Construction begins on Vietnam power plant

HA TINH, Vietnam, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Workers in Vietnam have begun building the Vung Ang I thermal power plant, which is planned to be the largest plant of its type in the country.

The $1.25 billion project is being built near the Vung Ang deep sea port, the Vietnamese News Service reported Monday.

The first group of 600 megawatt turbines is scheduled for completion in 2011, with the second group expected to follow in 2012. Each of the groups is designed to create 7.2 billion kilowatt hours per year.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said the project will eventually produce 10 percent of the country's electricity. He said he asked the plant's primary investor, Vietnam Construction and Machinery Installation Corp., to ensure the project is completed safely and accurately.