An Giang to Review Coastal Wind Power Procedures and Advance Investor Selection
An Giang’s coastal wind power projects face obstacles in investment approval and investor selection because they use both land and sea areas. Provincial authorities have called for a review of each project’s legal basis, publication of a list of projects seeking investment, and resolution of planning overlaps and sea-area use issues. Four onshore and nearshore projects listed in the province’s planning adjustment documents have a combined planned capacity of 220 MW.
Progress on An Giang’s coastal wind power projects has been affected by issues involving investment policy approval, investor selection, and the simultaneous use of land and sea areas. Provincial authorities are reviewing the legal basis for each project and finalizing a list of projects seeking investment to advance renewable energy development. The provincial Department of Finance said the difficulties are concentrated in coastal wind power projects that use both land and sea areas; for energy projects using only land, the province proposes continuing under the current mechanism.
Offshore wind turbines.（VietVance）
The provincial Department of Finance proposed reviewing projects individually and determining the appropriate investor selection method under relevant laws. Under its proposal, once the project list is published, if only one investor registers and meets the requirements, investment policy approval and investor approval may be granted at the same time. If two or more investors qualify, an investor will be selected through a tender in accordance with regulations. These arrangements remain at the proposal and implementation stage.
Nguyễn Thanh Phong, Standing Vice Chairman of the An Giang Provincial People’s Committee, asked the provincial Department of Finance to lead a review of the legal basis for each coastal wind power project, including those already in the development plan, and promptly submit the list of projects seeking investment for publication. He also asked relevant agencies to help investors access documents and complete procedures, and to examine planning overlaps, allocation of sea areas, building height restrictions, and shipping channels. Projects that already meet the requirements should be submitted promptly to the Provincial People’s Committee for consideration, without waiting for the full list to be compiled.
The power infrastructure development plan in the province’s planning adjustment documents lists four onshore and nearshore wind power projects: An Giang 1 and An Giang 2, each with a capacity of 50 MW; Hòn Đất 1, with a capacity of 77 MW; and another wind power project in the Hòn Đất area, with a capacity of 43 MW. Their combined planned capacity is 220 MW. The province hopes that resolving legal and procedural obstacles will encourage wind power investment and increase electricity supply.
Source: VietVance
