Should "open the door" for businesses to participate in important power projects

Consider flexible regulations for adjusting power planning

At the discussion session in Group 4 (including the National Assembly delegations of Khanh Hoa , Lai Chau and Lao Cai provinces) on the afternoon of December 4 on the draft Resolution on mechanisms and policies for national energy development in the period 2026 - 2030 (referred to as the draft Resolution), the delegates basically agreed with the necessity of issuing this Resolution.

Group 4 (Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Khanh Hoa) — Delegates participated in the discussion in Group 4 on the afternoon of December 4.

According to National Assembly Deputy Nguyen Huu Toan (Lai Chau), this aims to ensure energy, especially electricity, for economic development with the target of double-digit growth; at the same time, ensure energy to carry out digital transformation and build a digital economy throughout the period.

National Assembly Deputy Nguyen Thanh Trung ( Lao Cai ) also agreed that, to ensure economic development requirements, energy growth must be 1.5 - 1.8 times higher than the economic growth rate. Therefore, the issuance of this Resolution is very necessary.

The Draft Resolution has introduced many new mechanisms for national energy development. Notably, the mechanism for flexible adjustment of power development planning and power grid development plans in provincial planning (Articles 4 and 5).

Specifically, Clause 2, Article 4 stipulates: In case the preparation and appraisal of important and urgent national energy projects have contents different from the relevant planning, it is not necessary to carry out planning adjustment procedures; after the project is approved, the relevant planning must be promptly reviewed, adjusted, updated and announced.

National Assembly Deputy Nguyen Huu Toan (Lai Chau) spoke.

Delegate Nguyen Huu Toan expressed concern about this provision. Because the Law on Planning periodically adjusts all types of planning, or adjusts them in a shortened order to apply in urgent cases; flexible adjustment is a form that has not been regulated.

Emphasizing that "we set out plans to ensure vision in all fields, including electricity", delegates suggested that this regulation should be considered.

“There may be a very special procedure for these projects that is shorter than the current simplified procedure to ensure progress, time, and meet the requirements of socio-economic development, but it must have its own principle, that is, planning must come first. If all do not have to implement planning, it will be very difficult to build a nation with direction and a harmonious balance between economic development, energy, and environmental protection,” the delegate noted.

According to Clause 3, Article 4, flexible adjustment of power development planning and power supply network development plan in provincial planning is carried out when there is an adjustment of power source projects and storage battery projects including: name, capacity scale, progress, administrative location (if any)...; adjustment of power grid projects including: name, quantity, capacity scale, voltage level, connection points, progress...

According to delegate Nguyen Huu Toan, if the regulations are too specific, it will lead to complicated administrative procedures, increasing costs for businesses. The Government needs to direct the Ministry of Industry and Trade to review and guide the content of the planning, so that it has an orientational nature. "It is recommended to review and minimize the need to adjust unnecessary administrative procedures," the delegate added.

Encouraging private investment in power projects

Regarding the selection of investors for electricity business investment projects (Article 8), the draft Resolution stipulates: Based on the proposal of an enterprise in which the State holds 100% of the charter capital or an enterprise in which this enterprise holds 100% of the charter capital, the Provincial People's Committee decides to approve this enterprise to be the investor of power grid projects and works in the Power Development Plan or the power supply network development plan in the provincial planning.

Delegate Nguyen Huu Toan suggested that this regulation should be reviewed. Because the Politburo has issued Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW on private economic development, placing the role of private enterprises as extremely important in the country's economic development in the coming period. The National Assembly has also issued Resolution No. 198/2025/QH15 on a number of special mechanisms and policies for private economic development. These resolutions all aim at equality in business between all types of enterprises.

Therefore, according to the delegate, there are two factors that need to be considered. First, it is necessary to open the door for businesses to participate in important national projects. Second, it is necessary to ensure national security for projects that require national security; in this case, the provisions in the draft Resolution are appropriate.

However, for urgent and important projects that do not greatly affect national security and defense, other economic sectors can participate, especially encouraging private enterprises to invest in developing electricity. This will ensure the correct direction of the Party in the spirit of Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW, while also solving the energy problem, delegate Nguyen Huu Toan proposed.

Regarding national petroleum reserves, Article 20 of the draft Resolution stipulates: converting national petroleum reserve types by direct exchange method.

National Assembly Deputy Nguyen Thanh Trung (Lao Cai) — National Assembly Delegate Nguyen Thanh Trung (Lao Cai) speaks.

According to delegate Nguyen Thanh Trung (Lao Cai), current regulations as well as the draft Law on National Reserves (amended) stipulate that the form of rotating goods exchange is one of the contents included in the annual national reserve plan.

“It is not clear whether the form of exchange of goods is different from the direct exchange method?”. When asking such a question, the delegate suggested that if the Government clarifies the difference between the direct exchange method and the exchange of goods, then it is necessary to add it to the draft Resolution, otherwise, there is no need to stipulate in Article 20.

Khanh Hoa Delegation — National Assembly delegates of Khanh Hoa province participated in the discussion session in Group 4 on the afternoon of December 4.

Basically agreeing with the draft Resolution, National Assembly Deputy Ha Quoc Tri (Khanh Hoa) said that it is necessary to review Article 12 on the dossier approving the investment policy of offshore wind power business projects and Article 13 approving investors of offshore wind power projects.

Specifically, delegates said that the provisions in Article 12 are too detailed and qualitative, such as: preliminary assessment of wind speed for offshore wind power investment, terrain conditions, geological conditions, etc. Instead of specific regulations in the draft Resolution, it should be assigned to competent authorities to make more appropriate regulations.

Similarly, in Article 13, point a, Clause 2 should be removed: The project must meet the conditions on national defense, security, sovereignty, marine and island resources and environment, maritime, and oil and gas.

Because, before implementing the project, there must be written consensus from the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and relevant agencies. During the appraisal process, these agencies will also consider factors related to national defense, security, sovereignty, marine and island resources and environment, maritime, oil and gas.

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