Workers install the 220/500kV transmission line for Trung Nam - Thuan Nam solar complex in Ninh Thuan Province. — Photo courtesy of Trung Nam Group
Trung Nam Group inaugurated a 450 MW Trung Nam-Thuan Nam solar power farm project, a 500kV transformer station and 220/500kV transmission line in Ninh Thuan Province yesterday.
The VND12 trillion (US$518 million) project spans more than 557 ha in Phuoc Minh Commune, Thuan Nam District including more than 17km of transmission lines of 500kV, 220kV stretching from Ninh Thuan to Binh Thuan Province.
The group said the solar power farm was the largest farm of its kind not only in Viet Nam but also in the Southeast Asean region.
Luu Xuan Vinh, Chairman of the Ninh Thuan Province People's Committee, said: “This is considered a historic milestone in Viet Nam’s energy industry when private enterprises invested in energy transmission infrastructure."
“As the first-ever private enterprise so far allowed to invest in national grid transmission infrastructure, Vinh said the project was reflecting how the Politburo’s Resolution No 55-NQ/TW on Viet Nam’s strategic orientations for national energy development through 2030 has encouraged private enterprises to invest in building renewable energy infrastructure.
"The project has contributed to making Ninh Thuan a national renewable energy centre,” Vinh added.
Vinh said it would also make an important contribution to easing the rate of unused plants that wasted thousands of billions of dong each year and improve the business environment in the province.
In Viet Nam, though there is a risk of electricity shortage but many experts told the media because the infrastructure including electric lines and transformer stations is not synchronised, lots of renewal projects failed to generate their full capacity on the national electricity grid.
Trung Nam Group and Ninh Thuan Province cut the ribbon to inaugurate the solar farm. — Photo courtesy of the firm
The plant started operating on September 29 and is expected to produce 1.2 billion kWh of electricity in the first year and more than 1 billion kWh from renewable sources every year.
Nguyen Tam Tien, general director of the Trung Nam Group, said though the project requires complicated implementation in the COVID-19 pandemic, the group with high determination completed in 102 days from the middle of May with the hard work of 8,000 officials, engineers and workers.
Tien said the project will contribute important capacity for regional power grids in Ninh Thuan and the south-central coast.
Two transformer stations of the project, with a total capacity of 1.800MVA and lines designed to improve connectivity, will increase system reliability in the regional power grid.
Trung Nam Group is also the executing unit of Ca Na general seaport project with the capacity of 70,000 - 100,000 DWT per year in Ninh Thuan. Once finished by December 2022, the seaport will make an important contribution to supporting the transportation of equipment, especially super-heavy equipment for renewable energy projects and gas power projects in the field in the province, as a hub of renewable plants in Viet Nam. — VNS