Denmark’s Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) plans to invest $10.5 billion in a 3.5 GW offshore wind power project in Vietnam’s central province of Binh Thuan, creating 45,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
CIP released the information at a Thursday seminar on offshore wind power career opportunities, in collaboration with the Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST).
Vietnam's Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8) was approved in May 2023, and the country plans to increase the capacity of offshore wind power from 0 at present to 6 GW by 2030, with a vision of 70-91.5 GW by 2050, accounting for 4% and 14.3-16% respectively in the total energy mix. In line with this goal, a strong workforce is needed, CIP said.
Offshore wind is a new industry in Vietnam, and many roles within this industry could be undertaken by people from other industries, such as oil-gas exploration and production, nearshore and onshore wind projects, and onshore construction. Those sectors share similar engineering, safety and working practices, CIP clarified.
“CIP is committed to supporting the green transition, and we will ensure Vietnam’s workforce is ready for this and support the training and awareness for people to deliver Vietnamese power the green way,” said Stuart Livesey, CEO of Copenhagen Offshore Partners, a partner of CIP.
In July 2020, CIP and Binh Thuan province signed a memorandum of understanding on developing the $10.5 billion offshore wind power project. The wind farm will power more than seven million households.