State utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and its Power Project Management Board No. 2 have broken ground on the Quang Trach II LNG-fired power plant worth more than VND40.1 trillion ($1.55 billion) in the central province of Quang Tri.

The plant, part of the Quang Trach Power Center in the Hon La Economic Zone, will comprise two turbines with a combined capacity of nearly 1,613 megawatts (MW).

The first turbine is scheduled to begin commercial operation in February 2030, followed by the second unit two months later. Once operational, the plant is expected to supply about 9.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually to Vietnam's national grid.

An illustration of Quang Trach II LNG-fired power plant project in Quang Tri province, central Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the Power Project Management Board No. 2.

The project will be financed with 20% equity and 80% commercial loans, EVN said.

Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, EVN deputy general director Nguyen Tai Anh said contractor selection had been completed for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) package. The contract will be signed with a consortium comprising China Energy Engineering Corporation and Vietnam Machinery Installation Corporation (LILAMA).

Quang Tri People's Committee Chairman Bui Hoang Phuong said the project would support infrastructure development, supporting industries, job creation and provincial budget revenue, while contributing to the province's longer-term economic growth.

The Quang Trach Power Center is planned to have a total capacity of about 4,500 MW, comprising the Quang Trach I thermal power plant and the Quang Trach II and III LNG-fired plants.

EVN is developing Quang Trach I and II, which together have a designed capacity of nearly 3,015 MW and total investment of VND82.145 trillion ($3.17 billion).

Once both plants are operational, they are expected to supply about 17.2 billion kWh of electricity annually to the national grid, strengthening energy security and improving grid stability.

The two turbines at Quang Trach I have been completed and have supplied 620 million kWh to the national grid.

Under Vietnam's revised eighth Power Development Plan (PDP VIII), planned LNG-fired power capacity is set to reach approximately 22,524 MW by 2030. A total of 22 LNG power projects are expected to be developed and commissioned during 2025-2035.