The Belaz Vietnam engineering company, the Vietnamese branch of Belarus’ Belaz, has said it is looking for opportunities to construct new hydroelectric power plants in Vietnam, according to Vietnam News. However, the company says it faces high duties when importing equipment into Vietnam.

Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) is planning a US$200M project to increase electricity supplies to Vietnam’s rural areas. The project includes proposals to renovate small hydroelectric power plants throughout Vietnam and construct new hydro plants in remote regions. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese government is considering constructing a 3600MW hydroelectric power plant on the Da river in the northern province of Son La. The First Electricity Construction Consulting Company (FECCC), in charge of developing the project, has drawn up a feasibility study which estimates that the proposed plant would produce 17BkWh of electricity each year. The plant would also include a discharge channel with a capacity of 15,000m3/sec of water, which would help reduce the risk of flooding on the Da river.

Finally, Norway is to assist Vietnam to develop its hydroelectric power resources under an agreement signed between Vietnamese and Norwegian officials in Oslo in early October.