The first phase of dam building on the Ma River for the Trung Sonhydroelectric project was launched in the central province of Thanh Hoaon December 1.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai attended the ceremony held in Trung Son commune, Quang Hoa district.

Addressing the event, the deputy PM lauded local authorities, theproject’s investor and the constructors for their great success in landclearance and other preparatory work for the multi-purpose project.

He urged the provincial People’s Committee and local authoritiesto implement the resettlement work and ensure a better life for peopleasked to move.

The project is the first of its kind inVietnam to be financed by the World Bank, which is providing 80 percentof its total cost (330 million USD). The remaining amount is beingfunded by Trung Son Hydropower Co Ltd, a subsidiary of the Electricityof Vietnam, which is the project’s investor.

With a capacityof 260 MW, the four-turbine plant is expected to generate over 1 billionkWh to the national power grid every year. It will also provide water,help control floods in the lower reaches of the Ma River and create amomentum for socio-economic development and poverty reduction in QuanHoa district.

Notably, the project will contribute toVietnam’s climate change programme by generating clean energy andavoiding the production of an estimated 1 million tonnes of carbondioxide per year.

The project’s construction, which began in November, 2012, is due to be completed in August, 2017.-VNA