In the final days of March 2026, in Phu Trach commune, Quang Tri province, thousands of engineers and workers from the Power Project Management Board 2 (EVNPMB-2) and contractors were still diligently working to meet the construction schedule of the Quang Trach I Thermal Power Plant.

With overall progress reaching nearly 981 TP2T, the project is entering its final phase, ready for the synchronous grid connection of Unit 1 by the end of March or early April, aiming for commercial operation of Unit 1 in May 2026 and Unit 2 in October of the same year. This is a key national thermal power project, affirming the determination of Vietnam's electricity sector in ensuring energy security.

Vietnamese contractors' efforts to overcome challenging weather conditions.

Sharing information about the project, Comrade Dao Ngoc Long, Deputy Director of EVNPMB-2 and Director of the Project Management Board at Quang Trach Power Center, said that the Quang Trach I Thermal Power Plant Project has a total investment of over 41,130 billion VND, commenced on December 25, 2022, on an area of 48.6 hectares. Located in a region directly affected by typhoons and floods in Central Vietnam, the construction site frequently faces heavy rain, strong winds, and high tides. In particular, major typhoons in 2025 also significantly impacted the project's construction progress.

However, contractors, especially Vietnamese entities such as Construction Corporation No. 1 – JSC (CC1), Vietnam Machinery Installation Corporation (LILAMA), and domestic partners, have demonstrated a high sense of responsibility and closely coordinated with foreign contractors Mitsubishi Corporation (Japan) and Hyundai E&C (Korea).

Comrade Dao Ngoc Long shared that, as the project is entering its final stages, thousands of cadres, engineers, and workers are working three shifts continuously on the construction site, regardless of the weather, closely monitoring the progress of each item.

“To date, the Quang Trach I Thermal Power Plant project has been basically completed, with the overall project progress reaching 98%. Key equipment systems of Unit 1, such as the boiler, turbine, generator, and auxiliary systems, have been completed and are currently undergoing testing and calibration. Currently, the entire construction site is focusing intensely on testing, interlocking checks, and completing all technical conditions to be ready for grid connection and power generation,” said Comrade Dao Ngoc Long.

These efforts not only helped the project overcome difficulties caused by harsh weather but also ensured absolute safety and high technical quality, contributing to bringing the national-level energy project to completion on schedule.

The skill level and capabilities of Vietnamese workers in modern technology projects.

The Quang Trach I thermal power plant comprises two units with a total capacity of 1,403 MW, employing the most advanced supercritical technology currently available, resulting in optimal fuel consumption and low emissions. This is one of the largest thermal power plants in Central Vietnam, affirming the skill and capabilities of Vietnamese engineers and workers in their deep involvement in the EPC (design – equipment supply – construction) contract.

According to Mr. Pham The Thao, the site manager (LILAMA 18 Joint Stock Company), most of the most important and complex mechanical construction items, such as boiler steel structures, turbine generator system installation, high-pressure tank systems, and process pipelines, are directly undertaken and managed by domestic mechanical contractors.

Vietnamese units played a pivotal role in the construction of the project's systems. Besides the main plant, the port and logistics infrastructure complex, currently under completion, is also a testament to technical capability. The plant's coal import port system is designed with robust breakwaters and boasts two berths capable of receiving super-large coal carriers with a tonnage of up to 100,000 tons.

To meet the enormous fuel demands of the two operating coal-fired power plants, a well-invested loading and unloading system has been developed. The automated coal loading and unloading system, with a capacity of up to 1,600 tons per hour, combined with a covered conveyor belt over 2km long connecting directly from the port to the storage facility, creates a continuous and modern fuel supply chain. This not only ensures operational efficiency but also eliminates dust dispersion and preserves the marine ecosystem of Hon La.

As a large-scale project with many oversized and overweight components, the construction process always requires close supervision to ensure safety. This work has been carried out very professionally and meets the stringent standards of the Project Management Board and the contractors.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Giap, Head of Safety Department, Quang Trach I Thermal Power Plant Project Management Board, said: “As the investor's labor safety manager, I am very proud that the Quang Trach I Thermal Power Plant project has achieved more than 22 million safe working hours to date, without any environmental incidents. This is not just a number, but also a testament to the persistent efforts, sense of responsibility, and compliance of all staff, engineers, and workers on the construction site.”

According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Giap, as the project nears completion, safety measures must be given even greater attention to control risks and protect the environment, working alongside construction units to achieve the goal of completing the project on schedule and with high quality.

The first brick of the Central Energy Center.

According to the Deputy Director of EVNPMB-2, when operational, the Quang Trach I Thermal Power Plant will supply approximately 8.4 – 9 billion kWh/year to the national power grid, making a significant contribution to ensuring energy security, especially during the dry season and peak months. This is the "first building block" of the Quang Trach Power Center – a large project cluster including coal-fired and LNG-fired power plants with a total capacity of thousands of megawatts.

The project not only provides a stable power supply but also creates a supporting industrial ecosystem, contributing trillions of VND annually to the local budget and providing employment for thousands of workers, while paving the way for a green energy transition towards reduced emissions. With environmentally friendly technology, the plant will be a solid foundation for the Central Energy Center, contributing to Vietnam's Net Zero goal.

The upcoming connection of the Quang Trach I Thermal Power Plant to the national grid demonstrates the inherent strength of Vietnam's electricity sector. The tireless dedication of contractors, especially Vietnamese workers, has created this key national project, contributing to energy security and sustainable development of the country.

According to Tuan Son – People's Army Newspaper