TEPCO drawing up Vietnam power supply master plan

TEPCO concluded a trustee agreement with Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to produce a master plan for a power supply project in Vietnam, as announced on October 4, 2010.

TEPCO will investigate the feasibility of a 1.1 million Volt ultra high voltage electric power transmission project in Vietnam, and will then draw up the master plan during the period from October 2010 through the end of February 2011. This project is part of METI's efforts to support businesses related to low carbon business and to develop environmental responsive infrastructure/systems by helping such businesses establish a consortium.

Based on the expectation of a vast increase in demand for electricity in and around Ho Chi Minh City located in the southern Vietnam, construction of numerous power supply facilities, such as nuclear power generation plants and coal fired power plants, is being planned on the coast area approximately 300 kilometers east of the city, and this requires a high-capacity power grid system.

TEPCO intends to propose to the Vietnamese government and the Vietnamese Electricity Council the construction of a high-efficiency, environmentally conscious power supply system, including a UHV power transmission system, for which Japan has both technology and operational experience. TEPCO produced a schematic design of the project, and verified the feasibility by planning the total schedule and work periods, and estimating costs. TEPCO also intends to present an underground power transmission system which may be introduced in future.

TEPCO has already proposed the introduction of extra supercritical pressure coal-fired power plant and been working to verify its feasibility. For details, refer to the JFS article.