Vietnam's largest single power complex opens
HANOI - Vietnam's largest single power complex of five thermal plants costing 1.76 billion dollars in all has opened in the energy-hungry south of the country, an official from the state-owned Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) said. The Phu My thermal complex with some 3,860 Megawatts of installed capacity, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai Sunday in the province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, close to the southern business capital Ho Chi Minh City.
It features Japanese technology in natural and distillate oil fired combined cycle plants, Japan's embassy said separately. Construction of the project began in 1996 and has been producing some power since the late 1990s.EVN said the complex would account for 40 percent of Vietnam's total electricity capacity.
Funding for the project came in part from the World Bank, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and Vietnamese banks. Late last year EVN said it planned to build 32 power stations, including 20 hydro-electric plants, across Vietnam by 2010 to cover energy shortages. Electricity demand has risen by an average of 13 to 15 percent annually in the past few years, creating an urgent need for more generating capacity.
Agence France Presse - April 11, 2005
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