In recent times, Điện Biên has attracted many investors to research and survey wind power projects. To date, 4 investors are surveying 13 wind power projects in the province, with an expected capacity of 2,200MW - 2,500MW. Among these, 6 projects have reported wind measurement results reaching speeds of 6.8 - 8m/s, such as the BCG Điện Biên 1 Wind Power Plant project, the BCG Điện Biên 2 Wind Power Plant project, the Mường Ảng Wind Power Plant project, and the Điện Biên Đông Wind Power Plant project surveyed by Vestas Development A/S. Other projects include the Long Sơn - Điện Biên 1 Wind Power Plant, the Long Sơn - Điện Biên 2 Wind Power Plant, the Intracom - Điện Biên Wind Power Plant, and the Envision Nậm Pồ Wind Power Plant. These projects have been approved in the Điện Biên provincial planning for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2050, and have been submitted to the Ministry of Industry and Trade to be synthesized and updated into the implementation plan for Power Plan VIII.

Functional agencies at all levels have upheld their responsibility in guiding, accompanying, and creating favorable conditions for potential investors to survey and research energy development in the province. The province is implementing synchronous solutions for administrative reform, creating a favorable environment and legal corridor, and providing maximum support for investors.

Currently, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is finalizing the draft content to submit to the Government for approval of the National Power Development Plan for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2045 (Power Plan VIII). In addition to the 2 items already in the draft of Power Plan VIII with an expected capacity of 200MW, Điện Biên province has proposed and recommended that the Ministry of Industry and Trade consider adding 6 wind power projects in the area to Power Plan VIII, with a total expected capacity of 1,280MW. According to the Power Plan VIII project, regarding the power source structure allocation by 2030, renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and biomass will account for about 25% of the total source capacity. The early addition of wind power sources will contribute to ensuring national energy security and narrowing the socio-economic development gap of the region in the future.

Besides wind power potential, Điện Biên also has advantages in developing other renewable energy sources, such as biomass power projects with a total capacity of 100MW, pumped-storage hydropower projects with a total expected capacity of 3,200MW, and waste-to-energy projects with an expected capacity of 3MW.

Regarding hydropower, the hydropower projects in the province are mainly small and medium-scale. The number of households and the land area affected are not large. Compensation is primarily for upland fields and stream/river land, with limited use of rice paddy and forest land, and does not require population resettlement.

Recently, the province has requested investors to conduct surveys and prepare dossiers proposing the addition of pumped-storage hydropower projects to the plan, including the Điện Biên 3 pumped-storage hydro. The transmission grid system to release the project’s capacity will require the construction of a 12km-long, 2-circuit 500kV power transmission line, connecting from the 500kV step-up substation of Điện Biên 3 pumped-storage hydro to the 500kV busbar of the 500/2020kV station for pumped-storage hydro 1 and 2.

Phạm Đình Huỳnh, Chairman of the Board of Đại Nam Sơn Construction Investment and Design Consultancy JSC, said: “After studying, the Company conducted a field survey of the Điện Biên 3 pumped-storage hydropower project (Phase 1) in Mường Lay ward. In the time to come, when the project is implemented and put into operation, it will create new momentum for economic growth, contributing to poverty reduction and ensuring local national defense and security.”

Attracting investment and developing hydropower and wind power projects requires scientific planning that is appropriate to local realities. The project implementation process must be closely monitored to ensure compliance with regulations as committed by the investor, especially regarding the interests of people in the project area and environmental issues.