Customs agency suggests travel ban for head of Vietnam’s top renewable energy firm

Customs authorities in Khanh Hoa province have proposed a travel ban to stop Nguyen Tam Thinh, chairman of Vietnam’s leading renewable energy firm Trungnam Group, from leaving the country.

In a proposal sent to the Vietnam Immigration Department, under the Ministry of Public Security, Khanh Hoa customs authorities said Thinh, as legal representative of Trungnam Group, had not fulfilled the firm's tax obligations.

Due to the late payment, customs authorities in the central coastal province suggested the ban should stand until payment is complete.

Trungnam Group is in arrears of VND21 billion ($824,460) with Khanh Hoa customs authorities. Prior to the latest move, Khanh Hoa customs authorities had already paused customs clearances for imports and exports for Trungnam Group. This started in January 2024 and will end when the due amount is paid, according to Khanh Hoa customs authorities.

Established in 2004, Trungnam Group initially started in the construction sector and has expanded its activities to energy, real estate, infrastructure, and IT-electronics.

Entering renewable energy in 2018, Trungnam Group had added 1.63 GW to the national grid as of October 2021, and become a leader in the private renewable energy sector.

Trungnam Group is in a disagreement with state utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN), leading to the former’s financial issues, the firm claimed in a letter sent to the Prime Minister, according to EVN's website.

A 450-MW solar power project of Trungnam Group in the central province of Binh Thuan has yet to receive payment from EVN for a 172-MW cut of the plant from October 2020-August 2022.

Trungnam Group said the project covers Phuoc Minh, Nhi Ha, and Phuoc Ninh communes, but its license for the project only covers Phuoc Minh.

In reply, EVN said it would work with Trungnam Group to resolve the issue.