Following the successful merger of Ca Mau and Bac Lieu provinces, post-merger Ca Mau is swiftly stabilising its organisational structure, implementing effective measures, and accelerating the progress of key projects.

Chairman of Ca Mau People’s Committee honoured businesses contributing to the local growth, Photo: baocamau.vn

With a strong commitment to supporting local businesses and removing development bottlenecks, the provincial Department of Industry and Trade has set an ambitious economic growth target of at least 8.5 per cent for 2025 - half a percentage point higher than the national target.

In the first half of 2025, Ca Mau recorded 898 million cubic metres of commercial gas production, equal to half of full-year plan. Liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and condensate output hit over 74,400 tonnes, reaching 53 per cent of full-year plan. Electricity production reached 4.1 billion kWh, equal to half of the full-year plan. Fertiliser output totalled nearly 697,450 tonnes, completing 61 per cent of the plan and showing a 7.3 per cent jump on-year.

During the period, seafood exports reached $1.15 billion, up 7.2 per cent on-year. Total retail sales of goods and consumer services approximated $4.16 billion, equal to half of the annual plan and showing a 15.5 per cent jump on-year.

At the ceremony announcing the establishment of the new two-tier government system for Ca Mau at the end of June, Nguyen Ho Hai, Secretary of Ca Mau Party Committee, noted that the merger expands the province’s development space and unleashes new drivers and resources for building a stronger, more connected, and more competitive Ca Mau.

“The newly unified Ca Mau will continue to grow stronger, faster, and more sustainably, living up to the trust and special attention from the Party for this southernmost land of the country,” said Hai.

According to Nguyen Chi Thien, director of Ca Mau Department of Industry and Trade, the department will capitalise on new opportunities and mobilise all available resources to fulfill the sector’s development goals in 2025.

To this end, the department is focusing on swiftly stabilising its organisational structure for effective governance, facilitating key projects in the industry and trade sector, and accelerating their progress to bolster economic performance.

In addition to its routine functions, Ca Mau Department of Industry and Trade has outlined several strategic priorities to drive sectoral growth.

The department will lead and coordinate with relevant units to advise on industrial development policies, with a particular focus on supporting a gas-power-fertiliser complex in maintaining stable operations and increasing gas-fired electricity output, thereby boosting both commercial gas and LPG production.

To ensure a stable energy supply, the department proposes that Ca Mau People’s Committee collaborate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and relevant agencies on a comprehensive plan to secure a long-term, reliable gas source for the complex.

It is also pushing for the allocation of the maximum possible electricity output in the second half of 2025 based on gas supply capacity for the Ca Mau 1 and 2 power plants. This task is slated for completion in August.

In the seafood sector, the department will support processing facilities to maintain stable production and encourage businesses from the former Bac Lieu area to join the Ca Mau Seafood Processing and Export Association. It also aims to strengthen inspections of substandard pre-processing facilities to ensure fair competition, and will monitor production levels at seafood processing plants throughout the unified province.

Efforts are also underway to bring Ca Mau wind power plants 1A and 1B into commercial operation. At the same time, the department is expediting construction on Phase 3 of the 141MW Bac Lieu wind power plant, with 99MW expected to be operational within 2025.

It is also working with Luong The Tran commune authorities and relevant units to install several poles for the 220kV transmission line connected to the Ca Mau 1A wind power plant. In parallel, a proposal shall be made to recommend that the MoIT increase the dispatch capability of operational wind power plants to ensure that over 90 per cent of their generating capacity is delivered to the national grid.

The department continues to track delayed power projects in the southern region and is preparing to submit a proposal to include these projects as investment priorities in the amended Power Development Plan VIII.

Notable among them is the planned expansion of Ca Mau thermal power plants 1 and 2, with a combined additional capacity of 1,500MW.

Regarding the 3,200MW Bac Lieu liquefied natural gas power plant, the department is urgently working with the Department of Finance and relevant investor to identify implementation challenges and report to the provincial government.

A proposal is expected in Q3 of this year, requesting that the MoIT provide guidance to resolve issues during the project’s implementation.