On May 16, 2015, the Dong Nai 2 Hydropower Plant was officially inaugurated and put into operation. Each year, the plant will supply 263.8 million kWh to the national grid, fulfilling national energy security demands and awakening the development potential of the South Central Highlands and the vast Southeastern region.
According to Government approval, there are currently 8 hydropower projects being constructed or developed along the main stream of the Dong Nai River. Dong Nai 2 Hydropower Plant is the 3rd cascade on this river, with construction commencing in October 2007 by investor Trung Nam Hydropower Joint Stock Company (Trungnam Power, a member of Trungnam Group - TNG).
Overcoming Crisis Challenges
Sharing the investment decision for this hydropower project, Mr. Nguyen Tam Thinh, Chairman of Trungnam Group, stated: With the goal of transforming Vietnam into an industrialized nation, meeting energy demands for future growth poses a critical challenge for both local provinces and the entire nation. The completion of Dong Nai 2 Hydropower Plant, providing electricity to over 250,000 residents, holds significant importance at this juncture.
According to Mr. Thinh, right from project planning, Trungnam Group identified this as a key energy investment project, serving as a catalyst for launching a series of subsequent power investment and business projects across the group.
The project was executed during a period when both global and domestic economies faced major hardships, particularly in securing investment capital. "However, with high determination, strong commitment, partner trust, and the generous support of local ethnic communities who relocated to provide land, TNG resolved capital challenges and proceeded with development. We clearly recognized that this was not only a core commercial project for the Group, but also one with profound socio-economic impact across a vast territory. Thus, all engineers and workers maintained a high sense of responsibility to complete construction on schedule while ensuring top quality."
To implement the project, Trungnam Group established compensation plans for 1,200 households and over 1,110 hectares of crops across 8 communes in Di Linh and Lam Ha districts. Today, relocated residents have settled into resettlement areas with stable lives, and local youth have been employed at project sites with steady incomes. The project received strong endorsement from local authorities and residents. At peak construction, TNG mobilized over 500 equipment units and 3,000 engineers and workers operating day and night under harsh weather to meet high-intensity concrete pouring rates of up to 4,000 m³ per day. The Dong Nai 2 dam is a gravity concrete dam nearly 1 km long, 80 meters high, with a reservoir capacity of 281 million m³.
Awakening a New Region
With a total installed capacity of 70 MW (2 units of 35 MW each), the plant was built on the Da Dang River, upstream of the Dong Nai River in Di Linh and Lam Ha districts, Lam Dong province. The primary function of Dong Nai 2 is to harness hydropower for grid generation, combined with downstream water regulation, flood mitigation, and ecological protection. Additionally, it creates favorable conditions for infrastructure development, job creation, and local tax revenues.
Evaluating the Dong Nai 2 project, Mr. Tran Viet Hung, Deputy Head of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands, emphasized that alongside agriculture, forestry, and minerals, hydropower represents a core strength of the region. Trungnam Group's successful investment in Dong Nai 2 stands as clear proof of this potential.
Mr. Hung expressed confidence that Dong Nai 2 Hydropower Plant will contribute actively to national energy security in the coming years, create jobs, support infrastructure, and activate development potential across the broader Central Highlands, expanding economic linkages with neighboring regions including the South.
"Investing in hydropower requires not only financial resources and effort, but also developer experience, patience, and passion. The success of Dong Nai 2 is a testament to Trungnam Group's growing capabilities," Mr. Tran Viet Hung noted.
Established in 2004, after over 10 years of development, Trungnam Group currently encompasses 11 member companies, over 1,200 employees, and 19 projects nationwide, such as Golf Valley High-end Park Urban Area, Trung Nam Ninh Thuan Wind Power Plant, KrongNo 2&3 Hydropower Plants, and Danang IT Park. The Group also recently inaugurated the Nga Ba Hue 3-level Overpass Interchange in Da Nang, the first 3-tier overpass in Vietnam featuring complex engineering. Through these landmark projects, Trungnam Group has solidified its brand reputation across Vietnam's energy and construction sectors.