Month: March 2024

Hanoi: Existing staff working in the oil sector, and those who work building construction on the sea, electricity plants and marine industry can move to work in various technical positions in the offshore wind sector.

That’s the opinion shared by many experts at a recent workshop titled “Career Opportunities in the Offshore Wind Industry” hosted by the Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), one of the world’s largest offshore wind developers from Denmark, and the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering under Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

With reference to the Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8), which was approved on 15th May 2023, Vietnam plans to increase the capacity of offshore wind from zero at the present to 6GW by 2030 and a vision of 70 – 91.5 GW by 2050 to contribute to net zero targets established at COP26.

To achieve this goal, developers and contractors need to have an available and appropriately skilled workforce for each phase of renewable energy projects, and with off
shore wind, the scale and variety of this workforce has huge potential.

Stuart Livesey, who presented at the workshop, said: ‘CIP will need a qualified workforce for our portfolio of future projects. La Gan as an example if built out to its full 3.5GW capacity, will require over 45,000 FTE employees throughout its lifetime (FTE = 1 full time employee for a year). CIP seeks to support Vietnam and its people in benefiting from the employment aspects of the high-tech offshore wind industry, and also to allow Vietnam to become a major renewable energy export hub for the future to APAC and beyond.”

Throughout the life cycle of an offshore wind farm (about 35-45 years), a number of positions are needed in all three main phases including Development, Construction and Operation, while some other positions will only be involved for one or two phases of the project. The Construction phase has the highest demand for human resources (accounting for 49% of total jobs created throughout the project life cycle), follow
ed by the Operations and Maintenance phase (35%), the Development phase (10%), and the Decommissioning phase (6%).

Among these positions, some are completely new and have never existed in Vietnam yet, such as the positions in charge of analysing wind output, manufacturing monopile foundations, installing offshore wind turbines, maintaining offshore turbine blades, and operating and maintaining offshore wind turbines.

While offshore wind is a completely new industry in Vietnam, many roles within this industry can be undertaken by people from other industries who can transition relatively easily, such as oil and gas exploration and production, nearshore and onshore wind projects, and onshore construction, which share similar engineering, safety, and working practices. However, this experience is by no means a must.

Key training

There are many different certifications or other training requirements that may be needed to work on offshore wind projects.

Currently in Vietnam, some long-term programmes can
already support offshore wind projects of the future, such as Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Oil and Gas, Construction Engineering, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Maritime Navigation, Mechanical Engineering, Power Management, Ship Control, Ship Machinery, Renewable Energy, Geological engineering, and Environmental engineering. This training can be completed in several Vietnamese universities, including (but not exclusive to) University of Science and Technology, Electric Power University, University of Civil Engineering and Maritime University.

Alternatively, some short-term programs, including Basic Safety, Rescue Training, Enhanced First Aid, and Basic Technical Training, also provide necessary skills for some technical offshore wind jobs.

Supporting PDP8 goals

Offshore wind power projects bring many socio-economic benefits through job creation for Vietnamese people and the development of the local supply chain.

During the early stages of the industry, clear and encouraging policies will he
lp investors have the necessary certainty to make long-term commitments and decide on billions of dollars in investments, while local contractors can proactively plan their production and recruitment activities and the universities can proactively update and adjust curriculum to better prepare graduates for the future workplace.

‘It usually takes at least six years for an offshore wind project to move from survey licensing to commercial operation,’ said Stuart. ‘Therefore, to achieve the target of 6GW of offshore wind power by 2030 which can contribute to realising Vietnam’s net zero commitment by 2050, it is essential to issue the pilot mechanism for offshore wind development in 2024, and in the meantime, gradually complete the related policies and regulations. We are ready and committed to delivering this in Vietnam, and the legacy of studies and preparation undertaken on the La Gan project means this is ideally placed to function as a pilot project under such a fast-track pilot mechanism. Our willingness
to work transparently with state-owned enterprises and local developers, means CIP can contribute to sharing knowledge and skills with Vietnam’s industry, and also learning directly more about the needs and nuances to deliver mega-scale power projects in Vietnam.”

