NINH THUẬN — Construction on the Bầu Ngứ Lake Solar Power Plant was begun on Saturday in the Phước Dinh Commune, Thuận Nam District of the south-central coastal province of Ninh Thuận.

Trần Huy Đức, chairman of the Trường Thành Construction and Investment Joint Stock Company, which is the owner of the project, said the project is being built under a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) contract with total investment capital of VNĐ1.15 trillion (US$50.8 million).

Covering an area of 75ha, the solar plant has a capacity of 50MW.

The project investor expects to put the plant into full operation by June 2019, when they connect it to the national grid.

Lưu Xuân Vĩnh, chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said that the project will create a significant amount of electricity from clean energy sources, contributing to the socio-economic development of the province and promoting the development of the clean energy sector.

In order for the project to come into operation as scheduled, the provincial People’s Committee would create favourable conditions, in accordance with the legal framework for the investor to carry out the project.

The provincial People’s Committee has requested the investor to focus all resources on implementing the project, ensuring the quality of the work, labour safety and environmental sanitation, Vinh said. He added that priority should focus on the creation of jobs for local residents, as well as taking care of people whose lives are affected by the project.

The chairman noted that according to research and publications by international organisations, Ninh Thuận is a locality that has the resources to develop renewable energy.

In the province, the wind speed reached the highest level of 7.1m/s at the height of 65m; the average annual sunshine is 2,600-2,850 hours; and the amount of solar radiation is greater than 230Kcal/Cm2.

The area is less affected by rain storms, making it ideal to attract investment and develop renewable energy.

Therefore, Ninh Thuận identified the renewable energy sector as one of the six pillars to create a breakthrough in economic development, thereby turning the province into a renewable energy centre for the country, in line with the policy of the Government.

The provincial People’s Committee has granted investment licences for 18 projects, with a total capacity of 1,079MW, and a total investment capital of VNĐ29.5 trillion.

The Bầu Ngứ Lake solar power plant was the second project to be started, following a 30MW plant which began construction in January this year. — VNS