Creating breakthroughs for power projects.

Tomorrow morning, November 28th, the Government will submit to the National Assembly the draft Resolution on mechanisms and policies for national energy development for the period 2026-2030. "This resolution is very groundbreaking and needs to be promulgated as soon as possible," commented Mr. Phan Xuan Duong, an independent energy consultant who has followed the draft resolution from its initial stages.

In recent times, the implementation of many power projects has continuously faced obstacles, despite the rapidly increasing electricity demand of the economy . The energy sector requires large capital investments, involves high risks, and has a long project lifecycle, but currently lacks specific mechanisms to attract and ensure the implementation of large-scale, strategic projects.

Another major challenge is the slow pace of local planning adjustments. Despite the approval of the National Power Development Plan, many provinces and cities have yet to promptly update power projects into their construction plans, urban and rural planning, or land use plans. This lack of synchronization leads to bottlenecks in land approval, investment licensing, and project implementation. The current Planning Law also lacks flexible adjustment mechanisms, preventing the resolution of many local proposals such as adding substations, power lines, or connecting power sources.

Furthermore, the process of granting investment approvals and selecting investors remains complex and lengthy. Legal regulations do not clearly define the agency responsible for preparing dossiers for power grid projects, leading to fragmentation, a lack of initiative, and a lack of uniformity. Currently, there is also no mechanism for assigning state-owned enterprises as investors in transmission projects, causing the progress of power grid investment and key infrastructure to release capacity to lag behind the planned schedule.

While BOT power projects face difficulties due to the lack of regulations on guarantee obligations from competent authorities or state-owned enterprises participating in the projects, the group of imported LNG thermal power projects, identified as an important base power source in the revised Power Plan VIII, is hampered by electricity pricing mechanisms and contract output. Offshore wind power, despite its great potential, is still awaiting a breakthrough mechanism to accelerate the investment preparation and implementation process.

The above situation highlights the increasing pressure on the national power system. With electricity demand projected to surge to support double-digit growth targets, the risk of supply shortages may arise if key projects continue to be delayed. Meanwhile, Resolution No. 70-NQ/TW requires that by 2030, national energy security must be firmly ensured, providing sufficient, stable, and high-quality electricity while reducing emissions. Therefore, the Government's urgent submission to the National Assembly of the draft resolution on mechanisms and policies for energy development in the 2026-2030 period is not only necessary but also a mandatory step.

According to the initial draft resolution, the Government proposes several outstanding mechanisms to address the biggest bottlenecks hindering project progress, including reforming investment procedures; a more flexible planning adjustment mechanism; clear decentralization and delegation of authority; and perfecting the legal framework on bidding and electricity pricing… If properly designed, this will be an important foundation paving the way for power projects, from source to grid, from traditional to renewable energy.

However, specific mechanisms also carry risks if not thoroughly vetted. Policy issuance should avoid legitimizing past shortcomings while simultaneously preventing legal loopholes that could facilitate fraud and corruption. This requires a rigorous, open, and transparent resolution drafting process, coupled with a sufficiently strong oversight mechanism to ensure effective implementation.

In the context of the energy sector facing unprecedented pressures regarding progress, supply, and transition requirements, the National Assembly's careful consideration of each provision of the draft Resolution on mechanisms and policies for energy development in the period 2026-2030 is of particular importance. Appropriate and timely decisions will remove bottlenecks, accelerate the progress of power projects, thereby contributing to consolidating national energy security and meeting the country's ever-increasing electricity demand in the new development phase.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/tao-dot-pha-cho-cac-du-an-dien-10397273.html