China Southern Power Grid (CSG), one of China’s two major power grids, and a local partner have proposed building a 500 MW pumped-storage hydropower plant in the central province of Quang Tri.

The plans were announced at a recent working session involving a delegation from Vietnam’s Power Generation Corporation 2 (EVNGENCO2) and CSG and the Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee.

Construction is planned in the vicinity of the Quang Tri irrigation and hydropower reservoir, in Huong Linh commune, Huong Hoa district. The project’s timeline will be around seven years, with two years allocated for preparations and five years for construction. The expected operational launch is post-2030.

The project will harness water from the reservoir to generate 500 MW of electricity for the national grid during peak hours. It will also pump water from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir, to store energy during off-peak times, helping smooth the power load curve, particularly in the southern region, with generation planned at seven hours a day.

It will meet rising electricity demand in Vietnam and demonstrate economic and financial viability, according to investor calculations.

The project will also generate numerous job opportunities during both construction and operations, enhancing and stabilizing livelihoods in the local community. It will also contribute revenue to the local budget, and increase the industrial share in the province’s economic structure.

Mr. Ha Sy Dong, Deputy Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee, highlighted the province’s potential and advantages in renewable energy development. Emphasizing the successful implementation of various existing renewable energy projects, Mr. Dong expressed his support for investing in tidal power plants in Quang Tri and urged CSG to cooperate with relevant stakeholders to accelerate surveys and research for the project. Quang Tri also pledged to assist investors in accessing favorable policies throughout project implementation.