On December 12, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a teleconference at the Government Office to announce and deploy the Government’s Resolution on the orientation and direction to resolve obstacles and difficulties for renewable energy projects.
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In his speech, the Prime Minister stated that as of now, 15 out of 15 targets set by the National Assembly for 2024 have been achieved. Among these accomplishments, the GDP growth rate exceeded 7%, setting the stage for achieving the economic growth target of approximately 8% in 2025.
While acknowledging the bright spots in the economy, the Prime Minister also reflected on the lessons learned in energy development. He highlighted the swift and successful execution of the 500 kV power line, which was completed with the best quality and without budget overruns. However, there are still renewable energy projects that have been temporarily halted or delayed.
As of the end of 2023, the total capacity of renewable energy sources (wind and solar power) in the power system was 21,664 MW, accounting for 27% of the total. The cumulative electricity production from these sources (wind, ground-mounted solar, and rooftop solar) for the year was about 27,317 million kWh, contributing almost 13% to the total electricity production.
The Prime Minister attributed the challenges in renewable energy development to an incomplete legal framework and the emergence of complex issues during project implementation. While acknowledging the positive aspects of rapid solar and wind energy development, he also pointed out the existence of difficulties, obstacles, and even violations.
These violations have been specifically concluded by the Government Inspectorate; therefore, it is necessary to identify and hold accountable the individuals involved.
The Prime Minister emphasized that delays in project deployment would result in significant societal resource waste and a failure to take advantage of available energy sources to ensure electricity supply and meet growth demands. