Minister of Industry and Trade

Attending the meeting were Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hoang Long; representatives from the Ministry of Public Security ; leaders of the People's Committees and Departments of Industry and Trade of the provinces of Dong Nai, Thanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Nghe An, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, and Vinh Phuc; leaders of Vietnam Electricity Group and related units; and leaders of functional units under the Ministry (Electricity and Renewable Energy Department, Electricity Regulatory Authority, Office of the State Steering Committee for important national programs, works, and projects in the energy sector).

In his opening remarks outlining the meeting's agenda, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien stated that, according to the National Power Development Plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 (Power Plan VIII), by 2030, the total power capacity must reach nearly double the current system capacity. However, forecasts indicate that some large-scale power generation projects under the plan will experience delays, especially gas-fired power projects. Furthermore, if implemented according to Power Plan VIII, gas-fired power will account for a significant proportion of total electricity production by 2030, while the cost of gas-fired power remains quite high, potentially leading to a rapid increase in electricity prices in 2030 compared to the present.

Given the above situation, in order to ensure national energy security and fully and continuously meet the electricity needs for socio-economic development and people's lives, the Ministry of Industry and Trade proposed, and the Prime Minister agreed, to review and adjust the Power Development Plan VIII. This includes research on adjusting the power source structure to ensure it is rational and feasible in line with global development trends. In addition, increasing investment and accelerating the completion of transmission projects, especially inter-regional and high-capacity transmission projects, to alleviate the capacity constraints of power plants is crucial and contributes to enhancing the country's self-sufficiency in electricity supply.

At the meeting, after hearing Mr. Pham Hong Phuong - Deputy General Director of EVN - report on the implementation status, as well as difficulties and obstacles, and proposed solutions to accelerate the progress of the Lao electricity import grid projects, the Nhon Trach 3&4 thermal power plant synchronization project, and the Lao Cai - Vinh Yen 500kV transmission line project, 14 representatives from ministries, sectors, localities, EVNNPT, and relevant functional units of the Ministry of Industry and Trade expressed their opinions on the implementation status of electricity projects in their localities. They also exchanged and discussed solutions with the investors to overcome difficulties and obstacles, with the highest determination to ensure the progress of the approved projects.

Representatives from ministries, sectors, localities, EVNNPT, and relevant functional units of the Ministry of Industry and Trade presented their opinions on the implementation of power projects in their respective localities. They also exchanged and discussed solutions with investors to overcome difficulties and obstacles, with the highest determination to ensure the progress of approved projects.

In his concluding remarks at the conference, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Steering Committee, highlighted the significance and importance of the three aforementioned power grid projects, contributing to ensuring sufficient electricity supply for socio-economic development and people's lives. He also highly appreciated the efforts of the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN), the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT), and relevant ministries, sectors, and localities in urgently implementing the projects; focusing on resolving arising difficulties and obstacles, and achieving encouraging results: The power grid projects importing electricity from Laos have basically resolved difficulties and obstacles related to land acquisition; the power grid project to synchronize the capacity of the Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4 thermal power plants has seen positive progress in the approval, planning supplementation, and land clearance process. However, despite the achievements, many tasks have not progressed as required by the Government, the Prime Minister, and the Steering Committee.

In order to expedite the completion of the aforementioned projects, ensuring the progress assigned by the Government, the Prime Minister, and the Steering Committee, and contributing to national energy security, the Minister and Deputy Head of the Steering Committee requested relevant ministries, sectors, localities, EVN, and EVNNPT to focus on effectively implementing the following key tasks:

1. Regarding power grid projects importing electricity from Laos : The People's Committees of Quang Nam, Nghe An, and Thanh Hoa provinces are requested to proactively report to the Provincial Party Standing Committee to direct the entire political system of the localities to participate and focus on resolving difficulties and obstacles in the implementation of the projects. The goal is to complete the Nam Sum - Nong Cong 220 kV transmission line project and the Dak Ooc 220 kV switching station and connecting 220 kV transmission line project by October 2024, and complete the Monsoon - Thanh My 500 kV transmission line project by November 2024. In addition, the People's Committees of the provinces need to focus on directing the People's Committees of the districts through which the transmission lines pass to urgently complete procedures for compensation and land clearance; strengthen propaganda and mobilization efforts to encourage households to support, hand over land, and voluntarily cut down trees within the safety corridor; At the same time, policies and solutions should be promptly developed to address the proposals and recommendations of the Vietnam Electricity Group regarding the handling of fallen trees on power lines and foundation sites, and the pruning of branches of some large-canopied trees to facilitate construction work.

2. Regarding the synchronized power grid projects to alleviate the power output of the Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4 thermal power plants: It is requested that the People's Committee of Dong Nai province proactively report to the Provincial People's Council to promptly issue a Resolution supplementing the list of land acquisition projects in 2024 and land-use conversion projects for rice cultivation in 2024 within the province, providing a basis for implementing subsequent procedures regarding compensation and land clearance; simultaneously, promptly issue regulations on the procedures for compensation, support, land clearance, land prices, crop prices, and building prices in accordance with the Land Law and its implementing Decrees, to provide a basis for implementing compensation and land clearance related to the projects. Focus on directing the People's Committees of the districts through which the power lines pass to urgently implement compensation and land clearance procedures as soon as possible; At the same time, the entire political system will be mobilized to propagate and persuade households to support and agree with the investment and construction of the projects, and to promptly hand over the land to the investor and contractor for implementation in October 2024.

3. Regarding the Lao Cai – Vinh Yen 500 kV Transmission Line Project: The Ministry of Planning and Investment is requested to continue to closely coordinate with the Government Office to report to the Prime Minister for early approval of the Project's investment policy, so that localities and EVN have a basis to implement the next steps according to regulations.

The People's Committees of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, and Vinh Phuc provinces are requested to focus resources and proactively implement compensation and land clearance related to the project immediately after the Prime Minister approves the investment policy, thereby facilitating the acceleration of the project's progress.

4. Request to EVN and EVNNPT : Urgently develop detailed weekly schedules for project implementation, serving as a basis for monitoring, supervising, and evaluating implementation results; simultaneously, strengthen coordination with local People's Committees to promptly address arising obstacles and difficulties to accelerate the progress of compensation, land clearance, and construction; intensify propaganda and mobilization efforts to encourage households affected by the projects to support and agree with the implementation of the projects.

Contractors are required to increase manpower, machinery, and materials to accelerate construction work on project sites. Appropriate construction methods should be implemented to suit weather and terrain conditions, ensuring efficiency and absolute safety. Efforts should be made to complete and exceed the planned project schedule.

Focus resources on immediately implementing the next steps of the Lao Cai - Vinh Yen 500 kV transmission line project after the Prime Minister approves the investment policy for the project.

5. The Minister requested that , from this meeting onwards, the State Steering Committee for National Key Programs, Works, and Projects in the Energy Sector will hold regular bi-weekly briefing meetings with ministries, sectors, localities, and relevant units to review and assess the situation and results of energy projects in order to promptly resolve difficulties and obstacles, and promote project progress; initially focusing on three major projects: the project to import electricity from Laos to Vietnam; the 500KV Nam Sum - Nong Cong project; the power grid to relieve the capacity of the Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4 thermal power plants; and the 500KV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen transmission line project.

Source: https://moit.gov.vn/tin-tuc/hoat-dong/hoat-dong-cua-lanh-dao-bo/bo-truong-nguyen-hong-dien-lam-viec-voi-cac-don-vi-ve-cac-du-an-dien-phuc-vu-hoat-dong-nhap-khau-dien-du-an-luoi-dien-do.html