Recently, during a working trip to the Central Highlands region, a delegation from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, led by Minister Nguyen Hong Dien, held a meeting with the leadership of Binh Dinh Province.

During the meeting, the Vice Chairman of the Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Tu Cong Hoang, reported on implementing the national energy sector plan, in line with Power Plan VIII. The Provincial People's Committee has tasked the Department of Industry and Trade with coordinating with relevant units to implement tasks such as integrating energy projects listed in the sector plan into local land use plans, allocating land for energy infrastructure, and working with investors to ensure compensation and land clearance according to regulations. The Department of Industry and Trade has advised the Provincial People's Committee on the routing of power lines and the placement of certain substations. The Department of Planning and Investment has also recommended that the Provincial People's Committee approve investment policies and select investors for energy projects listed in the plan.

Currently, the province operates 20 power plants with a total capacity of 718.9MW. This includes 11 hydropower plants with a total capacity of 187.9MW, 4 wind power plants with a total capacity of 107.4MW, and 5 solar power plants with a total capacity of 529.5MWp. Additionally, there are rooftop solar systems with a total capacity of approximately 223MWp.

Binh Dinh Provincial Party Secretary, Ho Quoc Dung, disclosed that Germany's PNE Group is registering to research and survey for an offshore wind power project near Hon Trau in this province, with a planned capacity of 2,000MW and an investment capital of about 4.6 billion USD.

Dung further stated that the investor has been conducting wind measurements for over a year, with all results being very promising. Based on this, the province hopes that the Ministry of Industry and Trade will facilitate the project's swift implementation and requests that the Ministry consider adjusting and supplementing the project with a pilot phase capacity of 750MW, as proposed by PNE Group, into the draft plan for offshore wind power development. This would provide a basis for attracting further investment to the province.

"As of now, Binh Dinh lacks any major enterprises capable of driving significant economic growth. Therefore, this project represents a significant hope for the province," the Provincial Party Secretary noted.

Regarding the offshore wind power plant project, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien urged relevant agencies within the Ministry and associated units to support Binh Dinh Province by suggesting partnerships with one of Vietnam's state-owned economic groups. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is currently developing a pilot project for offshore wind power development. However, due to the connection between offshore wind power and national security, initial participation is expected to be limited to state-owned economic groups.