value of more than VND 3,100 billion.
When put into operation, the plant will add about 500 million kWh of electricity per year to the national power system. More importantly, the plant will help improve peak power generation capacity and actively contribute to load regulation during peak hours. At the same time, it also helps to enhance the stability and reliability of the Northern Power System in the context of climate change and uncertainties of renewable energy sources.
This project will increase the total capacity of the entire Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant to 2,400MW, equal to the capacity of the Son La Hydropower Plant. When completed, the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant (2,400 MW) along with two other hydropower plants on the Da River, Son La (2,400 MW) and Lai Chau (1,200 MW), will have a total capacity of 6,000 MW, forming the largest hydropower chain in Southeast Asia and contributing 30% of the country’s electricity output.
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