BẾN TRE — Construction of a wind power plant worth nearly VNĐ1.5 trillion (US$66 million) began in the southern province of Bến Tre’s Bình Đại District on Tuesday.

Financed by Mekong Wind Power Joint Stock Company, an affiliate of Thành Thành Công Group, the Bình Đại plant will comprise 15 turbines with a total capacity of 30MW.

Once operational, the plant – the first of its kind in the province – will produce about 84 million kWh each year.

In a speech at the plant’s ground breaking ceremony, provincial People’s Committee vice-chairman Trương Duy Hải said Bến Tre had great potential for wind power development thanks to a long coastline and strong wind intensity.

The province has selected 11 areas in Bình Đại, Ba Tri and Thạch Phú districts to develop plants, following a master plan to 2020, Hải said.

He added that the Bình Đại plant would help speed up provincial economic growth and create more jobs for local people.

In July, provincial authorities granted investment licences to seven wind power