Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà chairs a meeting on removing obstacles for gas power and offshore wind power projects under the National Power Development Plan VIII on Thursday in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Văn Điệp

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant ministries to develop a pilot project to explore and survey wind power potential, as well as planning, selecting investors and giving licences for offshore wind power projects.

Hà gave the assignments when he chaired a meeting to remove obstacles for gas power and offshore wind power projects under the National Power Development Plan VIII on Thursday in Hà Nội.

He agreed to establish an interdisciplinary working group, headed by the Minister of Industry and Trade, with the participation of officials of relevant ministries, to remove difficulties and obstacles to deploy offshore wind power projects.

He also requested relevant ministries to consider and review the procedures for investing in gas power projects, including the Government's principled long-term commitments to investors.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and energy corporations were told to reduce the time required for investment processes and procedures for gas power projects, he said.

According to Hà, the National Power Development Plan VIII aims to call investment in power source and transmission projects under the management and operation of State agencies, ensuring energy security for the country's socio-economic development.

Therefore, it was necessary to choose the best investors with the highest efficiency.

Under the National Power Development Plan VIII, gas power projects (30,424 MW) and offshore wind power projects (6,000 MW) will account for about 50 per cent of the total capacity added by 2030, giving the projects a very important role in the national electricity system.

The development of gas power and offshore wind power will help Việt Nam fulfil its commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050.

Regarding offshore wind power projects, the Ministry of Industry and Trade found a number of inadequacies and inconsistencies in regulations on allocating marine areas to organisations and individuals using non-State budget to carry out survey, exploration, bidding and investor selection.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyễn Hồng Diên said that investment activities in gas power and offshore wind power projects were new fields, and that new mechanisms and policies were needed.

Also at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Trần Quý Kiên said plans should be considered to assign State-owned corporations such as Việt Nam Electricity (EVN) or Việt Nam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) to conduct surveys and determine offshore wind power potential.

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Đỗ Thành Trung said regulations must be amended and supplemented in parallel with carrying out investment procedures for gas power and offshore wind power projects, in order to ensure the schedule set out under the National Power Development Plan VIII.

Some participants at the meeting suggested assessing the comprehensive impact of proposals of ministries at the meeting to choose an effective solution to remove legal difficulties for offshore wind power projects; as well as establishing a working group to research and propose new mechanisms and policies. — VNS