Power Plan VIII, as well as many other policies, clearly define the goal of developing the wind power industry at sea, while also posing many challenges in terms of mechanisms, policies, licensing processes and national marine spatial planning. family.
I. Some issues about the marine survey licensing process to develop wind power projects:
1.1. Legal regulations related to licensing marine surveys to develop wind power projects:
On February 10, 2021, the Government issued Decree No. 11/2021/ND-CP regulating the allocation of certain marine areas to organizations and individuals to exploit and use marine resources.
In Clause 4, Article 9, Decree No. 11/2021/ND-CP stipulates that "activities... measuring, observing, investigating, surveying, evaluating marine resources... do not require the allocation of marine areas". According to the scope and authority to assign sea areas, the competent state management agency specified in Article 8 of Decree No. 11/2021/ND-CP shall consider and approve in writing the location, boundaries, area, coordinates, depth, time of use of the sea area to... measure, monitor, investigate, survey and evaluate marine resources.
According to the provisions of Circular 02/2019/TT-BCT of the Ministry of Industry and Trade regulating the implementation of wind power project development and sample power purchase contracts for wind power projects, to develop wind power projects, it is necessary to have Information on wind measurement results for at least 12 consecutive months at representative locations and technical plans of the project...
Thus, before proposing and developing wind power projects at sea, organizations and individuals wishing to use the sea area must prepare and approve feasibility study reports for wind power projects. need to be licensed by competent authorities to survey. This survey has been applied by onshore and nearshore wind power projects in recent times.
1.2. Needs and proposals for survey and development of offshore wind power projects:
On October 4, 2022, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued Report No. 126/BC-BTNMT on a number of difficulties and obstacles in the process of resolving offshore wind power survey proposals and proposing solutions to solve them. remove. In particular, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has raised a number of difficulties such as:
- Legal problems: Licensing issues for foreign organizations and individuals; records, documents, order, procedures, resolution time; In case there are many proposals in the same sea area, time for review, appraisal and approval of wind measurement activities; Report content, time of sending survey results report...
- Technical problems: Approved marine area; maximum wind power capacity; project developer selection criteria; Planning sea areas with potential and ability to develop wind power...
On the part of the Vietnam Department of Seas and Islands, it urgently advised the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to submit to the Government a draft Decree amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 11/2021/ND-CP dated January 10. 2 of 2021 of the Government stipulates the allocation of certain marine areas to organizations and individuals to exploit and use marine resources and submit them to the Government.
II. Regarding the National Marine Spatial Planning:
2.1. Overview of the National Marine Spatial Planning:
The national marine spatial plan is a multi-sectoral plan, comprehensive, "dynamic and open", "leading" and "integrated", orienting activities to exploit and use marine resources. , islands in a sustainable direction. Planning has an important meaning, creating an organic unity in the country's development planning system, between land, sea and air areas, promoting economic and social development, and protecting the environment. environment and ecosystems, maintaining independence, sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests at sea.
National marine spatial planning is built according to the following approaches: System and synthesis, interdisciplinary, inter-regional, ecosystem, landscape, adaptation, blue ocean economy, sustainable development, multi-billion rules, from bottom up and top down.
The characteristics of offshore wind power projects are large capacity, large investment capital, complex geological terrain... so the need to survey and develop wind power projects does not stop at information on wind measurement results. for at least 12 consecutive months and other information according to the provisions of Circular 02/2019/TT-BCT that investors and capital sponsors need more information before making investment decisions.
In fact, when organizations and individuals survey wind power, they will include the following 4 main activities:
- Geophysical survey, this activity will use specialized research ships to survey the seabed topography, detect foreign objects on the seabed, bombs and mines left over after the war...
- Geotechnical survey: After having the results of the geophysical survey, experts analyze the results and determine a number of points to take soil and rock samples to serve for design and project construction. Detailed calculations of turbine foundation systems, cables... This activity often includes: Using ships to drill, take samples, or conduct seismic measurements...
- Environmental survey to prepare preliminary environmental impact assessment and environmental impact assessment.
- Install wind measurement equipment (usually Lidar - Light Detection And Ranging).
