Sao Mai Group held the inauguration of Solar PV1 power plant in Tinh Bien district, An Giang province on July 6, 2019. The project is expected to play an important role in supplying clean energy to the national grid and contribute positively to local socioeconomic development.

The solar power plant is attributed to tremendous efforts of the investor, Sao Mai Group, together with Tinh Bien and Tri Ton districts and the willpower of An Giang province for comprehensive economic development in the southwestern border region. The first solar power project in the province illustrates the innovative thinking of the Party and local authorities.

Costing nearly VND6,000 billion (US$261 million) and covering an area of ​​275 ha, Sao Mai Solar PV1 has a total generating capacity of 210 MWp. Divided into two phases, the project is carried out by the contractor, Sterling Wilson - India's leading renewable energy technology group, and designed by Consulting Company III of the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade. In the first phase with nearly VND3,000 billion, the project has a capacity of 104 MWp on an area of ​​120 ha, and was started in mid-February 2019. The second phase of the project is expected to switch on the board by December 31, 2019.

In just four months of hard work, Sao Mai Group mobilized about 2,000 officers, engineers, consultants, supervisors and workers from its workforce and from Sterling Wilson. In particular, the construction site of Sao Mai Solar PV1, located at the foot of Cam Mountain, also provided jobs for hundreds of Khmer workers who were paid VND250,000 - 300,000 a day. This was unprecedent here, where up to 90% of residents are ethnic minorities.

Sao Mai Solar PV1 consumes a huge amount of materials, including more than 800 containers of state-of-the-art equipment weighing 8,000 tons. More than 300,000 solar panels are assembled on 1.8 meters high poles, used with 38 inverters, 60,000 support pillars and more than 1 million meters of cable.

Quickly built in 130 days to be completed before June 30, 2019, this is an unprecedentedly fast-constructed project in An Giang province and the southwestern region in general. During this time, 50-MW Sao Mai Solar PV2, which costs VND1,500 billion for construction, successfully started commercial power generation.

In just four months, Sao Mai Group simultaneously put into operation two solar power plants in the Mekong Delta. This reality showed that the strong ripple effect of renewable energy projects not only helps increase budget revenue and creates jobs for local people, but also generates other great values, ensures national energy security, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, protects the environment, combats climate change, and grows local economy in arid regions. This also helps restructure local land funds and form an industrial property market to attract secondary investors.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Mr. Le Tuan Anh, General Director of Sao Mai Solar, a member company of Sao Mai Group, said, renewable energy will open a new phase in the history of socio-economic development for the nation. The energy revolution is being encouraged by the Government and initially obtained many achievements. In the future, solar power and wind power will help prevent environmental pollution and climate change and will replace fossil-based energy. This is also the policy of an enabling government.

“Sao Mai Group regards the renewable energy industry as a long-term goal that it aims to and endeavors to soon become a leading electricity supplier in Vietnam. Accordingly, we will accelerate the second phase of Sao Mai Solar PV1 project together with various projects in Ben Tre (50 MW), Kien Giang (250 MW), Tay Ninh (500 MW, 700 ha), Ninh Thuan (100 MW), Binh Thuan (150 MW), Dak Lak (400 MW, ​​500 ha). These provinces have advantages for effective renewable energy development,” he said.

Tuyet Nga - Quoc Hung