Journey from a grain of salt
In 2006, BIM Group set foot in Ninh Thuan, starting from the agricultural sector, specifically salt production.
Here, the enterprise not only has the mindset of an investor looking for opportunities for cooperation and development, but also carries the mission of reviving the Ninh Thuan salt industry after a long period of ineffective operation. At that time, Quan The salt field was only about 400 hectares on the east side of National Highway 1A. On the western axis, there were only rocky, barren fields. Although clearly seeing the difficulties and challenges, the late Chairman of BIM Group Doan Quoc Viet and the staff of Ninh Thuan province at that time were still determined to learn the model, bringing technology from abroad to implement. After only 3 years, Quan The salt field was formed, with an area of up to more than 1,300 hectares, becoming one of the 3 largest salt fields in Southeast Asia, far exceeding the expectations of the provincial leaders, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as well as the Government.
BIM Group invests in infrastructure and modern machinery and equipment in salt production. Photo: Van Ny
With the orientation of increasing the value of Ninh Thuan salt grains, the enterprise applies advanced technology and equipment lines and salt production technology from Spain; maximally mechanizes the exploitation stages on a large scale. In particular, in Ninh Thuan, BIM Group is the pioneer in testing and successfully applying the technology of making salt on HDPE tarpaulin, helping local enterprises and salt farmers change their thinking and salt making methods, creating a breakthrough in process, output and quality for the local salt industry. Ninh Thuan province has also promoted encouragement and support for people to switch from traditional salt making on the ground to making salt on HDPE tarpaulin as BIM Group has done.
BIM Group invests in salt production on HDPE tarpaulin in Phuoc Minh (Thuan Nam). Photo: Van Ny
Ms. Tran Thi Tan, Tri Hai commune (Ninh Hai), became the first household to boldly apply this technology. Ms. Tan said: In 2010, I conducted a trial with an area of 300 m2. In just a short time, it showed effectiveness. The salt grains are pure white, solid, the impurity rate is very low, the sodium chloride content is high, the yield increased by 20-25% compared to the traditional salt making method. From the initial effectiveness, up to now, I have expanded and applied the use of tarpaulins on the entire 5 hectares of salt production area of my family.
Up to now, in Ninh Thuan province, BIM Group has 3 salt fields including: Tri Hai (Ninh Hai), Quan The and Ca Na (Thuan Nam) with an area of over 2,100 hectares, an output of about 300,000 tons per year, contributing about 60-70% of Vietnam's salt output. In order to increase output, since 2016, BIM Group has continued to apply the "rain cover" technology on Quan The salt field. The salt grains on BIM Group's salt field go through the process of drying, settling and crystallizing, and are strictly inspected and controlled for water quality at each stage, thereby bringing to the market natural, safe sea salt products that meet high standards and are trusted by many leading food partners.
Mr. Doan Quoc Huy, Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of BIM Group, said: In the future, BIM Group is committed to pursuing a vision of sustainable development, contributing to the common development and a better future in the localities where BIM is present, including Ninh Thuan. Together with its partner, the Ayala Group from the Philippines, BIM is reaching the goal of building a 1,500MW renewable energy complex; then, the vision of a green economic complex, in which clean electricity will be used for the chemical production line after salt, forming a circular model.
In particular, on an area of more than 2,100 hectares of salt in Ninh Thuan, there was a time when BIM Group created nearly 1,000 jobs, helping local people have a stable income. Among them, there are families with 4 generations attached to the salt profession, some people have attached their whole lives to salt grains, their feet roaming on the salt plots and fields every day. The family of Mr. Doan Van Manh in Thuong Diem 2 village, Phuoc Diem commune (Thuan Nam) is one of those families. At 59 years old, Mr. Manh has been attached to the Ca Na salt fields for 39 years and is currently holding the position of Deputy Head of the Production Technical Team. Mr. Manh said: in this Thuong Diem land, the land for production is very little and barren, with year-round drought, so most people choose to work at sea or make salt. For my family, salt is a traditional profession. My grandfather and father were also workers at the salt factory. My son - Doan Trung Viet, born in 1992, has been working at BIM Group's Ca Na salt fields for 9 years and 7 months. As salt workers, we are proud to have a stable life, regular salaries and benefits, and guaranteed welfare.
Father and son Doan Van Manh and Doan Trung Viet in Thuong Diem 2 village, Phuoc Diem commune, continue their ancestors' tradition and continue their association with the salt making profession. Photo: N. Diep.
In the salt fields of BIM Group, there are also dozens of workers who are Cham ethnic people. They travel dozens of kilometers every day to participate in production labor to develop the economy and take care of their families. For more than 16 years, Mr. Quang Dai Lanh, who lives in Chung My brocade weaving village, Phuoc Dan town (Ninh Phuoc), has run more than 15 km every morning to work at Quan The salt field since BIM Group started investing in production in this field. The happiest thing is that here, everyone is close-knit, the company never delays their salary, and even pays it earlier. Thanks to BIM Group's salt, my family's life is secure, enough to support my two children's education. In the future, when I retire, I will have a pension, so I don't have to worry about creating a burden for my children. Working anywhere, every job has its own hardships, but the guaranteed salary and benefits make me feel secure to stick with it, Mr. Lanh shared.
