Lai Chau hydropower plant inaugurated

The project was completed and began operating one year ahead of schedule, contributing to adding about 4.7 billion kWh to the national grid.

Cutting ribbon to inaugurate Lai Chau hydropower plant

Addressing the event, Director General of the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) Dang Hoang An said that Lai Chau hydropower plant is one of the key projects of the country. Its construction was started on January 5, 2011 by the investor, the EVN, with total investment capital of nearly VND 36 trillion (US$1.6 billion).

The plant is the third largest hydropower one in Vietnam, which was built on the Da River and has three engines with total capacity of 1,200MW. Along with two hydropower plants of Son La and Hoa Binh constructed on the Da River, the hydropower plant will help effectively regulate floods during rainy season and supply a quantity of water for farming in lowlands in dry season.

On behalf of the Government, Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung highly valued EVN employees and workers in applying advanced technologies to complete the plant, which becomes a symbol for the country’s industrialization and modernization.

He also requested EVN and its branch, the Son La Hydropower Company, which is in charge of managing and operating the plant, to safely and effectively operate it, adding that authorities of  Son La province should pay due attention to the living standards of people in settlement areas and help them gain access to education.

Also at the ceremony, four individuals and one collective were presented with the First and Second-class Labor Orders for their outstanding achievements during the construction of the Lai Chau hydropower plant.