At the same event, the publication titled “Offshore wind workforce” compiled by CIP was launched in both English and Vietnamese.

The guide provides an overview of the workforce demand throughout the Development, Construction, and Operation phases of an offshore wind farm, a list of typical jobs, and detailed job descriptions of over 70 different positions. It also shows the necessary skills and qualifications, and available training programmes in Vietnam that can support entrance in this industry.

Founded in 2012, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) today is the world’s largest dedicated fund manager within greenfield renewable energy investments and a global leader in offshore wind. The funds managed by CIP focus on investments in offshore
and onshore wind, solar PV, biomass and energy-from-waste, transmission and distribution, reserve capacity, storage, advanced bioenergy, and Power-to-X (batteries, ammonia, green hydrogen).

CIP manages 12 funds and has raised approximately US$30 billion for energy investments and has established a market-leading renewables pipeline of approximately 120GW of energy projects across technologies and geographies. Almost half of this renewable energy portfolio (over 60GW) constitutes offshore wind

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Existing staff working in the oil sector, and those who work building construction on the sea, electricity plants and marine industry can move to work in various technical positions in the offshore wind sector.

That’s the opinion shared by many experts at a recent workshop titled “Career Opportunities in the Offshore Wind Industry” hosted by the Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), one of the world’s largest offshore wind developers from Denmark, and the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering under Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

With reference to the Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8), which was approved on 15th May 2023, Vietnam plans to increase the capacity of offshore wind from zero at the present to 6GW by 2030 and a vision of 70 – 91.5 GW by 2050 to contribute to net zero targets established at COP26.

To achieve this goal, developers and contractors need to have an available and appropriately skilled workforce for each phase of renewable energy projects, and with off
shore wind, the scale and variety of this workforce has huge potential.

Stuart Livesey, who presented at the workshop, said: ‘CIP will need a qualified workforce for our portfolio of future projects. La Gan as an example if built out to its full 3.5GW capacity, will require over 45,000 FTE employees throughout its lifetime (FTE = 1 full time employee for a year). CIP seeks to support Vietnam and its people in benefiting from the employment aspects of the high-tech offshore wind industry, and also to allow Vietnam to become a major renewable energy export hub for the future to APAC and beyond.”

Throughout the life cycle of an offshore wind farm (about 35-45 years), a number of positions are needed in all three main phases including Development, Construction and Operation, while some other positions will only be involved for one or two phases of the project. The Construction phase has the highest demand for human resources (accounting for 49% of total jobs created throughout the project life cycle), follow
ed by the Operations and Maintenance phase (35%), the Development phase (10%), and the Decommissioning phase (6%).

Among these positions, some are completely new and have never existed in Vietnam yet, such as the positions in charge of analysing wind output, manufacturing monopile foundations, installing offshore wind turbines, maintaining offshore turbine blades, and operating and maintaining offshore wind turbines.

While offshore wind is a completely new industry in Vietnam, many roles within this industry can be undertaken by people from other industries who can transition relatively easily, such as oil and gas exploration and production, nearshore and onshore wind projects, and onshore construction, which share similar engineering, safety, and working practices. However, this experience is by no means a must.

Key training

There are many different certifications or other training requirements that may be needed to work on offshore wind projects.

Currently in Vietnam, some long-term programmes can
already support offshore wind projects of the future, such as Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Oil and Gas, Construction Engineering, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Maritime Navigation, Mechanical Engineering, Power Management, Ship Control, Ship Machinery, Renewable Energy, Geological engineering, and Environmental engineering. This training can be completed in several Vietnamese universities, including (but not exclusive to) University of Science and Technology, Electric Power University, University of Civil Engineering and Maritime University.

Alternatively, some short-term programs, including Basic Safety, Rescue Training, Enhanced First Aid, and Basic Technical Training, also provide necessary skills for some technical offshore wind jobs.

Supporting PDP8 goals

Offshore wind power projects bring many socio-economic benefits through job creation for Vietnamese people and the development of the local supply chain.

During the early stages of the industry, clear and encouraging policies will he
lp investors have the necessary certainty to make long-term commitments and decide on billions of dollars in investments, while local contractors can proactively plan their production and recruitment activities and the universities can proactively update and adjust curriculum to better prepare graduates for the future workplace.