Mr. Quang Dai Lanh, a Cham ethnic person from My Nghiep, has a stable life thanks to the salt grains of BIM Group. Photo: Ngoc Diep
Mr. Nguyen Cong Phuong, Deputy Director of Ninh Thuan Salt Company (Member of BIM Group) informed: At our company, employees are always guaranteed salary, bonus, social welfare regimes according to regulations. In addition, we also buy health insurance, organize annual tours for employees, and give seniority bonuses to encourage them to stick with the job and the company. On their birthdays, employees are given gifts and enjoy leave without salary deductions.
Realizing the renewable energy vision early
Ninh Thuan is a coastal province with many natural resources. Sun and wind are advantages. Ms. Hoang Thi Ut Lan, former Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee, recalled: During the period 2006-2009, when she was in office, a Canadian company came to the province to discuss investing in a wind power project.
BIM invests in a large-scale salt production field combined with wind power in Phuoc Minh commune (Thuan Nam). Photo: Van Ny
Not only foreign enterprises, as an officer of the Energy Institute, researching renewable energy since 1977-1978, more than anyone else, the late Chairman Doan Quoc Viet clearly understood the value of solar energy in Ninh Thuan, far beyond the potential of salt grains. Therefore, as soon as he set foot in Ninh Thuan, the late Chairman of BIM Group had a vision of building a renewable energy model on salt fields, specifically wind power. Therefore, when building salt fields, BIM Group built access roads large enough to serve both mechanization in salt harvesting and transportation and to be able to transport wind turbines later.
In 2015, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 2068/QD-TTg dated November 25, 2015 approving Vietnam's renewable energy development strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2050. Seizing the opportunity, from 2018, BIM Group began to realize the founder's dream. In just 3 years, despite the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic causing many delays, especially in international transportation, BIM Group was still determined to start and complete 3 solar power plants BIM 1, 2, 3, reaching a total capacity of 405 MWp by 2020.
BIM Group invests in solar power in Phuoc Minh (Thuan Nam). Photo: Van Ny
September 30, 2021 marked an important step forward for BIM Group when the BIM wind power plant with a total capacity of 88 MW and an investment capital of VND 3,110 billion came into operation, officially completing the Green Economic Complex producing clean salt and renewable energy with a total investment of VND 12,000 billion, helping to optimize the value of land resources and limit the impact on people's lives. BIM Group became one of the enterprises contributing a large proportion of renewable energy investment in Ninh Thuan province.
Practical contribution to the province
Nearly 20 years of presence in Ninh Thuan province, BIM Group has pioneered salt production methods, created a Green Economic Complex, sustainable development, and made practical contributions to the development of the province.
Mr. Truong Xuan Vy, Chairman of Thuan Nam District People's Committee, assessed: BIM Group's participation in the two fields of salt production and renewable energy has contributed to diversifying the economic picture, accelerating the development speed of Thuan Nam in recent times. At the same time, it has helped hundreds of local workers have stable jobs, guaranteed salary and social welfare. We are expecting that the Green Industry and Post-salt Chemical projects that BIM Group is researching and promoting at Phuoc Minh 1 and 2 Industrial Clusters, in accordance with the planning and development orientation of the locality, will soon complete the procedures and go into implementation, promoting the creation of sustainable values.
BIM Group creates jobs and increases income for people in Phuoc Minh (Thuan Nam). Photo: Van Ny
In addition to promoting local economic development, the investment process, and project implementation, BIM Group also organizes many social security support activities for the local community such as: Supporting the "For the Poor" Fund, "Repaying gratitude" Fund, supporting the construction of houses for the poor, policy families, building classrooms at Vo Van Kiet Secondary School, Phuoc Ninh Commune (Thuan Nam)... We hope that the company will continue many social security support activities, pay attention to and ensure full salary and bonus policies for employees.
BIM Group sponsored and handed over the project to Vo Van Kiet Secondary School in the 2019-2020 school year in Thuan Nam. Photo: Van Ny
Ms. Hoang Thi Ut Lan, former Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee - Chairwoman of the Association for the Support of Poor Patients of Ninh Thuan province, shared: During the investment period in the province, the unit has accompanied the Association for the Support of Poor Patients of Ninh Thuan province to build 24 houses for the poor, perform heart surgery for children with a total amount of nearly 1.7 billion VND. And donated about 10,000 tons of salt to the poor in the province. The valuable thing is that the unit is always proactive in suggesting, so that the Association has a place to go when needed.
Ngoc Diep
Source: http://baoninhthuan.com.vn/news/151394p1c25/tam-nhin-tu-hat-muoi.htm
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