The input price of imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) fluctuates between 15-20 cents/kW while the saleable electricity price is currently 6-7 cents/kW only. This will be an obstacle in the future because Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) will have to buy high and sell low. Despite the mandatory use of the standard form wholesale market power purchase agreement (PPA), complete with untenable fuel cost pass-through clauses being imposed on would-be LNG project sponsors, the market will never accept the proposition. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh questioned why the latest draft of the Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8) seeks to effectively block any new solar power projects until 2030, since “solar power costs are getting cheaper and cheaper, and energy storage battery technology is becoming more advanced at more acceptable pricing”. The LNG gas power project is scheduled to start construction in the second quarter of 2022 According to calculations by the Ministry of … [Read more...] about Developers expect smoother LNG policy planning
Pedal powered canoe plans
Ben Tre puts into operation wind power plant No. 5
State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc attends the inauguration of the plant Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ben Tre Province Tran Ngoc Tam said that Ben Tre with good wind potential is suitable for the implementation of wind power projects. The Government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade approved to implementation of 19 wind power projects with a capacity of 1,000 MW. Up to now, the total installed capacity is 270 MW. Amongst them, the Thanh Hai and Binh Dai wind power plants are recognized to be developed into the national grid with nearly 100 MW. The plant is planned in two phases, with a total investment of VND 6,000 billion. The first phase has a capacity of 30 MW with an investment of about VND 2,000 billion and the second phase has a capacity of 90 MW. The wind power plant No. 5 includes four plants with a total of 28 turbines and seven turbines with a capacity of 4.2-4.5 MW each. Amongst them, the Thanh Hai 1 factory and a … [Read more...] about Ben Tre puts into operation wind power plant No. 5
Thanh Hoa Power Company prepares for peak heat
Thanh Hoa Province’s power grid currently has 21 110-kV substations, more than 8,348 distribution substations with a total capacity of 2,738,340 kVA, and a system of medium and low voltage lines which can supply power to 810,637 users in the province (up 14,292 over the same period in 2021). With a synchronous and modern electricity system, which is also regularly upgraded, PC Thanh Hoa has fully met the electricity demand for production and daily use of local residents. However, the power supply is expected to throw up challenges due to the shortage of peak capacity in the summer months and load regulation is required. The constantly growing demand will also significantly affect the stability and safety of the power grid, and possibly cause local overloads in some areas. Following directions of the EVNNPC, from early this year, PC Thanh Hoa has been devising solutions for these challenges. The company has monitored full loads or overloads, drawing up plans to rotate transformers … [Read more...] about Thanh Hoa Power Company prepares for peak heat
Boris Johnson seeks to stay in power until the mid-2030s
Earlier this month, Johnson survived a vote of confidence by Conservative lawmakers in which 41 percent of his parliamentary colleagues voted to oust him, and he is under investigation for intentionally misleading parliament. On Friday Conservative candidates lost two parliamentary by-elections held to replace former Conservative incumbents who had to step down, one after being convicted of sexual assault and the other for watching pornography in the House of Commons. The by-election defeats suggest the broad voter appeal which helped Johnson win a large parliamentary majority in December 2019 may be fracturing after a scandal over illegal parties held at Downing Street during coronavirus lockdowns. Under Conservative party rules, its lawmakers cannot formally challenge Johnson for another year, but overwhelming dissatisfaction or resignations by a series of senior ministers could make his position untenable. Britain is also in the midst of its deepest cost-of-living crisis in … [Read more...] about Boris Johnson seeks to stay in power until the mid-2030s
Macquarie Group plans to invest 3 billion USD in Hai Phong wind farm
Corio Generation 's leader Guillermo Martinez-Navas signs an agreement with FECON for a proposed 500 MW offshore windfarm in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province. (Photo: courtesy of the firm) Hai Phong (VNS/VNA) - Corio Generation of Macquarie Group (Australia) proposed researching an offshore wind power plant project with a capacity of about 1,000MW at the total investment of between 2-3 billion USD in the northern port city of Hai Phong . The proposal was discussed in a meeting with the city's leaders and a delegation of the Australian Embassy and Australian investors seeking cooperation and investment opportunities in Hai Phong last week. The business representative said that the project would have a capacity of about 1,000MW in 30 years and would be expected to meet about 50 percent of the city's electricity demand, creating jobs for local workers. Responding to the proposal of Corio Generation Company, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Nguyen Duc … [Read more...] about Macquarie Group plans to invest 3 billion USD in Hai Phong wind farm
