Power Cut on Expressway Due to Unpaid Electricity Bills
According to a report by Tuổi trẻ, the Đồng Nai Electricity Distribution Corporation (EDC) has announced the suspension of electricity supply to the lighting systems at several interchanges along the Phan Thiết – Dầu Giây Expressway due to unpaid bills by the Vietnam Expressway Services Corporation (VEC E) for February and March 2024.
EDC responded to the report, stating that it does not intend to cut off power to the expressway’s lighting systems.
Earlier, Xuân Lộc Electricity Company and Cẩm Mỹ Electricity Company had sent official notices to VEC E regarding the suspension of electricity due to unpaid bills for the lighting systems at interchanges along the Phan Thiết – Dầu Giây Expressway within the province.
VEC E currently owes Xuân Lộc Electricity Company over 19 million VND for electricity used to illuminate two interchanges between the Phan Thiết – Dầu Giây Expressway and Provincial Road 765 (in Xuân Hiệp Commune, Xuân Lộc District) and National Highway 1 (in Xuân Tâm Commune). The company also owes Cẩm Mỹ Electricity Company over 27.7 million VND for electricity used to illuminate the Km99 interchange and the interchange between the Phan Thiết – Dầu Giây Expressway and National Highway 56.
However, Cẩm Mỹ Electricity Company only issued a written notice regarding the power suspension and has not yet taken any concrete actions. Xuân Lộc Electricity Company did cut off power at the interchanges of the Phan Thiết – Dầu Giây Expressway with National Highway 1 and Provincial Road 765, but only for a brief period of 5 minutes between 6:00 PM and 6:05 PM on April 12th due to an oversight, and not due to VEC E’s unpaid bills.
The Phan Thiết – Dầu Giây Expressway is approximately 99 kilometers long, with the section passing through Đồng Nai being about 51 kilometers. It is part of the Eastern North-South Expressway project. Construction began in late September 2020, with a total investment value of over 12,500 billion VND. The main highway opened to traffic in late April 2023, and the average daily traffic volume has reached over 5.3 million vehicles (over 17,000 vehicles per day and night).
According to Vnexpress, the Thăng Long Project Management Board entrusted VEC E with the management, operation, and maintenance of the Phan Thiết – Dầu Giây Expressway section from April 29th, 2023, until a permanent manager is selected. However, due to the lack of funding, the Thăng Long Project Management Board has not made any payments to VEC E for its maintenance work in nearly a year. Meanwhile, VEC E claims that its operating and maintenance costs for the Dầu Giây – Phan Thiết Expressway have exceeded 10 billion VND.
During a meeting on April 19th between the Thăng Long Project Management Board and VEC E, the two parties agreed that the Thăng Long Project Management Board would submit a report to the Ministry of Transport regarding the funding for VEC E. If the funding is not secured by April 28th, VEC E will temporarily suspend its management, operation, and maintenance of the Dầu Giây – Phan Thiết Expressway.
VEC E’s Business Operations
According to its website, VEC E was established in April 2010 with a charter capital of 50 billion VND. The company’s primary activities include the management, operation, and exploitation of expressways; the operation of warehouses, support services for transportation, loading and unloading of goods, and passenger and cargo transportation by road; advertising; the operation of hotels, guesthouses, dining services, and tourism services; the management and exploitation of road infrastructure, and the trading of building materials and equipment.
Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thành – Dầu Giây Expressway
VEC E is also involved in consulting and construction. The company has been involved in the construction of the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thành – Dầu Giây Expressway, the Long Thành Bridge, the Dầu Giây Toll Station, and the Long Phước Toll Station. Additionally, the company is engaged in real estate development, both as an investor and a consultant, broker, and auctioneer.
