Vietnam Accelerates Power Development Projects in Son La Under Revised Power Plan VIII
Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has held discussions with Son La provincial authorities to accelerate energy projects under the revised Power Development Plan VIII. The plan outlines significant expansion of electricity generation and transmission infrastructure in the north-western province, including hydropower, wind, biomass and solar projects. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, coordinated investment in both power generation and transmission will be necessary to meet rising electricity demand and support regional economic growth.
Son La Allocated Major Capacity in National Power Plan
Under the revised national power plan, Son La has been allocated a total development capacity of 7,785.4 MW. Of this, 6,273.2 MW is scheduled to be added by 2030 through a mix of renewable and flexible generation sources.
The planned energy portfolio includes small hydropower, wind power, pumped-storage hydropower, biomass, rooftop solar, utility-scale solar and waste-to-energy projects. Provincial authorities have begun assigning responsibilities to departments, utilities and investors to mobilise resources and implement the approved projects.
Among the small hydropower projects included in the plan, 14 out of 17 have already received investment approval. One project has begun generating electricity, nine are under construction and four are completing administrative procedures before construction begins.
Transmission Infrastructure Key to Unlocking Capacity
Transmission development remains central to ensuring that new generation capacity can be integrated into the national grid. The province’s power network plan includes three 500kV substations, four 500kV transmission lines, and 11 substations with 14 associated 220kV lines.
Several major projects have already received investment approval, including the Son La 1 500kV substation and associated transmission line, as well as the 500kV Son La 1 – Son Tay transmission corridor. These projects are expected to help transfer electricity from the north-western region to demand centres such as Hanoi.
Vietnam Electricity (EVN) reported that it is investing in the expansion of the Son La Hydropower Plant and the Huoi Quang Hydropower Plant, while also studying the development of the Moc Chau pumped-storage hydropower project. The National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) is simultaneously implementing several transmission projects designed to connect large hydropower facilities and aggregate output from smaller plants across the province.
220kV Son La – Dien Bien Line Targeted for 2026 Completion
One of the key projects currently under construction is the 220kV Son La – Dien Bien transmission line. EVNNPT aims to complete the project in the second quarter of 2026 to improve electricity supply reliability in the region, particularly during the dry season, while also enabling hydropower plants to dispatch electricity during the rainy season.
However, land clearance remains a challenge. At the time of the meeting, 11 of the project’s 159 tower foundation sites had not yet been handed over. These are located in Chiềng La, Thuận Châu and Bình Thuận communes. EVNNPT has requested provincial authorities to complete land handover for both foundations and transmission corridors by 15 May 2026 in order to maintain the project schedule.
Balancing Energy Supply With Regional Development
Son La officials highlighted the scale and urgency of the planned investments, noting that the province faces pressure to deliver infrastructure quickly while pursuing ambitious economic growth targets. Challenges include administrative procedures, land-use conversion requirements, natural terrain constraints and the need for expanded transmission capacity to absorb new power generation.
The province has requested support from the ministry and EVN to prioritise transmission investment so that new generation capacity can be effectively integrated into the grid. Reliable electricity supply is considered essential for regional development and for supporting Vietnam’s expanding digital and industrial economy, including sectors such as data centres and advanced technology investment highlighted in initiatives like Vietnam’s growing data centre sector driven by AI and cloud infrastructure.
Strengthening energy infrastructure is also seen as part of a broader push to support technology-driven economic growth, reflected in developments such as Da Nang’s expanding software and semiconductor ecosystem and wider digital investment trends across the country.
“Bộ Công Thương sẽ tiếp tục phối hợp chặt chẽ với các địa phương, đồng hành và hỗ trợ để triển khai thành công các nhiệm vụ liên quan đến phát triển và vận hành hệ thống năng lượng” — Nguyễn Hoàng Long, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Industry and Trade
Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Long emphasised that new generation projects must be developed alongside transmission infrastructure to ensure safe and efficient system operation. He also called for accelerated land clearance for priority transmission lines and closer coordination between provincial authorities and central agencies to address regulatory and procedural obstacles.
The ministry expects that bringing new renewable and hydropower capacity online as soon as possible will help ease supply pressure on the national grid while supporting Vietnam’s broader goals for sustainable energy transition and economic development.
