Mong Song Hydropower Station, Vietnam

The Mường Sông Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant in Vietnam represents a strategic collaboration between China and Vietnam in the power sector.
Officially named the Mường Sông Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant, this large-scale dedicated pumped storage facility is located in Mường Lạ District, Sơn La Province, in northwestern Vietnam. With a planned installed capacity of 1,500 megawatts, its scale far exceeds that of conventional hydropower stations. Utilizing two reservoirs—an upper and a lower reservoir—it pumps surplus electricity during off-peak hours to store water in the upper reservoir. During peak demand periods, water is released to generate electricity, converting potential energy back into electrical energy fed into the grid. Its primary function is to provide power regulation.
Designated by the Vietnamese government as a national key energy project, it plays a central role in securing Vietnam's national grid—particularly the northern grid—by providing peak shaving, valley filling, frequency regulation, phase regulation, and emergency reserve capacity. The investment model is expected to adopt a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) approach, led by China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd. The Chinese side will primarily handle the project's investment, construction, and operation.
In November 2023, during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Vietnam, this project was one of the key cooperation agreements signed by both parties. It will most likely adopt the BOT model, wherein the China Southern Power Grid consortium will invest in and construct the facility, operate the power station and sell electricity to Vietnam during the concession period, and transfer ownership to the Vietnamese government upon expiration.
The Mong Son Pumped Storage Power Station represents a landmark project for China's “going global” strategy in pumped storage technology, equipment, standards, and investment. It also serves as a flagship initiative aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with Vietnam's “Two Corridors and One Circle” strategy, holding significant political and economic implications for energy cooperation and bilateral relations between China and Vietnam. As of mid-2024, the project remains in the planning and preliminary advancement phase, yet has achieved substantial progress. Its subsequent developments are drawing considerable attention from the industry.