Vietnam will import a Power Capacity 1,200 MW from Laos in 2020

According to the Prime Minister, up to now, Vietnam occupies the third position among the countries and economies investing in Laos, where Vietnamese enterprises have invested in 413 projects with a total capital of US$ 4.22 billion. Regarding cooperation on power purchase, Vietnam has agreed to buy from Laos 1,200 megawatts exceeding the 1,000 megawatts planned for 2020 and will increase the payment to 5,000 megawatts by 2030 to create more favorable conditions for Laos to develop the socio-economic infrastructure.

The Prime Minister also noted a number of the shortcomings in cooperation of the sides as delayed disbursement, procedural problems and capital constraints for Luang Prabang and Xekaman 3 Hydropower (HP) projects...

The Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc presides over a meeting of the Government Standing members on promoting cooperation with Laos.

Implementing the Government direction on promoting  investment preparation to deploy constructing power grid for  power import from Lao Nam Sum, Nam Emoun, Monsoon, Nam Kong 1,2,3 and Nam Mo hydropower groups, on December of 2018, a number of supplementing power grid projects for power transmission from Nam Sum HP group with a total capacity of 265 MW by 2021-2022 was approved; on June of 2019 Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) and Lao Phongsubthavy group signed the Power Purchase Agreement for Nam Sum 3 HPP (156 MW) with a electricity price in Vietnam abided by Document No 241/TTg-QHQT at 23/2/2019 of the Prime Minister; EVN has assigned the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) to implement power transmission grid construction in territory of Vietnam for power import from Nam Sum 3 HPP by 2021-2022; at 30/9/2019, the Prime Minister also decided the policy on power import from Nam Kong 1,2,3 HP group and Nam Emoun HPP with a total capacity of 409 MW and on supplementing a number of power grid projects for power import by 2021.     

For successful importing power from Laos, Vietnam will build the following power grid projects:

1/ Bo Y 220kV switching  substation (at Bo Y border gate area - Kon Tum province) and 1.5 km of 220 kV double transmission line with bundle conductor - 2xACSR-400 mm2 for transition connection of switching substation on 220 kV  double circuit line from Xekaman 1 to Pleiku 2. That will to be operated in 2021.

2/ 20.5 km of the 220 kV double circuit line from NamKong 3 to Bo Y 220 kV switching substation (on the territory of Vietnam) with a bundle conductor - 2xACSR-330 mm2 that will be operated in 2021.

3/ Dak Ooc 220kV switching substation (in Quang Nam province) and 2 km of 220 kV double circuit transmission line with the bundle conductor – 2xACSR-400 mm2 for transition connection of the switching substation on 220kV double circuit line from Xekaman 3 to Thanh My, that will be operated in 2021.

4 / 11km of 220 kV double circuit line with the bundle conductor–2xACSR-330 mm2 from Nam Emoun to Dak Ooc 220 kV switching substation (on Vietnamese territory),  that will be operated in 2021.

For NamKong 1, 2, 3 and Nam Emoun Hydropower projects, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has issued a document for guiding EVN on the price of imported electricity.

For Nam Mo Hydropower group including 11 projects with a total capacity of 505 MW, in early October, the Ministry of Industry and Trade reported to the Prime Minister for approving the electricity import policy and connection plan from this hydropower group. The power import expected from 2022 to 2024.

For importing power from this projects Vietnam must construct 45km (on territory of Vietnam) of 220kV double circuit transmission line with the bundle conductor from Nam Mo (Laos) to Tuong Duong (Vietnam) that will be operated in 2022  

Besides, EVN has to adjust Tuong Duong – Do Luong 220kV transmission line (118km) to double line completed in 2021-2025 period and move implementing progress of Do Luong – Nam Cam 220kV double circuit transmission line to 2021 – 2025 period.

As for Monsoon wind power project (600 MW), according to the update of the National Steering Committee on Electricity Development, at the end of August 2019, EVN had a written document to ask for approving the electricity import policy and connection plan from this project. At present, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is consulting the related ministries to consider, appraise and report the policy to the Prime Minister for decision.

VietnamEnergy.vn