The south-central coastal province of Ninh Thuan has approved in principle a project to produce wind power that will be undertaken by the Vietnam Electricity Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company (EVNIC).

The project using Russian technology will have a total designed capacity of 40.5 MW, according to EVNIC General Director Pham Hong Giang.

In the first phase this year, the project will be carried out on 20 hectares in Cong Hai commune in Thuan Bac district, with three turbines having a designed capacity of 1 MW each based on Russian technology. It is expected to turn out about 14 million kWh of electricity annually.

In the second phase from 2014 to 2015, it will be expanded to cover 160 hectares with 15 turbines with a designed capacity of 2.5 MW each using US technology.

Ninh Thuan is considered a high-potential region for wind power development with total exploitation capacity of 2,000 MW by 2020.

A number of areas with strong wind sources in Ninh Thuan are Ninh Phuoc, Thuan Nam, Thuan Bac and Ninh Hai districts. Some 14 wind farm projects have been given approval in principle by the local government to make surveys and prepare investment plans.

The neighboring province of Binh Thuan is also a good region for wind power development with total capacity of up to around 5,000 MW. The provincial authorities have already allowed investors to deploy 12 wind power schemes, with two already in operation with total designed capacity of 30 MW.

The wind power price paid by Vietnam Electricity Group is set at 7.8 US cents per kWh.

The country’s wind power potential to be exploited in the next few years is 6,500 MW.-VNA