Reviewing the progress of investment procedures for the Hai Lang LNG project phase 1

Reviewing the progress of investment procedures for the Hai Lang LNG project with a capital of 54,000 billion VND

On August 15, the Management Board of Quang Tri Economic Zone announced that it had just reported on the implementation of procedures related to the Hai Lang LNG project, phase 1.

The Hai Lang LNG Power Center Project, Phase 1, has a total capacity of 1,500 MW and a total investment of nearly VND 54,000 billion. The project was approved for investment by the Quang Tri Provincial Economic Zone Management Board on October 6, 2021; The investor consortium includes T&T Group Joint Stock Company, Hanwha Energy Corporation, Korea Gas Corporation - KOGAS, and South Korea Electric Power Corporation - KOSPO.

The project is built in the territory of Hai An and Hai Ba communes (Hai Lang district), located in the energy complex of the Southeast Quang Tri Economic Zone with a land use area of ​​about 148 hectares.

Hai Lang LNG project implementation area, phase 1

Although the project was scheduled to start construction in early 2024, in reality the project has not been able to be implemented yet as many related procedures have not been completed. The biggest "bottleneck" is the need to locally adjust the Master Plan and the Construction Zoning Plan of the Southeast Quang Tri Economic Zone, Phase 1 after the investor requested to adjust the project's overall layout plan to match the approved capacity of 1,500 MW in the Power Plan VIII.

According to the Management Board of Quang Tri Economic Zone, regarding the environmental impact assessment (EIA) reporting procedure, the Investor Consortium is currently directing the consulting unit (Institute of Energy) to urgently review, update and complete the EIA content according to the opinions of the Appraisal Council, and submit it to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for consideration and approval.

Regarding the procedure for applying for a license to exploit and use seawater at the project's gate, Power Construction Consulting Joint Stock Company 1 (the consulting unit) has completed the report on the exploitation and use of seawater for the project and the Investor Consortium is reviewing and considering this report before submitting it to the competent authority to apply for a license to exploit and use seawater at the project.

Regarding the agreement on location, detailed technical specifications of seaports, ports, wharves, and shipping channels of the project, on July 16, the Vietnam Maritime Administration issued a document reporting to the Ministry of Transport for consideration and submission to the Prime Minister for direction and approval of the Detailed Planning of seaports, ports, wharves, buoys, water areas, and water regions for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, which is expected to be approved soon in the near future.

Therefore, on July 18, the Management Board of Quang Tri Economic Zone issued a document requesting the Investor Consortium to prepare relevant documents and procedures for the Department of Transport to work with the Ministry of Transport and the Vietnam Maritime Administration to review in advance the agreement documents on detailed technical parameters of seaports, ports, wharves, and navigation channels of the Hai Lang LNG Project Phase 1 as a basis for editing and completing to be agreed upon immediately after the Detailed Planning of the group of seaports, ports, wharves, buoys, water areas, and water regions for the period 2021 - 2030 is approved.

Regarding the procedure for adjusting the project investment policy, in Document No. 3397/UBND-KT dated July 24, the People's Committee of Quang Tri province assigned the Department of Planning and Investment to perform the function of the investment registration agency for investment projects implemented both inside and outside the Economic Zone (including the Hai Lang LNG Project Phase 1). On August 2, the Management Board of the Provincial Economic Zone issued a document proposing tasks for the Management Board of the Economic Zone to continue handling and the task of handing over to the Department of Planning and Investment for handling according to regulations. Currently, the Management Board of the Economic Zone is waiting for the direction document of the Provincial People's Committee to hand over the documents to the Department of Planning and Investment to continue handling and resolve the project adjustment request dossier of the Investor Consortium according to regulations.

Regarding the investment project adjustment dossier, the Investor Consortium has currently sent a set of dossiers for the Economic Zone Management Board to review and support the Investor Consortium in completing the dossiers. After the local adjustment of the Zoning Plan is approved, the Investor Consortium will submit the dossiers to the investment registration agency to organize the collection of appraisal opinions, and submit them to the Provincial People's Committee for consideration and approval according to regulations.

Regarding the establishment of an office and the arrangement of personnel to implement the project in Quang Tri province and the establishment of an economic organization, the Management Board of Quang Tri Economic Zone has repeatedly issued documents urging the Investor Consortium to promptly establish an office and arrange personnel to implement the project in Quang Tri province. However, up to now, the Investor Consortium has not yet implemented it.

On July 25, the Investor Consortium reported on the process of establishing an economic organization to implement the project (SPC). According to the investor, the establishment of the SPC can only be carried out after the project feasibility study report is approved.

The investor group also said that the establishment of SPC goes through 3 steps (Step 1: Korea Development Research Institute assesses the feasibility of the Project; Step 2: Approval by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of Korea, Ministry of Economy and Finance of Korea; Step 3: Internal approval by the Board of Directors of Investors T&T, Hanwha, Kogas, Kospo), the minimum implementation time is 12 months from the date of approval of FS, review by competent authorities in Korea to have sufficient legal basis to establish SPC.

Mr. Pham Ngoc Minh, Head of the Quang Tri Economic Zone Management Board, said that the Provincial Economic Zone Management Board has drafted a decision to establish a Steering Committee to implement the project and is seeking opinions from relevant departments, branches and localities.

"Based on the opinions of the participating units, the Management Board of the Economic Zone will synthesize and submit to the Provincial People's Committee for consideration, direction of implementation, and completion in August 2024," informed Mr. Pham Ngoc Minh.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/ra-soat-tien-do-thu-tuc-dau-tu-du-an-lng-hai-lang-von-54000-ty-dong-d222438.html