Recently, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment received more than 70 proposals for measurement, observation, investigation, exploration and survey at sea to serve the establishment of wind power projects. Of which, the largest area is 715,572 hectares, the smallest is 0.03 hectares, the average is about 75,000 hectares.
After receiving proposals for offshore wind power, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment sought opinions from relevant ministries, branches and localities; Organize consultation meetings and exchanges with relevant parties, including central and local state management agencies, experts, scientists, and a number of domestic and international investors in wind power field. Through that, it is confirmed that there are still problems related to the provisions of law so it is not possible to resolve and issue the approval document as prescribed in Decree No. 11/2021/ND-CP.
The national marine spatial planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, was established for the first time in our country, based on reference to international experience, but with adjustments appropriate to Vietnam's actual situation. Male.
2.2. Progress in preparing the National Marine Spatial Plan:
Carrying out the tasks assigned by the Government, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment presides and coordinates with ministries, branches, central agencies and coastal localities to organize the preparation of the National Marine Spatial Plan. The Planning process has been implemented by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in accordance with the process specified in Clause 1, Article 16 of the Law on Planning. The planning content is prepared in accordance with the provisions of Article 23 of the Planning Law, Article 21 of Decree No. 37/2019/ND-CP dated May 7, 2019 and Decree No. 58/2023/ND-CP dated August 12, 2019. 2023 of the Government; meets the requirements of the Task of establishing the National Marine Spatial Plan issued by the Government in Resolution No. 22/NQ-CP dated July 24, 2020.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment organizes consultation workshops in some localities, working sessions and discussions with ministries, branches, universities, international organizations and experts. At the same time, get comments from the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; The Central Economic Committee, 4 Committees of the National Assembly, 21 ministries, ministerial-level agencies and 28 centrally-affiliated coastal provinces and cities, post the National Marine Spatial Planning dossier on the Electronic Information Portal, Through the Appraisal Council, the Standing Government and Government members give their opinions.
Implementing the Politburo's Conclusion, the Government has researched, received, fully explained and completed the National Marine Spatial Planning dossier to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Planning Law and guiding documents. onion.
In April 2024, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment reported to the Government so that the Government could submit it to the National Assembly for consideration and approval at the 7th session of the 15th National Assembly. At this session, the National Assembly had many comments on the Planning.
On the afternoon of June 28, at the 7th Session, the 15th National Assembly voted to pass the Resolution on National Marine Spatial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.
2.3. Renewable energy development in the National Marine Spatial Plan:
Regarding the development of renewable energy, the Plan has provided directions for the development of this field. Develop synchronously, reasonably and diversify energy sources. In particular, promote and encourage investment in construction and exploitation of offshore wind power, hydrogen industry, solar power and other forms of renewable energy in potential seas and islands, especially the Northern region. region, South Central region and Southern region. Develop new marine economic sectors such as: High-tech industry and marine data exploitation industry; producing pharmaceuticals from marine organisms, developing marine medicine, new materials, marine chemical industry; Research on the isolation, use and storage of greenhouse gases in sedimentary basins and offshore geological structures.
In the Plan, on the basis of existing data, potential wind areas have been identified, to provide a basis for conducting investigation and survey activities and identifying priority marine areas for wind power development. offshore. These investigation and survey activities will be specified in the Planning Implementation Plan issued by the Government in the near future.
National marine spatial planning plays an extremely important role in developing offshore wind power in Vietnam. The plan helps clearly identify suitable marine areas for offshore wind power development. This creates a solid legal basis, helping investors and management agencies have a clear direction in implementing projects.
Planning helps divide marine areas appropriately, avoiding conflicts with other regions and areas. This ensures the efficient use of marine space and minimizes negative environmental and socio-economic impacts.
The planning will create a clear and transparent environment to help attract domestic and foreign investors. Investors will feel more secure when there is a specific and predictable development path to avoid legal and environmental risks. This promotes marine economic development, creates jobs and contributes to budget revenue.
National marine spatial planning helps improve the management capacity of state agencies in monitoring and operating activities related to Vietnam's offshore wind power development in the coming time./.
Source: HA THANH BIEN - VIETNAM DEPARTMENT OF SEA AND ISLANDS
