Tra Vinh expands green hydrogen project area by 2.5 times

According to the adjustment decision issued by the Tra Vinh Provincial People’s Committee on May 20, 2025, the project research area for the Green Hydrogen Plant will be expanded from 21 hectares to about 52.76 hectares. Of this, 22.36 hectares is land area, including 0.66 hectares of protective forest (requiring land-use conversion procedures in accordance with regulations), and the remaining 30.4 hectares is adjacent water surface area.

The project is invested in by TGS Tra Vinh Green Hydrogen Joint Stock Company (a subsidiary of The Green Solutions Group - TGS), one of the pioneering domestic enterprises in green energy development in Vietnam.

TGS is also partnering with several international technology firms, enhancing access to advanced technologies and high safety standards.

The adjusted total investment capital is VND 7,986.8 billion (equivalent to over USD 340 million). Of this, 15% is investor equity, and the remaining 85% will be mobilized from credit institutions or other legal sources.

This financial structure indicates that the investor must implement effective operation and debt repayment strategies to ensure the long-term viability of the project.

According to the design, the plant will have an annual production capacity of 24,000 tons of hydrogen, 182,500 tons of ammonia, and 195,000 tons of oxygen. Ammonia will serve as an effective medium for hydrogen storage and transportation, aiming to reduce logistics costs and improve operational safety.

Producing ammonia alongside hydrogen also diversifies the product range and expands the market, particularly in the chemical and fertilizer industries.

The project will employ seawater electrolysis technology, using coastal seawater with an intake of about 20,000 m³ per day and night. The project will generate up to 5,200 m³ of industrial wastewater per day and night, which must be treated to national technical standards before being discharged into the environment.

Using seawater instead of freshwater is a suitable approach in coastal areas, helping preserve inland water resources, which are increasingly under stress.

The Tra Vinh Provincial People’s Committee requires the investor to strictly comply with the contents approved in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report, which was approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) in March 2024. Specifically, the investor must install an automatic, continuous wastewater monitoring system; set up hazardous waste storage areas; minimize impacts on marine ecosystems; and implement plans to reuse treated water if it meets standards.

These are mandatory requirements to ensure the plant’s operations do not negatively affect the marine environment or the livelihoods of local fishermen.

For the area involving protective forest, the company must complete all required procedures for land-use conversion under the Forestry Law, avoiding impacts on the coastal wave-breaking forest belt, which is vital for the province.

This protective forest not only plays an ecological role but also shields the coast from erosion, which is worsening due to climate change.

The first phase of the project began construction in March 2023 on an area of about 21 hectares, with a construction timeline of 24 months. In the second quarter of 2025, the investor will complete all investment preparation procedures for the expanded portion of the project. All construction work on the plant is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2027.

The implementation progress is considered relatively positive compared to other large-scale industrial projects, especially in the renewable energy sector.

The trial operation phase will take place from the third to the fourth quarter of 2027, before the project officially enters commercial operation by the end of 2027. Upon completion, the plant is expected to create 300–500 local jobs, prioritizing skilled workers and experts in the renewable energy sector. Additionally, the project is expected to contribute to the economic restructuring process in Duyen Hai district, an area with strengths in marine economics but lacking high-tech, knowledge-intensive projects.

Local human resources will have the opportunity to receive in-depth training to meet the plant’s operational demands, thereby improving the quality of the local workforce.

The Tra Vinh Green Hydrogen Project is considered to be aligned with Vietnam’s renewable energy development strategy and the carbon neutrality goals the country committed to at the COP26 Conference. According to the National Hydrogen Energy Development Strategy to 2030 with a vision to 2050 (issued under Decision No.165/QD-TTg dated February 7, 2021), Vietnam identifies hydrogen development as a key component in its energy transition and green economy building.

The project thus carries not only investment significance but also strategic importance in helping realize the country’s net-zero emissions target in the coming decades.