Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant Project: Multiple critical milestones in 4th quarter

In the final three months of 2025, the Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant construction site is focused on completing multiple critical progress milestones. EVN Vice President – Mr.Pham Hong Phuong requested that Power Project Management Board 3 and the Contractor Consortium pay special attention to management, coordination, and synchronous implementation of construction solutions with the most hands-on and decisive spirit.

On October 1^st, in Khanh Hoa province, EVN Vice President – Mr. Pham Hong Phuong and the working delegation of Vietnam Electricity (EVN) inspected the construction site and held the Q3/2025 working meeting for the Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant Project.

Also attending the working program were representatives of EVN's professional departments, representatives of Power Project Management Board 3 (EVNPMB3) leadership, Electricity Communication and Information Center (EVNEIC), the Contractor Consortium and units currently implementing the project construction.

Focusing on accelerating construction progress

Reporting to EVN Vice President – Mr.Pham Hong Phuong at the meeting, the representative of EVNPMB3 said that currently EVNPMB3 and the contractors are focusing on multiple solutions to resolve difficulties and accelerate the construction progress of the main items of the Bac Ai PSHP. By the end of September 2025, many key tasks have been implemented, contributing to ensuring the 4^th quarter construction plan and the project's subsequent progress milestones.

The contractor selection meets the progress requirements according to plan. Compensation and site clearance work has been promoted and implemented, contractors have had the site for construction since August 27^th 2025; the remaining work is being handled by local authorities.

In 3^rd quarter, construction work achieved many important results such as: completion of all construction and operation access roads, completion of open foundation excavation for main construction items, implementation of power cable tunnels and ventilation tunnels exceeding the planned targets.

However, the implementation situation for some other items is still slow, especially the construction tunnel (achieving 22% of the plan) and the construction-operation tunnel VH3A (achieving 4% of the plan). The reasons are heavy rainfall, complex geological conditions; the VH3A construction-operation access road has been completed but does not yet have sufficient conditions for waste transportation and transportation of tunnel drilling machines to the construction location. EVNPMB3 has requested contractors to increase shifts, supplement personnel and equipment to make up for the progress, without affecting the main milestones of the project.

In management work, EVNPMB3 has implemented strict supervision using progress management software, and installed a facial recognition camera system to control personnel on the construction site. Regarding construction quality, the measures and construction sequence; material and component quality; material/component test results; construction items all meet engineering requirements. Environmental, social, health and safety (ESHS) management work is ensured, with no incidents, regular safety training and fire prevention & fighting drills... In addition, the Project Management Board has strengthened the Commanding Committee of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Search and Rescure, proactively responding to rain and storm periods, ensuring construction site safety.

Moving into 4^th quarter, EVNPMB3 continues to set construction targets for the construction and operation access roads (VH1, VH2, VH3A). This focuses on the following tasks: earthwork and rockwork excavation and embankment, foundation and road surface completion, installation of drainage culverts, excavation and reinforcement of 260 meters (m) of construction-operation tunnel VH3A… For other tunnel items (power cable and ventilation tunnels; construction tunnel; construction-operation air supply tunnel; drainage tunnel), continue to actively implement excavation and reinforcement work. The downstream valve tower construction item strives to complete open excavation and slope reinforcement by shotcrete spraying of 2,186m2; the 500kV distribution station leveling work strives to achieve an embankment volume of 77,600m³…

Many other items related to the power line system and water supply for construction are also being actively implemented by contractors with an urgent spirit, aiming for completion in Q4/2025.

Efforts to complete "critical path" items

At the working session, contractor representatives reported on the construction situation at items under their responsibility, with special attention to the "critical path" which is the VH3A construction-operation access road. This is an item that plays an important role in transporting waste and transporting tunnel drilling machines to the construction location. The delay in constructing this road has led to impacts on tunnel excavation progress and power/water supply for construction, thereby having a "chain" impact on a series of other important items. The contractors also clearly reported difficulties when constructing under unfavorable weather conditions with continuous rainfall intensity (in September alone there were 22 days of rain).

In his concluding remarks at the working session, EVN Vice President – Mr.Pham Hong Phuong commended the urgent working spirit, regardless of difficulties and hardships, of EVNPMB3 and the contractors on the Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant construction site. At the same time, he requested that EVNPMB3 and the Contractor Consortium promote synchronous, harmonious and close coordination during the construction process, comprehensively promoting project progress.

EVN leadership emphasized that the construction site needs to ensure social environmental management criteria, including occupational safety and environmental sanitation. In addition, the forces participating in the project need to pay attention to international experience in engineering and technical expertise from the group of experts from the French Development Agency (AFD) in Vietnam and foreign sponsors to help optimize costs and contribute to accelerating construction progress.

For the construction and operation access roads VH1, VH2 and VH3, Mr. Pham Hong Phuong requested that EVNPMB3 and the contractors implement them simultaneously with high effort and concentration; divide the implementation progress in detail, decisively manage so that work flows smoothly. Contractors need to strive to complete all road base layers before December 31^st.

EVN leadership also mentioned essential items that must be completed right in Q4/2025 to serve construction, such as: power/water supply systems; installation of systems and equipment for crushing stations and mixing stations; completion of mixed earth and rock embankment testing to serve phase 2 engineering appraisal work... Other items also need to be urgently implemented and completed according to plan.