Promptly resolve difficulties for power projects.

Difficult project

Construction of the Nam Nua 2 Hydropower Project in Pa Thom commune ( Dien Bien district), which commenced in November 2022, has a total investment of 281 billion VND and is owned by Dien Bien Resources and Energy Investment Joint Stock Company . The plant has a designed capacity of 7.5MW; the average annual electricity output (EO) is 25 millionkWh.

Expected to be completed by the end of 2024 and generating electricity by the end of 2025, the project has now completed all concrete construction: intake gates, left and right embankment dams, spillway, slope reinforcement, power plant, substation, etc. The fabrication of all electromechanical equipment for the power plant has been completed, with 5 out of 7 equipment batches delivered to the construction site, and the generator and turbine support bases for units 1 and 2 installed. Installation of lifting equipment, including: 60T intake gate cylinders, 10T downstream plant hoists, 2 x 12.5T foundation cranes, and 1 x 60T spillway winch, has also been completed...

The Provincial People's Council's supervisory delegation conducted a thematic supervision on "The implementation of legal regulations on investment in power source development projects" at Huoi Chan 1 Hydropower Plant.

However, the 110kV power line project connecting the Nam Nua 2 Hydropower Project to the national grid has been approved by the Provincial People's Council in the list of land use requiring acquisition in 2024 and approved by the Provincial People's Committee in the 2024 land use plan of Dien Bien district, but it has not yet been identified in the Dien Bien district's land use planning for the period 2021-2030 as stipulated.

Mr. Nguyen Dang Tuan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dien Bien Energy and Resources Investment Joint Stock Company, said: Currently, the company is coordinating with relevant units to complete the land acquisition and lease documents for this project with an area of ​​1,500 ^m² . The company has requested the province to update the 110kV power line project connecting the Nam Nua 2 Hydropower Plant to the national power grid into the province's land use plan for the period 2021-2030. In case the land use plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, cannot be adjusted in time, the company requests permission for the investor to lease the land for the project, meeting the project's progress and bringing the facility into operation as soon as possible.

Regarding the rooftop solar power project in Púng Minh village, Pom Lót commune (Điện Biên district), invested by Điện Biên Environmental Joint Stock Company, the electricity output was over 3,350,000 kWh (from January 2021 to October 2024); however, the electricity output has gradually decreased over the years during operation. Meanwhile, the road connecting National Highway 279 and the Điện Biên waste treatment plant has many areas with peeling and potholes , failing to meet the permitted vehicle load capacity, leading to significant traffic difficulties.

Mr. Tran Quoc Hung, Director of Dien Bien Environmental Joint Stock Company, said: "During the rainy season, the road is muddy and slippery, while in the dry season, it is dusty, reducing visibility, especially at night, leading to unsafe traffic conditions for the operating unit. Therefore, the company requests that relevant authorities and departments promptly upgrade and completely improve the road . "

Dien Bien Resources and Energy Investment Joint Stock Company requests permission to lease land to meet the schedule for bringing the project into operation as soon as possible.

The problem needs to be resolved soon.

During the period 2022-2024, 11 hydropower projects (including those from the previous period that were not completed) with a total capacity of 156MW were implemented in the province. Of these, 6 hydropower plants (Mun Chung 2, Song Ma 3, Muong Luan 1, Huoi Chan 1, De Bau, and Muong Luan 2) have been completed and put into operation, adding 79.5MW to the total capacity of these 6 plants.

It is expected that by the end of 2025, four more hydropower plants (Phi Linh, Nam Nua 2, Muong Muon, and Muong Tung) will be completed and put into operation , adding 60.5 MW of capacity . As for the Chieng So 2 Hydropower Project, with a capacity of 16 MW, construction began in May 2024 and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2027.

In recent years, the weather has been unpredictable, with prolonged heatwaves and low water levels in reservoirs, resulting in power plants not having enough water to generate electricity at their designed capacity. Consequently, the electricity production of some plants has fallen short of annual targets. The surveying, project planning, and implementation of construction work for hydropower plants by investors have been slow and protracted. This is due to the need for thorough site selection and evaluation, requiring multiple options to choose from; and the need to adjust the parameters of the hydropower project in the planning according to regulations.

The Nam Nua 2 Hydropower Project in Pa Thom commune, Dien Bien district, has completed many important components.

In addition, the list of power generation projects that are still missing from the allocation for Dien Bien province has not been approved for inclusion in the Implementation Plan for Power Development Plan VIII (21 small hydropower projects with a total capacity of 193.63MW; a 30MW biomass power project; and a 3MW waste-to-energy project), therefore there is no basis for implementing these projects.

Furthermore, the province's power generation planning and investment have not been synchronized with the development of the transmission grid system. Some hydropower projects have approved plans for connection to the regional grid, but the current regional grid infrastructure does not meet the technical requirements to handle the power output of these projects. For example: Connection work faces many difficulties; the 110KV and 220KV national grid systems have not been invested in and constructed by EVN according to the plan. Renewable energy projects in the districts of Nậm Pồ, Mường Nhé, and Mường Chà have not yet determined connection methods or connection points to the national grid because the 220kV (or 110kV) Nậm Pồ - Lai Châu 500/220/110kV substation and the 220kV (or 110kV) Nậm Pồ substation have not been constructed...

Workers at Huổi Chan 1 Hydropower Plant in Mường Pồn commune, Điện Biên district, operate the equipment.

Mr. Vu Hong Son, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, stated: To continue resolving difficulties and obstacles in electricity projects in the province, the Department of Industry and Trade has requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade to consider and submit to the Prime Minister for approval the addition of energy projects in the province to the Plan for implementing the Power Development Plan VIII. Attention should be paid to investing in the construction of 110kV and 220kV substations and transmission lines according to the approved plan. At the same time, a request was made to add one 220kV substation in the province; and to direct relevant units to accelerate the investment and construction progress of ongoing projects such as: the Dien Bien - Son La 220kV transmission line; the Dien Bien 220kV substation project; the 110kV outgoing line project after the Dien Bien 220kV substation; and the Muong Cha - Long Tao hydropower plant 110kV transmission line project...

Source: https://baodienbienphu.com.vn/tin-uc/kinh-te/219680/som-thao-go-kho-khan-cac-du-an-dien