GE Vernova commissions Vietnam’s first LNG power plant and announces $200 million HVDC manufacturing facility at Hanoi summit

On March 10, GE Vernova brought together more than 400 senior leaders from government, utilities, and industry at its inaugural Energy of Change Summit in Hanoi. Petrovietnam Chairman Lê Mạnh Hùng was in the room as the company announced a string of commitments set to reshape how the country generates and moves electricity. The highlights included the commercial launch of Nhon Trach 3&4 — Vietnam’s first LNG-to-power plant — technology agreements for three more LNG projects, and a roughly $200 million investment in a new HVDC manufacturing facility in Hai Phong.

GE Vernova holds inaugural Energy of Change Summit in Hanoi

The summit’s theme — “Powering Vietnam: From Concept to Reality” — pretty much said it all. The agenda was packed, covering everything from PDP8R execution priorities to local manufacturing capability, grid flexibility, and what a more diversified energy mix actually requires on the ground. Global best practices and the latest generation and transmission technologies all got airtime.

CEO Scott Strazik hosted. Petrovietnam Chairman Lê Mạnh Hùng delivered a keynote focused on accelerating Vietnam’s energy transition without sacrificing economic growth. A Supplier Summit ran alongside the main event, drawing more than 100 organizations and zeroing in on how to build a more resilient regional supply chain.

Alongside the LNG news, GE Vernova announced plans for a new large power transformer manufacturing plant in Hai Phong — an investment of approximately $200 million.

Nhon Trach 3&4 begins commercial operation as Vietnam’s first LNG-to-power plant

The day’s biggest milestone was the formal commissioning of Nhon Trach 3&4. Developed by PetroVietnam Power Corporation (PV Power), the plant delivers 1.6 GW to Vietnam’s national grid — and it’s both the country’s first LNG-fired facility and the first to deploy GE Vernova’s 9HA.02 gas turbine technology.

The HA-class turbines rank among the most efficient gas turbines commercially available. Beyond raw capacity, the plant is expected to improve grid reliability and stability, which matters considerably as Vietnam pushes to integrate larger volumes of renewable energy. More renewables means you need flexible, fast-responding backup generation — and that’s exactly what modern gas plants provide.

Three additional LNG power projects select GE Vernova technology

Off the back of Nhon Trach 3&4, GE Vernova announced technology selection agreements for three more LNG projects — collectively adding six 9HA.02 gas turbines and six H78 generators. Worth noting: technology selection isn’t a firm order. Final agreements still need to happen.

First is PV Power’s Quynh Lap LNG project, with an installed capacity of around 1.6 GW. Under an agreement signed March 10, two turbine-generator units are prioritized for delivery in 2029, with additional units to be negotiated later. Quynh Lap is one of PV Power’s priority development projects for the 2025–2030 period.

Second is the Hai Phong LNG plant, a Vingroup–VinEnergo joint venture. GE Vernova will supply two 9HA02 turbines and two H78 generators, delivering more than 1.6 GW. Designed to strengthen electricity supply for Hai Phong and the broader national grid, the plant also aims to support high-tech industrial development across the region.

Third is Quang Trach II in Quang Binh Province, an EVN project with a notable backstory. Originally planned as a 1.2 GW coal plant, it’s being converted to LNG following government approval under Vietnam’s National Energy Development Strategy through 2030. GE Vernova is expected to supply two 9HA02 turbines and two H78 generators, with the plant targeted to be fully operational by 2030.

$200 million HVDC manufacturing facility planned for Hai Phong

Alongside the LNG news, GE Vernova announced plans for a new large power transformer manufacturing plant in Hai Phong — an investment of approximately $200 million. The facility will focus on HVDC transformers, the equipment that moves electricity efficiently over long distances, complementing GE Vernova’s existing HVDC transformer plants in Stafford, UK, and India.

Construction will proceed in phases, with full operations expected in 2028, pending regulatory approvals. Once running, the facility is intended to serve both regional demand and GE Vernova’s wider global project pipeline. The investment falls within the company’s $11 billion cumulative global capex and R&D plan covering 2025 through 2028.

GE Vernova and Vietnam Electricity (EVN) also signed a non-binding MoU to explore HVDC collaboration aligned with PDP8R’s transmission infrastructure goals. It doesn’t lock either party into specific projects, but signals a shared interest in how HVDC solutions could support Vietnam’s expanding grid.

GE Vernova’s existing footprint and Vietnam’s energy context

GE Vernova isn’t starting from scratch. The company’s equipment already supplies up to 30% of Vietnam’s electricity, and it employs more than 1,100 people across nine in-country locations. Its local infrastructure includes a gas turbine repair facility in Phu My and a heat recovery steam generator manufacturing plant in Dung Quat — both central to the supply chain conversation at the Supplier Summit.

Vietnam’s PDP8R is driving rapid expansion of gas-fired and renewable capacity as the economy keeps growing. The conversion of coal projects like Quang Trach II to LNG reflects that broader direction. Taken together, the March 10 announcements touch power generation, grid infrastructure, and manufacturing investment — hitting multiple layers of Vietnam’s energy buildout simultaneously.

Kelly Lippke

Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.