The Vietnam Construction Corporation started construction of the Ngoi Phat hydroelectric power plant in the Bat Xat district in Lao Cai province in mid-May, according to the Vietnamese News Agency.
The US$25.1M plant will start generating electricity in 2006. It will be one of eight plants to be built by the corporation in Lao Cai province over the next seven years.
Around the same time, construction of the Dai Ninh hydro plant started in Duc Trong district in Lam Dong province. The 600MW plant is being built on the Dong Nai river at a cost of US$440M. Completion is expected in 2008.