On the afternoon of August 9, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien had a working session with leaders of Binh Dinh province regarding the development of the industry and trade sector in this province. One of the most discussed issues at the conference was offshore wind power investment.

At the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Tu Cong Hoang - Vice Chairman of Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee - requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade to pay attention to allocating more onshore wind power capacity in adjusting and supplementing the plan to implement the VIII power plan in case other provinces propose power source projects that do not have enough capacity according to the plan; at the same time, increase the capacity of power source projects in the province during the review and adjustment period of the VIII power plan.

Mr. Ho Quoc Dung - Secretary of Binh Dinh Provincial Party Committee - said that currently, PNE Group (Germany) has registered to research and survey to invest in the Hon Trau offshore wind power plant project with a capacity of 2,000 MW and an investment capital of about 4.6 billion USD.

Binh Dinh proposed that the Ministry of Industry and Trade consider adjusting and supplementing the project with a pilot phase capacity of 750MW registered by PNE Group to the draft project on piloting offshore wind power development so that the province has a basis and advantages in attracting investment.

"Binh Dinh does not have any large-scale enterprise to create a boost for economic growth for the province.

This project is a great hope for Binh Dinh.

The investor has been measuring wind for more than a year and the results are very good. I hope the Ministry of Industry and Trade will create favorable conditions for the project to be implemented soon," said Mr. Dung.

Regarding this issue, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien said the ministry supports the offshore wind power project in Binh Dinh.

The Ministry will officially respond in writing with the spirit that whatever is within the Ministry's authority, the Ministry will support the locality to the maximum, and whatever is beyond its authority, the Ministry and the province will make recommendations to the Central Government.

According to Mr. Dien, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is currently developing a pilot project for offshore wind power development.

But because offshore wind power is linked to national security, it was initially expected that only state-owned economic groups would participate in this.

The Ministry recommends that relevant units support the locality in the direction of suggesting joint ventures and partnerships with one of Vietnam's state-owned economic groups to facilitate project implementation.

The Ministry will also propose to the Government to pilot a foreign corporation to invest in an offshore wind power project.