NAM HANG COMMUNE, Vietnam 6/4/12 (PennWell) -- RusHydro's Institut Hydroproject has completed the technical design for Vietnam's 1,200-MW Lai Chau hydroelectric facility.
Modifications finalizing geological conditions were approved this past week at a meeting of representatives from the Vietnam government, State Expert Commission, Power Engineering Consulting Company 1 and owner Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN), with working documents expected to be issued next month.
HydroWorld.com reported in January 2011 that ground had been broken for the US$1.8 billion project that will utilize the Da River in the Lai Chau Province.
Since then, Institut Hydroproject says closure of the Da River channel has been completed, allowing construction of Lai Chau's major structures to begin.
The group says grouting of alluvial deposits in the dam's foundation, dewatering and excavation of construction pits for the powerhouse and spillway will be completed this month.
Should work proceed according to schedule, commissioning of the hydroelectric plant's first unit is expected during the first quarter of 2016, with the remainder coming online by the end of the year.
