Binh Thuan rolls out power plan

The central province of Binh Thuan plans to create a more favourable investment environment in order to reach its target of developing more power projects by 2025.

In April last year, the province began site clearance for the 663-ha Vinh Tan Power Centre in Tuy Phong District’s Vinh Tan Commune, which will have three thermal power plants with a total capacity of 4,400MW.

In August, the centre began construction of the Vinh Tan 2 thermal power plant, which has two turbines with a total capacity of 1,244MW. The plant is expected to be put into full operation in 2014.

Ho Son Hung, deputy director of the Binh Thuan’s Department of Industry and Trade, said the province was making an effort to support investors by investing in infrastructure and offering detailed planning for the Vinh Tan Power Centre.

The Government had also approved a grant of VND60 billion (US$3 million) for Binh Thuan to invest in canals that take water from Long Song and Da Bac reservoirs. These would serve the centre, Hung said.

The Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) planned to invest in the 500kV power transmission system from Vinh Tan to Song May in the southeastern province of Dong Nai, he said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Trade in May this year approved the construction of the Son My Power Centre in Son My Industrial Park in Ham Tan District.

The project will be implemented under one of the two plans.

If the project uses liquefied natural gas (LNG), it will have four power plants with a total capacity of 3,000MW and cover a total area of 349ha.

If the project uses imported coal, it will have three power plants with total capacity of 3,600MW and cover an area of 363ha.

In wind-power production, the Viet Nam Renewable Energy JS Company last year began the construction of a 120MW wind-power plant in Tuy Phong District. The plant has completed five of the 201.5MW turbines in its first phase.

The wind-power plant’s electricity has been connected to the national power grid, becoming the first in the country to do so.

Binh Thuan has 12 wind-power plan projects with a total capacity of about 1,500MW, according to the Binh Thuan Province Department of Industry and Trade.

The province has more than 75,000ha which have wind potential for producing power of up to 5,030MW.

The province also targets wind-power production with a total capacity of 1,500MW by 2015 and 3,000MW by 2020.

The provincial People’s Committee has also asked the Government to create preferential policies for wind-power plant investors.

It has also asked the EVN to give priority to purchasing electricity from wind-power plants with a long-term fixed price and to invest in power network systems connecting wind-power plants.

Besides wind-power and thermal-power plants, Binh Thuan has several hydro-power plant projects that are under construction or awaiting for licenses.

In addition, the committee has approved a plan to develop hydro-power plant projects with a total capacity of more than 189MW. — VNS

Tags: Vietnam energy, Vinh Tan Power Centre