Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on December 23 cut the ribbon to officially inaugurate Son La Hydropower Plant, the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia.

The facility was completed three years ahead of schedule, saving tens of trillions of VND and affirming Vietnamese people’s competence in executing such large projects.

Located in It Ong commune, Muong La district, Son La province, the plant has six turbines with a total capacity of 2,600 MW.

It will provide the national grid with over 10 billion kWh of electricity each year. The plant will also help prevent flooding and supply water in the Northern Delta, boosting socio-economic development in the northwest region.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dung stressed the opening of the plant is an important milestone in the development of the Vietnamese power sector.

All six turbines are in operation after seven years of construction, three years ahead of the plan set by the National Assembly, he said. It is the largest hydropower plant in the country and region, and it was designed and built by Vietnam.

Dung attributed the success to the efforts made by local authorities and the support of people in the area.

He said that more than 20,000 households relocated voluntarily to free up land for the plant.

Localities have created the right conditions for resettled people to return to normal life. Dung asked the leaders of Son La, Dien Bien and Lai Chau provinces to continue allocating farming land and generating jobs for displaced people.

Source: VNA/ Photo: VGP