Ninh Thuan proposes superseding nuclear power with clean energy

The LNG Ca Na Power Centre perspective

The move would pave the way for Ninh Thuan province to go ahead with LNG power projects at the LNG Ca Na Power Centre which is based in the province’s Phuoc Diem commune, Thuan Nam district.

The development of the LNG Ca Na Power Centre will be an important driver of development for Ninh Thuan after stopping the construction of the nuclear power plant in the province.

Earlier, in Decision 428 from 2016, the prime minister greenlit the development of a 4,600MW nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan province. Nuclear power development, however, was later halted in light of the National Assembly’s Resolution No.31/2016.

The province proposed replacing this nuclear power capacity with LNG in the PDP8 for 2021-2030 with a vision towards 2045 to match its development orientation as well as the national power development planning.

In November 2020, Ninh Thuan People’s Committee enacted a decision approving the implementation of the first phase of LNG Ca Na Power Centre with a capacity of 1,500MW.

On September 13, the provincial People’s Committee released another decision revising the investment progress of the first phase of LNG Ca Na Power Centre.

In light of the new decision, the project is entitled to finalise compensation, land acquisition, and the project’s kick-off in the second quarter of 2022. The project is slated to finish construction and be put into operation from Q2/2026.

In light of the first phase of LNG Ca Na Power Centre approved in December 2020, the project has a total capital value surpassing VND49 trillion ($2.13 billion) and is expected to contribute to spurring Ninh Thuan's socioeconomic development and creating many jobs to people and businesses in the province.

The investment consists of four main components: a 1,500MW LNG power plant using cutting-edge mixed circle gas turbine technology; a material supply and processing system including an LNG import port, an LNG warehouse and associated processing facilities; a transmission system bringing gas from processing facilities to the power plant and relevant power transmission system to bring entire power from 6,000MW LNG Ca Na Power Centre to the power grid (in the first phase serving the 1,500MW power plant); and finally associated technical infrastructure serving the entire power centre.

By that time, the project aimed to finalise compensation, land acquisition, and launch in Q3/2021, paving the way for the first phase of the project to complete construction and be put into operation in Q3/2024.

This early April, former Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung signed a document approving the Ministry of Transport’s proposal to add an LNG import terminal to Ca Na Port complex in Ninh Thuan province.

With a loading capacity of 97,000 tonnes, the port will directly serve the first phase of LNG Ca Na Power Centre.