Opening up the position of national energy center

Outstanding potential

The new Khanh Hoa province possesses abundant energy resources, from existing projects to untapped potential, clearly shaping the role of the energy center of the region and the whole country. Currently, the north of Khanh Hoa province (belonging to the old Khanh Hoa province) has 9 renewable energy projects with a total capacity of 580.6 MW in effective operation. Along with that, the BOT Van Phong 1 Thermal Power Plant with a total capacity of 1,320 MW annually supplies the national grid with about 9 billion kWh through the 500kV Van Phong - Vinh Tan transmission line system, contributing about 3% of the national electricity output.

500kV Van Phong transformer station.

Meanwhile, the southern Khanh Hoa region (including communes and wards of the old Ninh Thuan ) is effectively exploiting and promoting its outstanding potential and strengths in energy development, especially renewable energy. With a typical dry climate, this region has great potential to promote the development of wind power (nearshore, offshore), LNG (liquefied natural gas) and other new energy sources such as hydrogen, tides, biomass, etc. In this area, there are 57 power plants in operation, with a total capacity of 3,749.942MW, including 35 solar power plants with a total capacity of 2,466.792MW; 11 wind power plants with a total capacity of 667.25MW; 11 hydropower plants with a total capacity of 329.5MW. In addition, this is the only locality to date that has planned 5 offshore wind power areas with a potential capacity of over 5,000MW.

With the power plants in operation, Khanh Hoa province has become a major energy and clean energy center of the country with a total source capacity according to the Power Plan VIII expected to reach 22,242MW (Ninh Thuan 19,689MW; Khanh Hoa 2,553MW). To date, 5,773MW has been put into operation (Ninh Thuan 3,750MW; Khanh Hoa about 2,023MW), accounting for 7.2% of the total supply of the country, affirming its pioneering position in the national energy picture.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Minh - Deputy Director of Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Project Management Board, Power Project Management Board 3 (EVNPMB3) commented: “The merger has created a synchronous development area, increased regional connectivity, especially in terms of power transmission and infrastructure, which will help power plants operate more efficiently. With existing power plants, Khanh Hoa will become the largest clean energy center in Vietnam and the largest in Southeast Asia”.

Sharing this view, Mr. Dinh Van Cuong - Deputy Director of Power Transmission Company 3 commented that the Central Government's decision to merge Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan provinces into a new administrative unit named Khanh Hoa is not only a turning point in administrative boundaries but also opens up room for breakthrough development. In particular, the main focus is to form a national energy center - this will be one of the three key spearheads, along with marine economy and tourism. This contributes significantly to the realization of Resolution No. 09 of the Politburo on building and developing Khanh Hoa province to 2030, with a vision to 2045. With the combined advantages of the two localities, Khanh Hoa province has enormous advantages in developing electricity, especially renewable energy at the national level.

Nuclear power breakthrough and new projects

Not only stopping at developing renewable energy, developing nuclear power is a long-term strategic step that cannot be delayed to ensure national energy security. Therefore, Khanh Hoa province has become the only province in the country chosen by the Government to invest in building 2 nuclear power plants with a total investment of more than 20 billion USD and is identified as a project to celebrate the 15th Party Congress, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Party's founding. The project will include 2 plants with a total capacity of about 4,600 MW and is expected to generate electricity after 2030. When put into operation, the project will really create a great driving force for the province's economic development, contributing a significant source of revenue to the state budget.

Trung Nam Wind Power Plant.

The project will create opportunities for Khanh Hoa to invest in depth in training high-tech human resources, developing supporting industries, attracting experts and engineers to the locality. Along with that, it is necessary to build scientific and civilized urban models around the project area - creating momentum for the southern region of the province to develop rapidly, balancing with Nha Trang and Bac Van Phong areas. In addition, as a locality bordering key economic zones, Khanh Hoa has many favorable conditions to coordinate the operation of the supply chain of technical services, logistics, transportation, logistics, etc. These new fields will open up a series of high-quality job opportunities and shift the labor structure towards knowledge.

In addition to nuclear power, the new Khanh Hoa province is also proposing to implement other important energy projects such as the Van Phong 2 LNG Power Plant (Sumitomo) and the Khanh Vinh Pumped Storage Hydropower Project (Bitexco). Another strategic project is the Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant Project located in Bac Ai Tay Commune, Khanh Hoa Province (formerly Ninh Thuan), with a total capital of more than VND21,000 billion and a capacity of 1,200 MW (including 4 units, each with a capacity of 300 MW). According to the plan, unit 1 will generate electricity at the end of 2029 and the entire project will be completed in 2030.

Mr. Ho Xuan Ninh - Director of Khanh Hoa Department of Industry and Trade said that in order to effectively exploit and promote the province's potentials and strengths in energy development and soon turn Khanh Hoa into the energy center of the country, the department will continue to advise the Provincial People's Committee to focus on synchronous development of electricity production, power transmission infrastructure, power loads and supporting industries..., speed up the implementation of important power source projects, priority projects in the southern region of Khanh Hoa such as LNG Ca Na project, Bac Ai pumped storage hydropower plant, Phuoc Hoa pumped storage hydropower plant... At the same time, closely coordinate with central ministries and branches in preparing for the construction of nuclear power plants in Phuoc Dinh and Vinh Hai communes (Khanh Hoa) in accordance with the national strategic orientation on sustainable energy development. Along with that, promote propaganda, create social consensus, prepare high-quality human resources, especially technical human resources for nuclear power operation, maintenance and safety.

Mr. Tran Quoc Nam - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Khanh Hoa province affirmed: With existing energy projects, the south of Khanh Hoa (formerly Ninh Thuan province) will connect with the grid infrastructure system and supporting industries of the north of Khanh Hoa, especially Van Phong to form a national energy center, diversified from offshore wind power, solar power, LNG to nuclear power. This will be the pillar of sustainable and high-tech development of the new Khanh Hoa province, contributing to national energy security and the country's green development strategy.

DINH LAM - HONG NGUYET

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/kinh-te/202507/mo-ra-vi-the-trung-tam-nang-luong-quoc-gia-49e54f2/