February 16, 2023
Power-generating
windmill turbines are pictured at a wind park in Bac Lieu province, Vietnam,
July 8, 2017. REUTERS/Kham
HANOI, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Vietnam may not have a legal framework
to regulate offshore wind farms until next year, a European Union business
representative said on Thursday, a delay that could stall billions of dollars
of foreign investment in the sector.
Vietnam has big offshore wind power potential given the strong
winds and shallow waters near coastal densely populated areas, according to the
World Bank Group, which estimates the sector could add at least $50 billion to
its economy.
The Southeast Asian country's most recent draft power
development plan from December, reviewed by Reuters, targets production of 7
gigawatt from offshore wind by 2030 from zero output now.
Its approval has been repeatedly delayed. It could now be
further postponed, Minh Nguyen, vice president of the European chamber of
commerce in Vietnam, told a conference on Thursday.
Hinging on its adoption is sizable investment in wind farms,
including much of the $15.5 billion pledged by G7 countries in December for
green energy transition projects.
Minh said progress depended
on new legislation on use of marine space for military, shipping or other
purposes, which was not expected before October, citing talks between
Vietnamese officials and EU businessmen earlier this week.
That is despite EU
companies' pressure for swift regulatory progress, according to public
recommendations and an internal document about this week's meetings seen by
Reuters.
Some diplomats and
experts say Vietnam is also keen to scrutinise Chinese investment in the sector
for national security reasons, fearing windfarms could be used for
surveillance.
Vietnam's foreign,
industry and environment ministries and China's embassy in Vietnam did not
immediately respond to separate requests for comment.
A delay would come as
little surprise to investors in Vietnam, where bureaucratic and legislative
delays are common.
Some are sanguine,
however, confident that pilot projects could be approved quickly, even before
legislation passes, while others see it as unlikely wind turbine makers would
review investment plans given Vietnam's location and clout as a regional
manufacturing powerhouse.
Reporting by Francesco
Guarascio @fraguarascio; additional reporting by Khanh Vu; Editing by Martin
Petty
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/vietnam-further-delay-rules-multi-billion-dollar-wind-power-business-group-2023-02-16/
..10 years ago, Hanoi communist shaked hand with China communist to receive ...many shit old-technology (made-in-china) of coal thermal power... pollution everywhere, now maybe Hanoi still paying the debt for China...while breathing in the dust and smoke
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