We need to be faster and more practical.

Looking back at 2024, no new power projects were implemented throughout the year. This is something worth considering, because in reality, electricity growth did not stagnate, but reached over 10% in 2024.

Removing obstacles for renewable energy projects: We need to be faster and more practical.

Looking back at 2024, no new power projects were implemented throughout the year. This is something worth considering, because in reality, electricity growth did not stagnate, but reached over 10% in 2024.

The 2025 Power System Operation Plan was approved in mid-November 2024, with a projected electricity growth rate of 11.3%. However, with the goal of achieving double-digit GDP growth in 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Trade needs to consider a higher electricity growth scenario to meet the economy's needs, meaning that a reserve of approximately 15% for electricity growth is required. To achieve this, the urgent task is to quickly resolve difficulties and promote new power projects.

Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Trade released a plan to implement the Government 's Resolution on the policy and direction for removing obstacles and difficulties for renewable energy projects, with a fairly detailed and specific list of problems that each project is facing.

Although this list may not include all the projects facing obstacles that need resolving, as mentioned in the meetings, it helps many investors know exactly what difficulties or obstacles their projects are encountering and who they need to contact to resolve them.

It's worth remembering that in 2017, when the Prime Minister 's Decision No. 11/2017/QD-TTg on the mechanism to encourage the development of solar power projects in Vietnam was issued, many investors from various sectors rushed to invest in solar power projects, with high expectations for profits. However, among them, there were quite a few investors who did not thoroughly understand the process of implementing solar power projects. Furthermore, in their rush to finish quickly in order to get the best prices, many investors did not fully comply with the legal procedures for solar power projects.

Conclusion No. 1027/KL-TTCP, published by the Government Inspectorate at the end of 2023, revealed that as many as 154 solar power projects with a total capacity of 13,837 MW lacked legal basis and planning; and had incomplete land procedures and construction acceptance processes.

With the spirit of "solving problems wherever they arise," the Government was the first "address" that the Ministry of Industry and Trade proposed to resolve the issue of supplementing the power plan, because under current regulations, if a project is not included in the power plan, there is no basis to proceed with subsequent steps.

Local People's Committees and the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) are the next "addresses" that investors need to meet to resolve any issues.

However, resolving these obstacles is not easy and cannot be done quickly. For example, if a local land use plan needs to be amended or supplemented, it must wait for a meeting of the People's Council, which typically only meets twice a year. If a locality provides support, this matter can be included in extraordinary sessions, but this is also very rare. If a province or city needs to request adjustments to the land use plan at a higher level, it takes even longer.

Regarding electricity price negotiations for transitional renewable energy projects, looking at the reality since the Ministry of Industry and Trade announced the price ceiling in Decision No. 21/QD-BCT at the beginning of 2023, all transitional projects are still accepting payment at 50% of this ceiling and have not yet concluded negotiations on Power Purchase Agreements to officially sign them. Therefore, even if we want to move quickly, we must... take it slowly.

While optimistic about seeing the path forward in resolving the obstacles, many investors also indicated that their investment journey in renewable energy would be reconsidered.

Currently, the Power Development Plan VIII and its implementation plan only list the project name and require a bidding process to select the investor. The project implementation time is too short, the electricity selling price is low, and it is stipulated in Vietnamese Dong. Recently, a series of policies for the electricity sector have been issued, such as Decree 80/2024/ND-CP on the mechanism for direct electricity purchase and sale with large customers, Decree 135/2024/ND-CP on mechanisms and policies to encourage the development of self-produced and self-consumed rooftop solar power, and most recently, the amended Electricity Law. However, these policies still require further guidance before implementation can begin.

This reality necessitates a faster pace in addressing obstacles to renewable energy projects. Simultaneously, mechanisms and policies for developing power projects must be clear and readily implementable. Only then can private investors be encouraged to participate alongside state-owned enterprises, contributing to the goal of "Electricity leading the way."

Source: https://baodautu.vn/go-kho-cho-cac-du-an-nang-luong-tai-tao-can-nhanh-hon-thiet-thuc-hon-d238937.html