G7 touts $600 bn global infrastructure plan to rival China
The Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, unveiled with fanfare by U.S. President Joe Biden and G7 allies from Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the European Union, aims to fill a huge gap left as communist China uses its economic clout to stretch diplomatic tentacles into the furthest reaches of the world. Biden said the target was for the United States to bring $200 billion to the table, with the rest of the G7 another $400 billion by 2027. Funding the kinds of projects that China currently dominates -- everything from roads to harbours in far-flung corners of the world -- is not "aid or charity," Biden said. Highlighting the geostrategic thinking behind the plan, Biden said such projects "deliver returns for everyone, including the American people and the people of all our nations." Around the world, the role of China's democratic rivals is "a chance for us to share our positive vision for the future" and for other countries to "see for themselves the … [Read more...] about G7 touts $600 bn global infrastructure plan to rival China
The ‘Vietnamese brain’ powering self-driving vehicles in Europe
In April 2022, Duong-Van Nguyen was awarded the prestigious title of IEEE Senior by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in the U.S.. He is one of the youngest engineers to receive this honor in the history of IEEE. The IEEE Senior Member status is often awarded to an expert in the industry whose significant achievements have contributed to the world community in their field. Dr. Duong-Van Nguyen was awarded this honor because he has developed many outstanding solutions for the robotics and automotive industries during his more than 15 years in the sphere. Despite his many prestigious achievements, Dr. Duong admitted that he felt he has not done anything too extraordinary. In a recent interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, he shared not only his special ambition for robotics but also what he called his 'secrets of success.' Dr. Duong - Van Nguyen (L, 2nd) join a panel discussion with experts from well-known automotive companies at … [Read more...] about The ‘Vietnamese brain’ powering self-driving vehicles in Europe
Meta slashes hiring plans, girds for ‘fierce’ headwinds
"If I had to bet, I'd say that this might be one of the worst downturns that we've seen in recent history," Zuckerberg told workers in a weekly employee Q&A session, audio of which was heard by Reuters. Meta has reduced its target for hiring engineers in 2022 to around 6,000-7,000, down from an initial plan to hire about 10,000 new engineers, Zuckerberg said. Meta confirmed hiring pauses in broad terms last month, but exact figures have not previously been reported. In addition to reducing hiring, he said, the company was leaving certain positions unfilled in response to attrition and "turning up the heat" on performance management to weed out staffers unable to meet more aggressive goals. "Realistically, there are probably a bunch of people at the company who shouldn't be here," Zuckerberg said. "Part of my hope by raising expectations and having more aggressive goals, and just kind of turning up the heat a little bit, is that I think some of you might decide that this … [Read more...] about Meta slashes hiring plans, girds for ‘fierce’ headwinds
Ring road plan to transform market
Ring road plan to transform market - Illustrative photo (Source: VNA) The government has asked the National Assembly (NA) to consider and decide on the policy for investing in the ring roads to be located in the country’s two biggest cities. Tran The Anh, sales director of Thang Loi Group, said that the land fund in inner cities is increasingly exhausted and prices are high, with investors turning to suburban real estate. “There is a thirst for houses for those living and working in Ho Chi Minh City in particular,” The Anh said. “The shifting trend of investors and individual financiers is also creating a new vitality for the real estate market in the suburbs.” One of the issues discussed by NA delegates and experts is how to exploit the land fund around the two ring roads, which will soar in value. Already in many places, the price of land in the area has increased dozens of times over. “Because the two routes will open up a vast land fund, the management of auctions of … [Read more...] about Ring road plan to transform market
Mainstreaming circular plastic plans
Carolyn Turk - Country director World Bank Vietnam (left) and Kyle Kelhofer Former senior country manager for Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam International Finance Corporation However, increasing consumption of single-use plastics and mismanagement of waste is visibly polluting the country’s cities and beaches, adversely impacting biodiversity and natural habitats, and contributing to climate change. These impacts are especially acute for Vietnam given its 2,000-mile coastline and dependence on key economic sectors like tourism and fisheries. The good news is that Vietnam is moving from creating awareness of the plastic waste problem to defining solutions by developing action plans and setting ambitious recycling targets. Its national action plan for the management of marine plastic litter aims to reduce 75 per cent of Vietnam’s marine plastic debris by 2030. And yet, important as these steps are, incrementally tweaking waste management policies and overloaded solid waste … [Read more...] about Mainstreaming circular plastic plans