‘It usually takes at least six years for an offshore wind project to move from survey licensing to commercial operation,’ said Stuart. ‘Therefore, to achieve the target of 6GW of offshore wind power by 2030 which can contribute to realising Vietnam’s net zero commitment by 2050, it is essential to issue the pilot mechanism for offshore wind development in 2024, and in the meantime, gradually complete the related policies and regulations. We are ready and committed to delivering this in Vietnam, and the legacy of studies and preparation undertaken on the La Gan project means this is ideally placed to function as a pilot project under such a fast-track pilot mechanism. Our willingness
to work transparently with state-owned enterprises and local developers, means CIP can contribute to sharing knowledge and skills with Vietnam’s industry, and also learning directly more about the needs and nuances to deliver mega-scale power projects in Vietnam.”

At the same event, the publication titled “Offshore wind workforce” compiled by CIP was launched in both English and Vietnamese.

The guide provides an overview of the workforce demand throughout the Development, Construction, and Operation phases of an offshore wind farm, a list of typical jobs, and detailed job descriptions of over 70 different positions. It also shows the necessary skills and qualifications, and available training programmes in Vietnam that can support entrance in this industry.

Founded in 2012, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) today is the world’s largest dedicated fund manager within greenfield renewable energy investments and a global leader in offshore wind. The funds managed by CIP focus on investments in offshore
and onshore wind, solar PV, biomass and energy-from-waste, transmission and distribution, reserve capacity, storage, advanced bioenergy, and Power-to-X (batteries, ammonia, green hydrogen).

CIP manages 12 funds and has raised approximately US$30 billion for energy investments and has established a market-leading renewables pipeline of approximately 120GW of energy projects across technologies and geographies. Almost half of this renewable energy portfolio (over 60GW) constitutes offshore wind

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Da Nang: More than 10,000 vouchers with an estimated value of 5 billion VND (200,000 USD) have been offered for tourists visiting the city during the promotion programme titled “Enjoy Da Nang” in year-around flooded festivals.

Da Nang city’s tourism department said a series of festivals have been listed in the festive schedule from March to the end of this year, creating different options for international and domestic travellers for summer vacations and exploring entertainment events in 2024.

Deputy Director of the municipal tourism promotion agency Truong Lan Huong said at least 5,000 triathletes would join the annual Vinfast Ironman 70.3 Vietnam, while thousands of visitors and athletes will be taking part in the ASEAN School Sports Games, the Da Nang Asian Film Festival, BRG Open Golf Championship, Da Nang International Fireworks Festival and International street arts event.

She said thousands of vouchers have been reserved for gastronomers, accommodation, fireworks festival and food tour service at ni
ght.

Han River and iconic colourful light-flooded bridges will be rendezvous for all tourists exploring the amazing night of Da Nang on river cruises and friendly vehicles. The city has introduced Bach Dang pedestrian street to create a tranquil space for all tourists on the Han River banks, she said.

The city will offer gifts for 100 couples hosting wedding parties in Da Nang, or spending honeymoon in the city as well. We also reserve promotions for couples booking Da Nang as a favourite destination for their wedding anniversary, she added.

A report from the city’s tourism department unveiled 1.88 million tourists, of which 600,000 are international, had stayed in the city in the first quarter of this year, a 23.4% increase in comparison to the same period last year.

Nearly 10,000 flights carried 1.6 million passengers to the city in the first three months of 2024. International flights accounted for 50% of total flights in the first quarter, it said.

The city plans to resume and launch five air routes
connecting Da Nang with Taichung city and Kaohsiung city of Taiwan (China), Vientiane, Laos, Manila, the Philippines and chartered flights from Fukushima, Japan in the second quarter.

Da Nang, in cooperation with neighbouring Thua Thien – Hue province and Vietnam Railway Corporation has offered two pairs of train serving tourists with check-in and gastronomy space during the three-hour trip between Da Nang and Hue.

The tourism hub in central Vietnam, which was designed as a destination of Meeting, Incentives, Conferencing and Exhibition (MICE) events, has a target of hosting 8.4 million visitors in 2024.

