The adjustment seeks to address shortcomings identified during implementation while ensuring alignment and synchronization with higher-level national and regional planning.
Provincial authorities said the revision is a timely and necessary step to unlock new development space, improve investment attractiveness and promote sustainable growth in the coming period.
A central feature of the revised plan is the update and addition of energy projects in line with the adjusted Power Development Plan VIII. Under the new framework, total installed power capacity in Gia Lai is projected to reach about 9.6 gigawatts, laying the groundwork for the province to emerge as a regional hub for clean and sustainable energy.
Gia Lai is seen as having strong advantages in renewable energy, with potential across wind, solar, hydropower, liquefied natural gas and biomass. These strengths have drawn the interest of major domestic and international investors, not only in power generation but also in green industries and high-tech sectors such as artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet of Things, blockchain and semiconductor technology, with a focus on carbon-neutral industrial zones and smart grids.
According to Trần Thúc Kham, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, the renewable energy sector alone presents significant opportunities to attract large-scale investment aligned with the green growth strategy and the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Based on capacity allocations and projects already approved under Decision No. 768/QĐ-TTg dated April 15, 2025, adjusting Power Development Plan VIII, the province has added a series of new projects.
These include the Vĩnh Thạnh pumped storage hydropower plant (600 MW); the Nhơn Hội wind power plant expansion (40 MW); the Hoài Đức (50 MW) and Hoài Thanh (60 MW) solar power plants; the Núi Một Reservoir solar project (100 MW); the Bình An 1 solar power plant (90 MW); and solar projects at Phù Mỹ 1 and Phù Mỹ 2 industrial parks, each with a capacity of 100 MW.
In parallel, numerous existing energy projects have had their names, capacities and grid connection plans adjusted to comply with the revised Power Development Plan VIII, with a combined capacity of 4,990.15 MW. These comprise 34 hydropower plants, 43 wind power projects, 18 centralized solar plants, three biomass power projects, the Hội Vân geothermal power project, waste-to-energy facilities and battery energy storage systems.
Infrastructure planning has also been updated, notably the alignment of the Quy Nhơn–Pleiku Expressway under a new Option 1C. The revised route shifts northward along mountain slopes to reduce gradients, shorten viaduct sections and limit construction to a single mountain tunnel.
Lưu Nhất Phong, Director of the Provincial Project Management Board for Transport and Civil Works, said Option 1C eliminates sharp U-turn curves, requires only one tunnel, maintains a design speed of 100 km/h, and cuts structural volume and costs.
Total investment is estimated at around VND 6,988 billion (about USD 304 million), roughly VND 1,084 billion less than the previous option, while improving safety and long-term operational efficiency.
To ensure material supply for key infrastructure projects, particularly the expressway, the plan adjusts the construction sector by adding and revising nine construction material mines, including soil, stone, clay and sand sites. Provincial officials described this as a critical measure to ease supply bottlenecks and accelerate project implementation.
In agriculture and environmental management, the plan revises reservoir capacities to better match investment schedules and practical needs. The storage capacity of Suối Lớn reservoir is adjusted from 20 million cubic metres to about 0.5 million cubic metres, while Suối Chiếp reservoir is increased from 2.5 million cubic metres planned after 2030 to about 19 million cubic metres to be implemented during 2026–2030.
At the same time, the Nam Đề Gi and Mỹ An 5 titanium ore areas have been removed from mineral planning to balance economic development with environmental and resource protection.
Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyễn Tự Công Hoàng said planning must be “one step ahead,” closely aligned with resolutions of the Provincial Party Committee, while ensuring synchronization, regional connectivity and feasibility. He said the adjustments provide a crucial basis for zoning, detailed planning and related investment procedures.
Authorities view the revised plan as a strategic move to leverage local strengths, expand development space, ensure consistency with national and regional strategies, and selectively inherit previously approved plans. The province expects this foundation to support breakthroughs and drive rapid, sustainable growth in the years ahead.