Government accelerates Long Thanh Airport, key energy, transport projects

Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc has called for accelerated construction of the Long Thanh International Airport, alongside other key energy and transport projects. On October 4, Tuc led a government delegation to inspect the airport project, the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway expansion, and the Hiep Phuoc LNG power plant.

At the airport, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) stated that over VND73.8 trillion (US$2.8 billion) worth of work has been completed for Component Project 3, representing 85.55 percent of the contract value. Disbursements amount to VND47 trillion (US$1.8 billion), or 54.49 percent of the total. Of the 16 main construction packages, 12 are on track to meet the schedule, aiming for trial operations at the airport by December 2026.

The airport will undergo three trial phases from September to December 2026, gradually opening the western area and central passenger terminal area to handle 20-30 flights daily. Full capacity is expected starting October 2027. Tuc emphasized the airport's importance to socio-economic development and assured strict daily, weekly, task-by-task, and package-by-package progress monitoring.

For the expressway expansion, Prime Minister Tuc instructed contractors to prioritize manpower, scientific construction methods, increased work pace, and safety. The 22-kilometer stretch, set to widen from four to 8-10 lanes, will complete elevated bridges and roads by late 2026 and the Long Thanh Bridge by February 2027.

Regarding the Hiep Phuoc LNG power plant, Tuc praised the project's significance for energy security in the south. Phase 1, with a 1,200 MW capacity, is nearing completion, while Phase 2 of 1,500 MW is planned for 2025-2030.