Work started on the Thai Binh 2 Thermal Power Station in the northern province of Thai Binh on March 1.

On addressing the ground breaking ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai hailed the preparations made by Thai Binh province, the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), investor PetroVietnam Power Corporation (PV Power) and the general contractor PetroVietnam Construction Joint Stock Corporation (PVC) for building the plant.

Although the construction of a number of power stations has been carried out, the per-capita average electricity supply only equals one-fifth of other countries, he said.

Deputy PM Hai requested PetroVietnam to closely work with the contractors to ensure the quality of the project and assigned the Ministries of Industry and Trade and Construction to remove any difficulties during the construction process.

PV Power’s General Director Vu Huy Quang said Thai Binh 2 thermo-electric power plant is an important project in PV Power’s electricity development plans until 2015. The 1800 MW project includes the 600 MW Thai Binh 1 thermal power plant and the 1200 MW Thai Binh 2 thermal power plant.

Covering a site of 43 ha in My Loc commune, Thai Thuy district, the 1,200-MW plant has a total investment of more than 1.6 billion USD.

It will use a common coal-fueled furnace, which is an environmentally friendly technology and meets Vietnamese and international standards on emissions.

Once completed and put into operation, the plant is expected to provide more than 6.7 billion kWh for the national grid system./.