More than 9,000 runners alone joined the 2024 Da Nang International Marathon on March 24.

Early this year, some of the city’s resorts were chosen as ideal venues for Indian couples’ weddings and accommodation for their relatives and friends to stay for several days./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The lack of integration between industrial and urban growth and water source security has resulted in declining water quantity and quality, jeopardising water security, said experts.

Despite efforts, challenges persist in safeguarding water sources and reservoir safety.

Weak and ineffective water resource management heightens the challenge, compounded by insufficient awareness and responsibility among stakeholders. Water pollution also continues to worsen.

Associate Professor Nguyen Dang Tinh, Deputy Director of the branch of the Water Resources University in Ho Chi Minh City, said that safety issues concerning water reservoirs built in the 1970s-1980s are a significant concern.

Urgent research is needed to enhance dam waterproofing and establish emergency protocols.

He also stressed the necessity of an integrated monitoring system for smart reservoir management and safety assessments, alongside digital transformation for infrastructure improvements.

Professor Tang Duc Thang, former Deputy Direct
or of the Vietnam Institute of Water Resources Science, underscored the Mekong Delta’s vulnerability to climate change, sea-level rise and land subsidence, advocating adaptive strategies to ensure a rational water regime and mitigate risks, especially in agriculture.

Additionally, it is vital to integrate water security, flood prevention, and delta conservation into regional and national socio-economic planning.

This includes long-term strategies for water security, flood prevention across the Mekong Delta, coastal erosion protection and combatting saline intrusion.

Moreover, proactive measures are needed to address freshwater scarcity, including feasibility studies for new reservoirs within the Vam Co River system.

Lastly, research and forecasting of coastal water regimes are essential for aquaculture development in the Mekong Delta.

The Vietnam Institute of Water Resources Science reported significant progress in water resource management from 2013 to 2023.

Various advanced technologies, including wat
er extraction, treatment, and distribution systems for highlands and water-scarce regions, have been adopted nationwide.

Monitoring and flood control infrastructures are now operational in key river basins, such as the Huong and Vu Gia – Thu Bon rivers, aiding the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control in its decision-making.

Coastal protection efforts, such as planting wave-resistant trees, have been implemented in several provinces, including Thanh Hoa, Ninh Bih, Nam Dinh, Quang Ninh, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu and Kien Giang.

Innovative embankment technologies and sediment replenishment are being utilised in construction projects in Ca Mau province.

Additionally, comprehensive flood risk maps and mitigation strategies have been developed for densely populated areas and urban, mountainous regions in the North, as well as downstream and storm surge-prone zones in coastal provinces like Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, Thua Thien – Hue and the Mekong De
lta.

Advanced technologies like pile-supported dams, barrage dams and modular culverts have undergone extensive research and improvement, applied across various river control projects nationwide, including flood prevention in HCM City and freshwater-saltwater barriers in the Mekong Delta such as the Cai Lon – Cai Be project.

Integration of scientific and technological advancements has resulted in a 20% reduction in irrigation water usage, yield increases of 5 to 11%, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. Tailored flood prevention solutions, including devices and specialised pumping equipment, address specific regional challenges like flooding, drought and water scarcity.

Ongoing research focuses on adopting innovative technologies, particularly in digital water resource management, dam safety monitoring and improving irrigation infrastructure efficiency. Advancements in surveying, design, materials, and construction techniques aim to ensure the safety of reservoirs, dams, river dikes, coasta
l dikes and disaster mitigation infrastructure, promoting rural development.

Policies and strategies for water security and dam safety are continually refined.

According to Professor Nguyen Van Tinh, head of the National Science and Technology Programme until 2030, the programme focuses on providing scientific evidence and practical support to enhance state management effectiveness, ensure water security, and ensure dam safety. It prioritises developing, applying, and transferring advanced technologies for efficient water resource management, socio-economic development, and climate change adaptation.

The programme has specific targets: 60% of tasks yielding results applied or tested successfully, 30% having intellectual property protection applications accepted, with 10% obtaining exclusive patents or recognised solutions, and 20% involving business cooperation.

