QUẢNG TRỊ — The central province of Quảng Trị has approved in principle investments into six energy projects including four wind power and two solar plants with total capital of more than VNĐ7.4 trillion (US$318.4 million) in the first two months of the year.

The provincial People’s Committee has given the go-ahead for Gio Thành Energy Joint Stock Company to build the Gio Thành 1 solar power plant with total capacity of 50MW. The project has a total investment of over VNĐ1.1 trillion and covers an area of 65ha in Gio Linh District.

It has also given the green light to SECO Joint Stock Company to implement the VNĐ1.1 trillion Gio Thành 2 solar power plant with total capacity of 50MW and covering an area of 60ha.

The People’s Committee approved the investment of Hướng Phùng Solar Wind Company Limited for the Hướng Phùng 3 wind power plant with total capacity of 30MW. The VNĐ1.58 trillion plant will cover an area of 9ha in Hướng Hóa District.

Gelex Quảng Trị Energy Company has also been approved to invest in wind power plants 1, 2 and 3 with 30MW each. The three plants will have a total investment of VNĐ3.6 trillion on an area of 24ha in Hướng Hóa and Đakrông districts.

The province has given priorities to attract investment in the energy sector with the aim of turning the locality into an energy centre in the region. Hướng Linh 2 wind power plant came into operation in 2017 with a capacity of 30MW and investment of VNĐ1.5 trillion.

In addition, the province has dozens of wind power projects in the process of construction. Quảng Trị Province has planned three key areas to develop wind power covering a total area of 6,700ha.

Wind power projects are mainly being built in the western mountainous area of Quảng Trị Province, and solar power projects are concentrated in coastal areas.

LIG-Quảng Trị solar power plant, invested by LICOGI 13 Joint Stock Company, will be the first solar power project to come into operation at the end of June in the province. The VNĐ1.2 trillion plant has a total capacity of 49.5MW on an area of 5ha.

The province is proposing four more solar power plants for the country’s energy planning with total capacity of 200MW.

It has been a rush to complete land clearance for construction of Quảng Trị 1 thermo power plant. The project run by Thailand International Electricity Company has total investment of VNĐ5 trillion and a capacity of 1,320MW. The first turbine is expected to become operational by the end of 2023.

Korea Western Power (KOWEPO) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the province for the construction of Quảng Trị 2 thermo power plant with the same investment and capacity as the Quảng Trị 1 thermo power plant. The two plants are expected to contribute VNĐ2.5 trillion to the provincial budget a year after they go into operation.

Russian Gazprom Company will build a gas power plant with total capacity of 340MW.

Local leaders said they had seen breakthroughs in attracting investment in its energy sector in the past few years. They have also taken drastic measures to support businesses such as enhancing administrative reforms, improving the investment environment and providing tax and land lease breaks.  — VNS