Nhon Trach 3 & 4: Vietnam’s First H-Class LNG Plant Goes Live

Operation of the First LNG Gas Power Plant in Vietnam

PV Power’s Nhon Trach 3 and 4 Power Plants have officially entered commercial operation, becoming the first LNG gas power plants in Vietnam to utilize H-Class 9HA turbines.

The First 9HA Gas Power Plant in Vietnam GE Vernova has officially announced the commercial operation of the Nhon Trach 3 and 4 Power Plants, invested by PetroVietnam Power Corporation (PV Power). With a capacity of 1.6 gigawatts (GW), the project is located in Ong Keo Industrial Park, Dai Phuoc commune, approximately 70 km southeast of Ho Chi Minh City.

The Nhon Trach 3 and 4 Power Plants, with the Samsung C&T – Lilama consortium serving as the General EPC Contractor, mark a historic milestone as the first facility in Vietnam to use H-Class gas turbines and the first power plant to utilize Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fuel.

According to the Adjusted Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8), LNG continues to play a vital role in the flexible power source structure, with a scale reaching 22 GW of power capacity by 2030, accounting for approximately 9.5 – 12.3% of the national power system’s proportion.

Nhon Trach 3 and 4 are expected to meet the increasing electricity demand in the Southern region, contributing to Vietnam’s sustainable development goals.

Environmental and Efficiency Breakthroughs The project marks an important turning point in expanding the scale of gas-fired power generation; accelerating the energy transition process from coal to natural gas. Utilizing high-efficiency natural gas, GE Vernova’s H-Class technology helps significantly reduce environmental impact, with carbon emissions approximately 60% lower than coal-fired thermal power plants of the same capacity. The project also contributes to accelerating the integration of renewable energy sources by enhancing the reliability and stability of the national power grid.

A representative of PV Power shared that the energy transition process in Vietnam demands solutions that ensure a balance between capacity, efficiency, and sustainability. That is the reason the unit decided to select GE Vernova’s 9HA.02 gas turbine line for the Nhon Trach 3 & 4 project.

“The advanced 9HA.02 gas turbine technology plays a key role in our commitment to modern energy standards, helping the plant achieve a combined cycle efficiency exceeding 63%, ranking among the most efficient power generation facilities globally. It meets strict emission standards and provides flexible fuel conversion capability from LNG to 50% hydrogen blending, progressing towards using 100% hydrogen in the future, thereby ensuring long-term alignment with Vietnam’s Net Zero emission goal in the coming decades,” said the PV Power representative.

A New Development Step for Vietnam’s Gas Power Sector In this project, GE Vernova supplied two power blocks, each achieving over 800 megawatts (MW), including:

• 9HA.02 Turbine: GE Vernova’s most efficient 50 Hz gas turbine line.
• STF-D650 Steam Turbine.
• W88 Generator.
• Once Through Heat Recovery Steam Generator (OT HRSG): A key component in the advanced steam cycle helping to achieve higher combined cycle efficiency.

Additionally, GE Vernova’s integrated Mark VIe Distributed Control System (DCS)* will help PV Power enhance monitoring capabilities, increase reliability and equipment availability, while reducing operation and maintenance costs.

Mr. Ramesh Singaram – President and CEO of GE Gas Power Asia – Pacific assessed: “Renewable energy is expected to grow strongly in Vietnam alongside high-efficiency gas power plants. This project is expected to supply electricity to large industrial zones in the Southern region, including Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai province, opening a new development step for the gas power industry in Vietnam. We are proud to deploy the first project using HA technology in Vietnam, accompanying national energy goals to promote sustainable economic growth.”

Summary: The Nhon Trach 3 and 4 Power Plants of PetroVietnam Power Corporation (PV Power) are the first project in Vietnam to use H-Class gas turbines, and simultaneously the first plant to operate on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fuel.

This new combined cycle power plant using 9HA.02 gas turbines is expected to enhance the stability and reliability of the power grid; supporting renewable energy integration. The plant can supply 1.6 GW to the power grid, meeting the increasing electricity usage demand of Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai province.