Vietnam presses ahead with Tri An hydropower expansion despite material, fuel constraints

The 200-megawatt project in Dong Nai Province is scheduled to begin power generation by the end of 2027.

Nguyen Thanh Minh, director of the project under Power Project Management Board No. 3, said 26 out of 31 contracts have been signed and construction has been launched across all major components.

Earthworks are under way at intake structures, canals, and the plant foundation, with excavation at key sites reaching between about 50 percent and nearly 90 percent.

Contractors have also begun building supporting infrastructure, including the Hieu Liem bridge, with several structural elements already completed.

Minh said the project benefits from existing infrastructure at the current Tri An plant, allowing faster deployment of construction works.

However, land clearance remains incomplete, with about 30 percent of the site still pending handover as compensation procedures are finalized.

The project is also facing pressure from fluctuations in fuel prices and supply, affecting construction operations.

Tran Ngoc Dung, deputy director of the project, said contractors are prioritizing critical work items and have sought support from authorities to secure fuel supplies.

He added that sourcing qualified crushed stone for concrete remains difficult as multiple infrastructure projects compete for materials.

Project managers expect to begin concrete mixing works from April as supply conditions improve, according to Dung.

The expansion will add two generating units of 100 megawatts each, using the existing reservoir and dam system, with total investment of nearly VND4 trillion (US$151.87 million).