Transfer – VietNam Breaking News

Vietnamese firms to provide foundations, harbor services for La Gan wind power project

The Saigon Times

The signing ceremony of four memorandums of understanding between the La Gan Wind Power Development Corporation and four Vietnamese suppliers – PHOTO: EMBASSY OF DENMARK IN VIETNAM

HCMC – Four Vietnam-based contractors–CS Wind Corporation, PTSC Mechanical and Construction, Southern Petroleum Construction JSC and Vietsovpetro–will provide foundation and harbor services for the La Gan offshore wind farm project in the central province of Binh Thuan.

On February 24, the La Gan Wind Power Development Corporation, the developer of the 3.5-gigawatt offshore wind farm project owned by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Asiapetro and Novasia, virtually signed four memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on foundation supply and harbor services with the four contractors, the Embassy of Denmark said in a statement.

The supply of foundations and harbor infrastructure is among the most critical elements of the offshore wind supply chain. The cooperation between the La Gan offshore wind farm project and the four suppliers will contribute to the ongoing efforts to localize the Vietnamese offshore wind supply chain as well as help build the capacity of local suppliers to compete in the international market.

Under the MOUs, the La Gan offshore wind farm project and suppliers will work together to promote offshore wind power in Vietnam. In addition, the project will facilitate knowledge transfer and provide advice on the foundation’s design, facility layouts, logistics and infrastructure requirements, which will enable the suppliers to take the offshore wind market to international standards.

Kim Højlund Christensen, ambassador of Denmark in Vietnam, said in the statement, “One of the key priorities in our long-term cooperation with Vietnam is to support green development and a green transition in the country’s energy sector.”

The development of foreign investment projects such as La Gan will contribute to further expanding and intensifying Denmark’s close cooperation with Vietnam in knowledge sharing and capacity building for industry experts and practitioners, especially in the offshore wind supply chain, he added.

According to an economic impact study by international experts from BVG Associates-the World Bank’s consultants-the La Gan offshore wind farm project will contribute more than US$4.4 billion to the Vietnamese economy and create over 45,000 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs in Vietnam, where an FTE is a job for a year. The localization rate is projected to be 45% of the full supply chain of the project.

Maya Malik, CEO of La Gan Wind Power Development Corporation, said the signing with the four Vietnamese suppliers confirmed the firm’s serious commitment to facilitate knowledge transfer and promote the localization of the offshore wind industry in Vietnam. The firm wanted to ensure that its investments pass onto the local economy and the Vietnamese people, wherever feasible.

The engagement of the four local suppliers also shows the dedication of local industry leaders to invest in offshore wind energy and to support the Vietnamese Government’s vision for green energy transformation, she added.

With a potential capacity of 3.5 gigawatts, the La Gan offshore wind farm project is one of the first large offshore wind farm projects in Vietnam. It is expected to improve Vietnam’s profile in renewable energy in the region and the world as a whole.

The Hanoitimes – Lawmakers largely attributed severe floods in the central region recently to poor planning of small-scale hydropower plants.

Vietnam’s lawmakers have urged the government to thoroughly review hydropower planning nationwide for sustainable management following severe flooding and fatal landslides in the central region late last month that are largely believed to stem from poor planning of small-scale hydropower stations.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade needs to make all-encompassing assessment of the investment of small- and medium-size hydroelectric plants in the north, the central region, and Central Highlands, lawmakers said at the National Assembly (NA)’s ongoing month-long plenum.

They demanded the removal of ineffective projects out of the National Power Plan by 2030.

Voices from lawmakers

Lawmaker Nguyen Thi Xuan. Photo: Quochoi

Lawmaker Nguyen Thi Xuan from Dak Lak province pointed out some consequences resulted from the development of these projects, including drought and flooding when the dams store and discharge water, legalized exploitation of timber under the guise of hydropower, transfer of hydroelectric projects to other investors after exploiting mineral resources.

She said the parliament needs to establish task forces to supervise the afforestation while the government has to increase funding the afforestation and add it to the socio-economic development of the mountainous areas and ethnic minorities in 2021-2030.

Lawmaker Phan Thai Binh from Quang Nam province demanded environmental impact assessment (EIA) by the government to ensure the safety of both hydroelectric dams and irrigation dams.

Lawmaker Hoang Duc Thang. Photo: Quochoi

Lawmaker Hoang Duc Thang from Quang Tri province attributed severe floods in the central region largely to the development of hydropower. He said hydropower-related deforestation has caused bare land, soil erosion, flash flood, landslide, and severe disaster.

The disappearance of natural and primeval forests has weakened soil water retention capacity, causing floods, Mr. Thang emphasized.

Meanwhile, lawmaker Leo Thi Lich from Bac Giang province talked about the safety of both hydroelectric and irrigation dams and the need of systematic operations among them.

Lawmaker Tran Thi Dung blamed the government for having no specific policies to remove ineffective projects that cause the disappearance of forests and disrupt the livelihood.

Lawmaker Vu Thi Luu Mai attributed tragic natural disasters to anthropogenic impact on the environment that includes changes to biophysical environments and ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources.

Well-known lawmaker Duong Trung Quoc pointed out the lack of long-term impact that small-scale hydro might cause for next generations in decades.

Pledge from government agencies

Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh. Photo: Quochoi

Speaking at the NA’s discussion session on Wednesday [November 4], Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh said the ministry will closely work with localities to tighten control over existing hydroelectric dams and the development of the new ones.

He affirmed that the ministry has added to the national power plan no hydropower projects whose development implies the deforestation of natural forests while removing from the plan 480 hydroelectricity projects and 213 potential locations planned for this kind of projects.

At the parliament, Mr. Anh also highlighted the important role of hydropower in the country’s development, saying that hydropower capacity of 20,000 megawatt (MW) from 429 dams accounts for 37% of the country’s total power capacity.