On February 13, 2025, at the headquarters of Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN), the contract signing ceremony for the construction package 02XL-BA of the Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant Project, Phase 2 (Phase 1) took place.

Through the process of open domestic bidding via the Internet, the Contractor Consortium: Lung Lo Construction Corporation, Song Da Corporation, LILAMA 10 Joint Stock Company, SCI E&C Joint Stock Company, Construction Joint Stock Company 47, Truong Son Construction Corporation and Vietnam Construction and Import-Export Joint Stock Corporation - VINACONEX won the bid for package 02XL-BA with a value of 4,334 billion VND.

These are all contractors with experience in implementing many key energy projects of the country, typically Song Da Corporation is the main contractor of most hydropower projects in Vietnam, such as Son La Hydropower - the largest hydropower project in Southeast Asia, Hoa Binh Hydropower, Lai Chau Hydropower... For Lung Lo Construction Corporation, the construction and installation of hydropower and irrigation works accounts for about 55% of the annual construction and installation value. VINACONEX, as a contractor, investor and manager - operator, has implemented the Cua Dat Irrigation - Hydropower projects (Thanh Hoa), Buon Kuop Hydropower, Buon Tua Sha Hydropower, Ngoi Phat Hydropower (Lao Cai), Dak Ba Hydropower (Quang Ngai)...

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EVN and a consortium of contractors signed a construction contract for the Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant - Phase 2, Phase 1. Photo: EVN

Package No. 02XL-BA is the main construction package of the project with the scope of work including the following main tasks: Construction and installation of main construction equipment: including Pressure tunnel, Upstream pressure tower, Underground plant and 500kV distribution station, Discharge tunnel, Downstream pressure tower, Downstream valve tower. Along with that are underground construction tunnels and alleys; roads serving construction and operation; 22kV construction power supply system; Construction and domestic water supply system; auxiliary works, construction camps.

The contract implementation period is about 81 months, in which the power generation progress of unit 1 is in December 2029, unit 2 is in April 2030, unit 3 is in August 2030, unit 4 is in December 2030 and the entire contract is completed in May 2031.

The Bac Ai pumped storage hydropower plant project in Ninh Thuan province was approved by the Prime Minister in the National Power Development Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

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Representatives of contractors attending the contract signing ceremony. Photo: EVN

The project has a scale of 1,200 MW including 4 turbine/pump - generator/engine units with a capacity of 300 MW/unit. The total investment of Bac Ai pumped storage hydropower project is about 21,100 billion VND, the capital for the project is arranged from loans and capital arranged by EVN.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, a representative of the Vietnam Electricity Group said that this is the first pumped storage hydropower project built in Vietnam and is one of EVN's key projects to be implemented in 2025.

During the investment preparation and project implementation process, EVN received close attention and direction from the Government, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises, along with the support and close coordination of the Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Committee and the provincial Departments and Branches to develop a construction organization plan, select suitable contractors, and ensure requirements on safety, progress, and quality of the project.

Receiving the instructions, the representative of the Contractor Consortium expressed his honor to be selected as the contractor for a key project of the country and pledged to make maximum efforts to complete the Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant project on schedule, contributing to the sustainable energy development of the country.

Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant Project - the first pumped storage hydropower project in Vietnam is not only of great economic significance but also strategic for the national power system. With the ability to store energy, regulate energy and provide stable electricity, the project will help reduce power shortages during peak seasons, ensuring national energy security. This is one of the key projects in Vietnam's sustainable energy development strategy, making an important contribution to the implementation of renewable energy development goals in the future.

Ngoc Minh