The inauguration of the BCG - CME Long An 1 solar power plant in Long An Province’s Thanh Hoa District on June 23. — VNS Photo Xuan Huong

The BCG - CME Long An 1 solar power plant in Long An Province has been inaugurated by the joint venture between Bamboo Capital Group and the Viet Nam-Oman Investment Fund.

Nguyen Ho Nam, Bamboo chairman, said the plant in Thanh An Commune, Thanh Hoa District, has a capacity of 40.6 MWp and cost VND1.088 trillion (US$46.57 million).

More than 123,000 advanced solar panels would generate around 57 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, meeting the needs of 22,000 households and reducing CO2 emissions by 16,000 tonnes a year, he said.

The investors have already installed a 110kV substation in Thanh Hoa District and a 9km transmission line and installed a pumping system for reservoirs.

“We are committing to [complying with] all levels of regulations, not causing any pollution, always protecting the environment during the replacement and treatment of photovoltaic panels,” Nam said.

Pham Van Canh, deputy chairman of Long An Province People’ Committee, said: “There are 16 solar power projects with a total capacity of 1,472MW in the province. BCG – CME Long An 1 is among the first three projects to be put into operation before June 30.”

The project would mark an important milestone in the province’s energy sector, create jobs, improve infrastructure, and help implement the new rural development programme, he added.

Abdulmalik-Abdullah Zahir Al Hinai, advisor to the Omani finance ministry and chairman of the advisory council of the Viet Nam-Oman Investment Fund set up by the two governments, said: “Over the last few years, VOI has been actively researching and identifying the right investment opportunities in renewable energy in Viet Nam.

“Following the BCG-CME Long An 1 solar energy plant, we will continue to invest and build other large-scale renewable energy projects in Viet Nam and, specifically, Long An.” — VNS