Close-up of $1.4 billion gas-fired power plant ready for grid connection

On February 4, Lao Dong Newspaper reporters were present at the Nhon Trach 3 and 4 Power Plant project in Ong Keo Industrial Park, Nhon Trach District, Dong Nai Province to record the preparations for the first grid connection scheduled for February 5.

Nhon Trach 3 and 4 Power Plant Project is the first power plant project in Vietnam using liquefied natural gas (LNG) with a total capacity of 1,500 - 1,600 MW, total investment of 1.4 billion USD. Putting both plants into commercial operation in 2025 will add about 9 billion kWh of electricity/year, contributing to ensuring national energy security, realizing the Net zero target and promoting the development of gas-fired power projects in Vietnam according to Power Plan VIII.

According to the records, currently at the project, preparations for connecting to the grid have been completed. In the turbine house area, considered the "heart" of the project, there are always 2 security guards to ensure the operation is absolutely safe.

Mr. Phan Minh Tam - Deputy Head of Safety Department, Power Project Board said that all items of the project are ready, just waiting for the "order" to connect to the national grid.

Mr. Le Ba Quy - Director of the Power Project Management Board, Vietnam Oil and Gas Power Corporation - JSC said that this is a national key project using imported natural gas (LNG) and is the only project out of 13 LNG gas-electricity projects in the Power Plan VIII that is being implemented, so it is closely directed by the Government and ministries, especially the progress of this project.

Regarding progress, up to now, the project has completed nearly 96% of the volume, many items of the factory have been tested and put into use such as: 220kV distribution yard system supplying electricity to the factory, main transformer system and self-used transformer of the factory, water treatment system, compressed air system, wastewater treatment system,...

500 kV and 220 kV distribution yard areas are ready.

On the afternoon of February 4, inside the project's Central Control Room, foreign experts and a team of Vietnamese officers and engineers were still diligently checking the techniques before the connection operation.

To ensure the project's progress, Vietnam Oil and Gas Power Corporation - JSC said that during the 2025 Lunar New Year holiday, officers, engineers, and workers worked continuously at the construction site. Therefore, on January 29, 2025 (the first day of Tet), Nhon Trach 3 Power Plant completed the no-load operation test at 3,000 rpm and is ready to connect to the grid for the first time tomorrow (February 5).

A team of engineers is checking the operation of the surveillance camera system at the project.

Previously, on February 3, Mr. Vu Hong Van - Secretary of Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee and Mr. Vo Tan Duc - Chairman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee and the delegation of Dong Nai province wished a Happy New Year to the cadres, employees and workers at Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4 Power Plant projects.

According to Mr. Le Ba Quy, based on the current progress, Nhon Trach 3 Power Plant will be put into commercial operation in July 2025, and Nhon Trach 4 Power Plant will be put into commercial operation in October 2025.