Dak Lak Customs officers are carrying out procedures for imported wind power equipment. Photo: Dak Lak Customs

Turning "specialties" into energy for production

At the end of December, the Central Highlands is entering the windy season, the weather is dry with gusty winds, whistling through each canopy as a signal that the dry season is about to begin.

Along the National Highway 14 these days, it is easy to see new "giant" wind power pylons, adorning the majesty of this plateau. Trucks carrying super-long and super-heavy wind power equipment running on the road, following trucks carrying agricultural products in the harvest season also bring new and special vitality to the Central Highlands.

The Central Highlands - basalt land is considered the capital of many high-value industrial crops such as coffee, rubber, and macadamia. The climate here has only two seasons: the rainy season and the dry season but the sun and wind are available all year round.

There are even times when high winds toppled crops, causing damage. Many sunny areas lack water for irrigation, are abandoned. However, these disadvantages are gradually turning into advantages of the Central Highlands when scientists and investors realize that the Central Highlands is not only an inspiration for poetry and music, but also an endless resource for developing renewable energy, especially wind power.

This is also a trend consistent with the orientation of attracting investment of localities and the Government on national energy development. Since then, a series of wind power projects have been started in the Central Highlands.

According to data from Dak Lak customs department, in 2021, the unit carried out procedures to import machinery and equipment to create fixed assets for 13 wind power projects in three provinces of Dak Lak, Dak Nong, and Lam Dong with a turnover of US$970 million.

Similarly, Gia Lai - Kon Tum customs department also carried out procedures for 11 wind power projects. These figures have shown a sudden increase in the workload at customs units in 2021, especially in the complicated development of the pandemic with many rounds of social distancing.

However, in the spirit of giving full support to businesses and investment projects, customs units in the Central Highlands have overcome all difficulties, cleared quickly and promptly all procedures and import-export shipments of enterprises. Accordingly, groups supporting and handling problems related to customs procedures have been established to ensure the implementation of the dual goal of effective pandemic prevention and smooth import-export activities.

"Customs branches have strengthened support and guidance for enterprises to handle customs clearance procedures and supervise goods anytime, arrange officials and civil servants ready to inspect goods at far checkpoints when required to clear goods quickly, saving time and costs for businesses,” said the Director of Dak Lak customs department Le Van Nhuan.

In particular, the electronic customs system, online public service system, and online working software have been promoted in times of social distancing. Officials and civil servants regularly contact enterprises to grasp difficulties and problems, and then promptly remove them as well as disseminate new regulations for enterprises to grasp and properly implement.

Thanks to these efforts, import-export activities in the Central Highlands have been smooth. Especially, the import of machinery and equipment for wind power projects was put into construction on schedule. Up to now, many projects have come into commercial operation.

In Gia Lai, 11 out of 16 wind power projects have been commercially operated with 127 turbines with a capacity of 563.4 MW. In Dak Lak, the Ea Nam wind power project of Trung Nam Wind Power JSC in Ea H'leo district has just come into commercial operation. This is the second project in Dak Lak to come into operation after the Central Highlands’ Wind Power Farm Project. The operation of these projects has contributed more energy to production activities when the economy is trying to recover from the pandemic.

Great source of revenue for the budget

These wind power projects not only contribute to changing the face of the Central Highlands but also bring huge budget revenues to the localities. In 2021, importing machinery and equipment for these projects has brought in thousands of billions of dong for the State budget.

This revenue source not only compensated for the decline of many other revenues due to the pandemic, but also contributed to impressive growth in budget revenue in 2021. If in 2020, the total budget revenue of Dak Lak Customs Department only reached VND770 billion, in 2021 this figure reached more than VND2,325 billion, of which more than VND1,600 billion was contributed by wind power projects. Similarly, at Gia Lai - Kon Tum Customs Department, revenue also reached more than VND2,400 billion, an increase of about 900% over the same period last year, of which, revenue from wind power amounted to more than VND2,100 billion.

There are still some wind power projects in the process of importing machinery and equipment or expanding investment. Additionally, many other projects have just been added to the national electricity development plan. Therefore, it is forecast that the Central Highlands customs units will continue to be "busy" with wind power projects in the coming years.

However, all were very enthusiastic and confirmed that they would make more efforts to reform administrative procedures, contributing to improving the investment environment, attracting more new projects to this land. Although the area is large and the terrain is difficult to travel, the civil servants will complete their tasks.

Farewell to the customs officers of the Central Highlands. Their smiles are like the sun and wind of the Central Highlands, which are unforgettable. And that sun and wind is gradually transforming to become a source of energy for strong growth in the future not only of the Central Highlands but also of the whole country.