BIM Group to launch Vietnam’s largest salt & renewable energy economic zone

15-year vision for Vietnam’s largest salt and renewable energy economic zone

Realising the unique natural potential of Ninh Thuan, BIM Group has invested in a clean salt field at Quan The hamlet in Ninh Thuan province since 2006, which is the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia with an output of 300,000 tonnes per year. By applying advanced production technology to produce high-quality clean salt products, Quan The along with Ca Na and Tri Hai salt fields have created jobs for hundreds of local workers and contribute 60-70 per cent of Vietnam's industrial salt production. This is the first step in BIM Group's sustainable business development strategy in Ninh Thuan.

In 2020, the Politburo issued Resolution No.55-NQ/TW on Vietnam's national energy development strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2045. These important documents orient strategies to promote the renewable energy sector to ensure national sustainable development.

BIM Energy's solar power plant cluster in Quan The, Ninh Thuan has a total capacity of 405MWp

Huy Quoc Doan, vice chairman of the Board of Directors and general director of BIM Group said, “The macro directives of the Politburo further confirm the right direction of the sustainable development strategy that BIM Group has been pursuing from our very first day of establishment. We see the potential and opportunity to develop renewable energy by optimising land resources in Ninh Thuan, which has the most abundant sunshine and wind in Vietnam. The industrial salt field is the most suitable place to deploy solar power projects and install large wind power turbines.”

In April 2019, BIM Energy inaugurated the first cluster of solar power plants with a total investment of VND7 trillion ($304.35 million) in Ninh Thuan. In 2020, the total capacity of the cluster reached 405MW, one of the largest solar farms in Southeast Asia. More than one million solar panels generate over 668 million kWh a year, meeting the needs of 200,000 households. The three solar power plant cluster contributes to the budget more than VND500 billion ($21.74 million) in taxes and creates nearly 200 jobs with stable incomes in the locality.

On September 30, BIM Energy officially put BIM Wind Power Plant into commercial operation with a total capacity of 88MW and investment of $155 million. This is the second joint project of BIM Group and AC Energy following the 405MW Ninh Thuan solar farm. The plant is expected to generate about 345 million kWh per year to meet the electricity demand of 50,000 households and helps reduce carbon emissions by 298,551 tonnes. BIM Wind Power Plant is connected to the national grid via a 220kV transmission line running from its 220kV substation to the 220kV Quan The station.

The BIM wind farm transformed the region into Vietnam's largest salt and renewable energy economic zone

88MW wind farm in commercial operation in just 11 months

It only took 11 months to install and put the wind power poles into operation, which is not a small amount of work. Huu Hau Nguyen, project manager of BIM Wind Power said, "With our determination and experience in developing three previous solar power plants, we have made efforts to complete the wind power plant with the requisite quality while staying on schedule. During the peak period, our engineers and workers have installed seven wind power poles within 18 days."

The launch of the BIM Wind Power Plant is a testament to BIM Group's capacity in renewable energy development

To achieve this, BIM Energy has built a team of experienced project managers in renewable energy and other heavy industries such as thermal power. With extensive experience, project managers work effectively with the world's leading contractors such as General Electrics, one of the most prestigious wind turbine suppliers and installers in the world. Meanwhile, domestic partners have also stepped up to the plate with Power Construction JSC 1 (PCC1) installing the plant's substation while Gia Viet has completed the construction of turbine foundations to the requisite standards of quality.