Vietnam public security ministry launches probe into 32 renewable energy projects

The Ministry of Public Security's investigative agency has requested state utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN) to provide information and documents related to 32 solar and wind power projects in the country.

The move aims to serve an investigation into the case of abusing positions and power while on duties that occurred at the Ministry of Industry and Trade and several provinces and cities.

The largest project in the list is the 450-megawatt Trung Nam-Thuan Nam solar power plant, invested by Trung Nam-Thuan Nam Solar Power Company Limited under Trungnam Group, in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan.

Others related to Trungnam Group include the 400-megawatt Ea Nam Dak Lak wind power plant in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak and the 204-megawatt Trung Nam-Thuan Bac solar power plant in Ninh Thuan province.

Trungnam Group no longer holds control of the Trung Nam-Thuan Bac solar power plant after A Chau Industrial Technology Joint Stock Company (ACIT) acquired a 49% stake of the plant.

A Chau Renewable Energy Investment and Development Company Limited, a subsidiary of ACIT, was recently transferred an additional 18 million shares (or 18% of charter capital) of Trung Nam-Thuan Nam Solar Power Company Limited, the developer of the Trung Nam-Thuan Bac solar power plant project.

Thus, ACIT can record Trung Nam-Thuan Nam Solar Power Company Limited as a subsidiary, and Trungnam Group may lose control of this company.

Tan Hoan Cau Corporation has four wind power projects under investigation, namely Thanh Hai 5 (120 MW), Huong Hiep 1 (30 MW), Huong Linh 1 (30 MW), and Huong Linh 2 (30 MW).

The list also features wind power plants implemented by Gia Lai Electricity JSC (GEG) and its subsidiaries, including Tan Phu Dong 1 (100 MW), Tan Phu Dong 2 (50 MW), Ia Bang 1 (50 MW), and VPL Ben Tre (30 MW). GEG is a company with many connections with Thanh Thanh Cong Group.

EDP Renewables had two projects, namely the Xuan Thien-Thuan Bac solar power plant (256 MW) and the CMX Renewable Eneregy Vietnam wind power plant (168 MW). The first one was acquired by EDP Renewables from Xuan Thien Group.

The list also includes projects from Cao Nguyen 1 Wind Power Development Investment JSC, BB Group, HBRE Group, Tasco Energy, Ecotech Tra Vinh, BIM Energy, Thien Tan, Cuu An Wind Power JSC, and Bac Phuong Energy, among others.