Implementation of the programme will comprehensively address scientific and technological challenges related to water security and dam safety. Th
is includes advanced solutions for water resource augmentation, efficient management, circulation and waste reduction, alongside proposals for smart, modern and innovative technologies linked with digital transformation to enhance dam and reservoir safety and utilisation efficiency.

Vietnam is assessed as a country with relatively abundant water resources, with an average annual surface water volume of approximately 840 billion cubic metres. The country’s water infrastructure includes over 7,500 dams and reservoirs, capable of storing more than 70 billion cubic metres of water./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Moscow: A hybrid roundtable conference on “Vietnam – Russia relations: experience in diplomatic activities” was held on March 30 at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) under Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the participation of former, current and future diplomats.

The event, which also saw representatives from the Russian Embassy in Hanoi and the Russian Consulate General in Da Nang city, aimed to share experiences and difficulties relating to language and interpretation.

Speaking at the event, Ivan Nesterov, Counselor from the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Third Asian Department, reviewed recent important milestones in Russia-Vietnam relations.

As a person who studied Vietnamese language and chose to major in Vietnamese studies, he shared his difficulties when learning an Asian language that has few similarities with Russian.

He highlighted career opportunities for students, saying that Vietnam is an important development orientation in Russia’s foreign policy.

According
to him, tourism and oil and gas are the two positive sectors that offer employment opportunities.

Counselor at the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia Doan Khac Hoang agreed with positive assessments of the near future prospects for those who choose to major in Vietnamese studies.

Russian Consul General in Da Nang Maria Mizonova underlined the difficulty of studying Vietnamese and said this is a reason why the recruitment of personnel at the office is not easy.

She noted the differences are not only in the dialects of the three regions in Vietnam but also in personality and communications of people in different regions.

According to her, when studying Vietnamese, it is necessary to learn and understand the culture and people of Vietnam.

At the event, students expressed their interest in international situations and Russia-Vietnam relations while senior diplomats were willing to share their knowledge and experiences./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Thua Thien-Hue: Turning down a stable life in Japan and enticing offers from big hospitals, Japanese Professor, Doctor Hattori Tadashi has decided to pursue his own journey to bring light to tens of thousands of underprivileged people in Vietnam.

The 60-year-old has recently been awarded the “Honorary citizen of Thua Thien – Hue province” title in recognition of his outstanding achievements and contributions to the central locality’s development for peace and social progress.

In 2022, Hattori, who is CEO at Asia – Pacific Prevention of Blindness Association (APBA), was presented with the Ramon Magsaysay Award – an honour widely regarded as the “Nobel Peace Prize of Asia.”

The doctor originally only planned to spend a single three months in Vietnam when he visited the Southeast Asian nation in April 2002. However, that ‘three months’ wound up impacting the next 20 years of his life.

‘I was shocked to see many patients who are blind in one eye go to the hospital only when the retina in the other eye became
detached, or when they had other issues that might have caused their loss of vision,” Hattori said.

‘Many patients refused because they couldn’t afford it.

‘It broke my heart that I couldn’t help everyone because there was a shortage of surgical supplies and equipment.’

After returning to Japan, he called for sponsorship from medical companies but was turned down because he no longer worked for a hospital.

He then submitted a proposal for assistance to the Japanese government but was told they only supported non-governmental organisations.

In the end, he decided to use all the savings that he and his wife had set aside for their retirement to buy equipment to perform free surgeries in Vietnam.

Over the years, Hattori continued returning to rural Vietnam to examine patients, perform surgeries, and treat cataract issues.

During his trip to the mountainous district of A Luoi in the central province of Thua Thien – Hue on March 26, the doctor directly provided check-ups for hundreds of locals, and performe
d cataract surgeries for 42 patients.

In Thua Thien – Hue, he not only directly performs surgeries but also transfers techniques, imparts knowledge and skills, and mobilises resources to improve service quality at the Hue Eye Hospital.

He is an example for local medical workers to follow in improving qualifications and better serving the people.

Tadashi has received other honours for his humane activities in Vietnam. He was awarded the Friendship Medal by the President and the insignia ‘For health of people’ by the Ministry of Health./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency