Unit 1 of the Quang Trach 1 Thermal Power Plant was synchronised with Vietnam’s national electricity grid for the first time on April 12, 2026, a milestone that positions the state-owned plant for commercial power generation in May and strengthens the country’s energy supply ahead of peak summer demand. The 1,400-megawatt coal-fired facility in Quang Binh Province, built under a fixed-price EPC contract by a consortium led by Mitsubishi Corporation, Hyundai Engineering and Construction, and Vietnam’s Construction Corporation No. 1 (CC1), represents one of the largest national energy infrastructure completions in Vietnam in recent years.
Key Facts At A Glance
- Grid synchronisation of Unit 1 achieved at 12:00 on April 12, 2026, at Quang Trach Power Center, Quang Binh Province
- Project investor: Vietnam Electricity (EVN); implementing body: Power Project Management Board 2 (EVNPMB2)
- EPC consortium: Mitsubishi Corporation (Japan), Hyundai Engineering and Construction (South Korea), Construction Corporation No. 1 (Vietnam)
- Total plant capacity: 2 units at 700 MW each, totalling 1,400 MW gross capacity per EVN
- Total project investment: approximately VND 41.13 trillion (approximately USD 1.7 billion); EVN equity contribution: 30%
- Annual electricity output once fully operational: approximately 8.4 billion kWh
- Commercial operation of Unit 1 targeted for May 2026; Unit 2 to follow later in 2026
- Coal supply secured via Indonesian suppliers for commissioning; long-term supply contracted with Dong Bac Corporation
The Grid Connection
At noon on April 12, 2026, Unit 1 of the Quang Trach 1 Thermal Power Plant achieved initial synchronisation with Vietnam’s national electricity grid, confirming that its turbine, generator, and control systems had met baseline design specifications. The synchronisation phase forms part of a commissioning sequence that includes testing, calibration, and technical validation of systems and equipment before formal commercial handover.
According to Vietnam Electricity, initial measurements indicated that key technical parameters were within design tolerances and that the unit was operating stably. The successful grid connection is a precondition for the unit’s commercial generation launch, which EVN has targeted for May 2026.
The Quang Trach 1 plant is located in Phu Trach Commune, Quang Binh Province, on a site covering approximately 48.6 hectares within the broader Quang Trach Power Center complex, which is envisioned as one of Vietnam’s premier national energy hubs.
Project Background And Execution
The Quang Trach 1 Thermal Power Plant has a long development history complicated by successive setbacks. Originally conceived under PetroVietnam, the project was transferred to EVN in 2016 after construction delays. EVN then signed an EPC contract in June 2021 with a consortium comprising Mitsubishi Corporation, Hyundai Engineering and Construction, and CC1. The fixed-price structure of the EPC contract exposed contractors to significant cost pressures when global supply chains were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, driving up prices for steel, electromechanical equipment, and logistics.
By end-March 2026, overall project completion had reached approximately 98 percent. Dao Ngoc Long, Deputy Director of EVNPMB2, confirmed at that stage that all major construction works had been substantially finished and that testing and commissioning were underway. Infrastructure supporting the plant’s coal logistics has also been finalised: the coal import port and breakwater are operational and able to receive vessels of up to 60,000 tonnes, with plans to extend that capacity to 100,000 tonnes by the end of May 2026. Coal storage at the site can sustain continuous full-capacity operation for approximately 37 to 38 days. For commissioning, coal supply has been secured from Indonesian suppliers meeting EPC technical requirements. For long-term commercial operation, EVN has contracted supply through Dong Bac Corporation, a domestic coal trading entity.
Energy Security Context
Vietnam’s power system is under sustained structural pressure. Rapid industrialisation, data centre development, and rising household energy consumption have pushed electricity demand above the pace of new generation capacity additions. Summer peak demand, particularly in the northern and central regions, has periodically led to supply shortfalls that disrupted industrial production in previous years.
The Quang Trach 1 plant, once both units are fully operational, is expected to add approximately 8.4 billion kWh annually to the national grid. EVN and the government have identified the plant as a foundational baseload source for the North Central region, and its transmission infrastructure connects directly to the 500kV circuit 3 transmission line, which links into the broader national high-voltage grid.
The Quang Trach Power Center Vision
The Quang Trach Power Center is conceived as a phased, multi-technology energy hub. Beyond Quang Trach 1, two LNG-fired power plants are at various stages of development within the complex. The Quang Trach 2 LNG project had its EPC contract signed in February 2026, with a groundbreaking ceremony preparation completed as of April 2026, pending government authorisation. The Quang Trach 3 LNG project has received provincial investment policy approval, with its feasibility study submitted to EVN and a construction start targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. When all phases are complete, the combined Quang Trach Power Center is projected to supply approximately 4,400 MW to the national grid.
The Quang Trach 1 plant has been designed with a long-term transition pathway: current emissions parameters are reported at approximately half the permitted limit, and EVN has flagged plans to study biomass co-firing options to align with revised national environmental standards applicable from 2031.