Bac Lieu (VNA) –The installation of 71 turbinesin the third phase of the 8.9 trillion VND (391.6 million USD) Bac Lieu WindPower Plant began in Vinh Trach Dong commune, the Mekong Delta city of BacLieu, on January 30.

This phase is part of efforts to enhance trade andinvestment ties between Vietnam and Thailand.

With the new turbines, the project will house a total of 133turbines with total capacity of 241.2 MW. The third phase alone has a capacityof 142 MW.

The project is in line with the national electricitydevelopment planning during 2011-2020 with a vision towards 2030 and the BacLieu wind power development planning to 2020 with a vision towards 2030.

Speaking at the ceremony, Thailand’s Deputy Prime MinisterWissanu Kreangam congratulated Super Wind Energy Cong Ly JSC, the project’s investor,on the success of the first and second phases, expressing his hope that thethird phase will be put into operation successfully.

Vice Permanent Chairman of the Bac Lieu province People’sCommittee Le Minh Chien asked Super Wind Energy Cong Ly JSC and its partners tofocus resources for the construction to ensure its progress and quality.

Bac Lieu promises to create the best possible conditions forthe construction and operation of the project, he said.

Once operational, the plant is expected to provide 373million kWh for the national grid and generate more than 1,000 jobs.

Vietnam has 28 coastal localities, including 14 centralcities and provinces having the coastline.

Therefore, it has greatpotential for wind power, estimated at about 10,000 MW, according to researchby the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ).

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said thatVietnam now has only six operating wind energy mills with a total capacity ofnearly 200MW. 

The Government has released its NationalElectricity Development Plan for 2011-2020 with a strategic priority onrenewable energy, with wind power capacity targeted at 800 MW by 2020 and 6,000MW by 2030.

Thecountry’s energy demand has increased rapidly over the last 15 years, with acommercial energy growth rate of about 9.5 percent each year. It is forecast tocontinue rising strongly in the next 15 years. The country’s electricityconsumption demand grew about 13 percent annually from 2006 to 2010 and 11percent each year between 2011 and 2016.

In 2015, total energy consumed nationwide was estimated at 55 million tonnes ofoil equivalent.

Under the national energy development strategy until 2020 with a vision to2050, Vietnam aims to produce and import 100-110 million TOEs of primary energyby 2020 and 310-320 million TOEs by 2050 so as to meet socio-economicdevelopment demand.-VNA