After getting the prime minister’s green-light to turn the proposed Ca Na steel manufacturing complex into Ca Na Industrial Zone and add the zone into the list of zones prioritised for establishment until 2015 with a vision towards 2020, Ninh Thuan authorities embraced the legal setup stage to be able to soon introduce a decision on the zone’s foundation.
The province’s relevant competent agencies would try their best to finalise all preparatory papers within the next three months, according to deputy head of Ninh Thuan Industrial Zone Authority Truong Thi Lieu.
“Energy, particularly green energy, will be the zone’s top investment priority,” Lieu said, adding that solar energy, wind power and wave energy projects were particularly welcomed at Ca Na.
Ho Chi Minh City-based Ocean Energy Development Corporation was reportedly green-lighted to act as the 1,000ha zone developer.
Ninh Thuan is naturally blessed with great potential for renewable energy development. The Vietnamese government has decided to locate the country’s two nuclear power plants with an annual production capacity of 4,000 megawatts each in the province.
Beside, foreign investors from different countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands and South Korea recently came to the province searching the opportunities in wind power and solar energy areas, according to Lieu. For example, last week, the province received IMPSA Group from Argentina which came to the province to source the opportunity to invest in wind power.
In mid March 2011, Belgium-based Enfinity was licenced to go forward with its $250 million Phuoc Nam wind power farm project in the province. The Belgian group also proposed another 300MW solar energy project costing $900 million in the province which is still pending approval.
The Ca Na steel manufacturing complex with an annual capacity of 14 million tonnes and total registered capital of $9.8 billion was licenced in September, 2008 and began construction in November 2008. The developer was the Vinashin-Lion Joint Venture Company Limited. The super project saw its investment licence revoked in February 2011 due to delays in construction.
VIR