The Latest Scoop on the $4.6 Billion Wind Power Super-Project in Binh Dinh Province

During a recent work trip to the Central – Highlands region, a task force from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, led by Minister Nguyen Hong Dien, met with the leadership of Binh Dinh province.

Reporting at the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, Nguyen Tu Cong Hoang, stated that, in accordance with the national energy sector master plan and the implementation of Power Development Plan 8, the People’s Committee has instructed the Department of Industry and Trade to collaborate with relevant units to execute tasks within their purview. This includes incorporating energy projects from the master plan into local land use plans, allocating land for energy development, and assisting investors with site clearance and compensation as per regulations.

The Department of Industry and Trade has advised the People’s Committee on agreeing to route directions and locations for certain substations. Meanwhile, the Department of Planning and Investment has proposed to the People’s Committee to approve investment policies and investors for energy projects included in the master plan.

Currently, the province is home to 20 operational power plants with a total capacity of 718.9 MW. This includes 11 hydropower plants with a total capacity of 187.9 MW, 4 wind farms with a total capacity of 107.4 MW, and 5 solar power plants with a total capacity of 529.5 MWp. Additionally, there are rooftop solar systems with a total capacity of approximately 223 MWp.

According to Ho Quoc Dung, Secretary of the Binh Dinh Party Committee, the German company PNE Group is conducting research and surveys to invest in a 2,000 MW offshore wind farm in the province, with an estimated investment of $4.6 billion.

Mr. Dung shared that the investor has been measuring wind conditions for over a year, and the results have been very positive. Based on this, the province hopes that the Ministry of Industry and Trade will facilitate the early implementation of the project and suggested that the Ministry consider adjusting and supplementing the project with a pilot phase capacity of 750 MW in the draft proposal for the pilot development of offshore wind power.

“Up to now, Binh Dinh has not had any large-scale enterprises to create a growth impetus for the province. Therefore, this project is a great hope for Binh Dinh,” said the Secretary of the Binh Dinh Party Committee.

Concluding the meeting, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien emphasized that to develop commensurately with its potential and strengths, in the coming time, Binh Dinh province needs to do a better job of promulgating and implementing effectively the guidelines and policies of the Party and State on socio-economic development in 2024 and the following years, especially some new policies that have come into force such as the Law on Land, Housing Law, Real Estate Business Law, and related decrees on land, land prices, compensation, support, and resettlement.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien noted that Binh Dinh province needs to promptly adjust, amend, and supplement the provincial master plan to align with the national master plan, regional master plan, and sector master plans. The province also needs to review and supplement the land use plan to ensure consistency and synchronization with the provincial master plan.

Regarding the offshore wind farm project, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien suggested that the Ministry’s agencies and relevant units support Binh Dinh province by suggesting that they form a joint venture with one of Vietnam’s state-owned economic groups. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is developing a proposal for the pilot development of offshore wind power. However, as offshore wind power is related to national security, it is initially envisaged that only state-owned economic groups will participate.

Regarding the province’s proposals at the meeting, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien acknowledged them and stated that the Ministry would issue an official conclusion, including specific answers to the province’s proposals and suggestions, to serve as a basis for local implementation. Additionally, some other proposals fall under the purview of other ministries and the competence of the Government and the Prime Minister. The Ministry of Industry and Trade will compile and forward them to the relevant ministries and sectors for consideration and resolution as per their competence.