Construction of a wind power plant worth nearly VND1.5 trillion (US$66 million) began in the southern province of Ben Tre’s Binh Dai District on Tuesday.

Financed by Mekong Wind Power Joint Stock Company, an affiliate of Thanh Thanh Cong Group, the Binh Dai plant will comprise 15 turbines with a total capacity of 30MW.

Once operational, the plant – the first of its kind in the province – will produce about 84 million kWh each year.

In a speech at the plant’s ground breaking ceremony, provincial People’s Committee vice-chairman Truong Duy Hai said Ben Tre had great potential for wind power development thanks to a long coastline and strong wind intensity.

The province has selected 11 areas in Binh Dai, Ba Tri and Thach Phu districts to develop plants, following a master plan to 2020, Hai said.

He added that the Binh Dai plant would help speed up provincial economic growth and create more jobs for local people.

In July, provincial authorities granted investment licences to seven wind power projects, with total pledged capital of about $900 million at an investment promotion conference held in the locality. — VNS