Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung inspected the Quang Trach Power Centre, addressed outstanding difficulties and directed relevant agencies and units to accelerate measures to ensure the timely completion of Quang Trach 1 Thermal Power Plant and other projects at the centre.  

The visit focused on reviewing project progress, assessing outstanding tasks and requiring all parties to promptly coordinate in addressing emerging issues, particularly activities on the critical path, to ensure that Quang Trach 1 Thermal Power Plant achieves commercial operation in line with its committed milestones and reaches full commercial operation date (COD) by December 31, 2026. The working session also clarified requirements and timelines for the Quang Trach II and III projects, as well as the proposed Quang Trach IV project.

The working session was attended by leaders of the Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee; representatives of the Electricity and Power Market Authority, the Department of Planning and Finance, the Ministry’s Office, the Energy - Petroleum Agency, the Department of Chemicals, the Institute of Energy, the National Power System and Electricity Market Operation Company (NSMO); leaders of Vietnam Electricity (EVN), Power Project Management Board No. 2, PetroVietnam Gas Corporation (PV GAS), as well as general contractors, contractors and relevant units.

At the meeting, Minister Le Manh Hung requested that the agencies and units go beyond reporting overall progress and conduct a detailed review of every task on the critical path, clearly identifying the responsible focal point, coordination responsibilities and completion deadlines. Units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade were asked to proactively coordinate and focus on promptly resolving matters within their authority, thereby facilitating the projects’ adherence to the established milestones.

Quang Trach I: Maximum focus on meeting the 2026 COD milestone

Quang Trach I Thermal Power Plant has a total capacity of 2 x 701.5 MW. As of October 2026, overall project progress had reached 99.62%. Unit 1 was synchronized with the grid on April 12, 2026, while Unit 2 was synchronized on September 28, 2026. Under the schedule, Unit 1 is scheduled to achieve commercial operation date (COD) on November 23, 2026, and Unit 2 on December 31, 2026.

Following the site inspection and hearing reports on the remaining tasks, Minister Le Manh Hung requested EVN’s leadership to take direct responsibility for controlling the project’s entire critical path and developing a detailed schedule covering each task and testing milestone. EVN was also instructed to mobilize sufficient personnel, equipment and experts and work closely with the general contractor and other contractors to immediately address any issues that arise, ensuring that Unit 1 reaches COD on November 23, 2026, and Unit 2 on December 31, 2026.

Regarding the Chemical Incident Prevention and Response Plan, which must be completed to meet the conditions for Unit 1 to enter commercial operation, the Minister tasked the Department of Chemicals with prioritizing appraisal and completing its approval or acceptance no later than October 15, 2026. The department was also asked to closely coordinate with EVN and relevant units to ensure the project’s overall schedule.

Minister Le Manh Hung tasked NSMO with maintaining 24/7 coordination with EVN, Power Project Management Board No. 2 and contractors throughout the testing, reliability run, capacity testing and other related testing processes. NSMO was requested to proactively arrange appropriate system operating modes to facilitate testing while ensuring absolute power system safety. The Electricity and Power Market Authority was tasked with monitoring the project as a whole, proactively coordinating to promptly address technical, professional and other matters within its remit, and ensuring continuous and synchronized coordination among the relevant units.

The Minister particularly stressed that progress must never come at the expense of safety. Every commissioning step, test and technical parameter must be strictly controlled, as these are not only prerequisites for bringing the plant into operation but also the basis for verifying the entire chain, from design and the EPC contract to construction, installation and subsequent operation.

Accelerating projects at the Quang Trach Power Centre

Regarding infrastructure facilities at the Quang Trach Power Centre, major components such as the coal import port and breakwater have basically been completed. Minister Le Manh Hung requested EVN to closely coordinate with the Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee to complete the remaining land allocation procedures according to the plan before October 20, 2026, ensuring that shared infrastructure is developed in a synchronized manner and meets the schedule of the component projects.

Regarding the Quang Trach II LNG Thermal Power Plant, the project has signed an EPC contract and received site handover, with construction expected to begin in November 2026. The Minister asked EVN to immediately work with the general contractor and major equipment suppliers to review and shorten the critical path, and consider organizing construction so that tasks capable of being carried out simultaneously can proceed in parallel in accordance with regulations. The project should strive to enter operation in 2029. Units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade were requested to proactively coordinate and promptly handle matters within their authority while working alongside the project owner throughout implementation.

Regarding the Quang Trach III LNG Thermal Power Plant, the Minister requested that investment preparation be accelerated to the greatest extent possible. The Electricity and Power Market Authority was tasked with focusing on appraising the Feasibility Study Report in October 2026 and coordinating with EVN to review the possibility of carrying out procedures and technical work in parallel or on a rolling basis, as permitted by regulations, to shorten the overall project schedule. EVN must promptly address the critical path concerning the selection and supply of generating turbines and major equipment, with the aim of bringing the project or individual generating units into operation in 2029-2030, rather than allowing the schedule to slip to 2031.

Regarding EVN’s proposal for Quang Trach IV Thermal Power Plant, with an expected capacity of approximately 1,400-1,500 MW, the Minister tasked the Electricity and Power Market Authority, in coordination with the Institute of Energy and the Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee, with studying and assessing the necessity of the project, as well as the integrated source-grid-infrastructure plan and system demand. He also stressed that the assessment must be conducted in a systematic, objective and thorough manner, based on an overall optimization of the power system. On this basis, an appropriate proposal should be made on whether or not to add the project, with a sound rationale provided during the review and updating of the power development plan.

Comprehensive review to strengthen Quang Tri’s role as an energy hub

Beyond addressing immediate tasks, Minister Le Manh Hung requested the Electricity and Power Market Authority to coordinate with EVN and the Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the development orientation for the Quang Trach Power Centre, with a focus on optimization and integration, efficient use of shared infrastructure, and synchronization between power generation and the transmission grid.

At the same time, the Electricity and Power Market Authority was asked to coordinate with local authorities to review all 129 energy projects in the province, with a combined capacity of approximately 13,000 MW, and clearly assess their feasibility, implementation timelines and order of priority. Projects deemed infeasible or subject to prolonged delays should be firmly proposed for adjustment or removal, while priority should be given to projects capable of being implemented early and supported by appropriate transmission plans. The review must be completed before October 15, 2026.

Minister Le Manh Hung emphasized that Quang Tri has the potential to become an important regional energy hub, with a diverse energy ecosystem capable of integrating multiple types of power generation, infrastructure and fuels. Therefore, projects at the Quang Trach Power Centre must be viewed from a long-term and comprehensive perspective. In the immediate term, however, the highest priority must be given to meeting committed milestones, first and foremost bringing all units of Quang Trach I Thermal Power Plant into commercial operation in 2026.

The Minister requested that units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, EVN, NSMO, PV GAS and the Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee maintain a direct coordination mechanism and handle tasks based on clearly defined deadlines and responsibilities. Any emerging issues or matters beyond their authority must be promptly consolidated and reported for consideration and resolution.

Bringing projects at the Quang Trach Power Centre to completion on schedule, particularly Quang Trach 1 Thermal Power Plant, is of significant importance to ensuring energy security, adding power generation capacity to the national system and supporting economic growth in the coming period.

At the Quang Trach Power Centre, Minister Le Manh Hung inspected the progress of Quang Trach I Thermal Power Plant, technical facilities, the central control room, the coal import port and shared infrastructure, and heard reports on outstanding difficulties and obstacles. The Minister also inspected the progress of the Quang Trach II LNG Thermal Power Plant and visited and encouraged officials, engineers and workers at the construction site.