Vietnam allocates vast sea areas to EVN, Petrovietnam for offshore wind surveys

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has recently issued two decisions assigning marine areas totaling nearly 64,000 hectares to EVN and Petrovietnam for survey activities.

Under the decisions, EVN has been granted 24,000 hectares of sea area near the Long Chau archipelago and Bach Long Vy Island, off Hai Phong in northern Vietnam, to conduct offshore wind power surveys.

Meanwhile, Petrovietnam has been allocated more than 39,800 hectares of offshore waters off Lam Dong Province in the south-central region for similar survey work.

The ministry said both groups must strictly use the assigned sea areas in line with approved purposes, boundaries, size, water depth, height limits, and designated timeframes.

Any encroachment into surrounding waters or violations of state-approved planning are prohibited.

Survey activities are required to avoid environmental pollution, damage to marine ecosystems, and interference with maritime traffic or other lawful activities at sea.

The decisions also stipulate that survey operations must not affect national defense, security, sovereignty, sovereign rights, or Vietnam’s jurisdiction over its maritime areas.

In addition, the allocated sea-use rights may not be transferred, mortgaged, contributed as capital, or leased to third parties.

All vessels, equipment, and technical systems used in the surveys must comply with applicable technical standards and regulations, undergo proper inspection, and hold valid operating licenses.

The ministry has assigned the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands, in coordination with local agriculture and environment departments, to inspect and supervise implementation of the decisions.

The oversight aims to ensure full legal compliance while supporting Vietnam’s long-term offshore wind power development objectives.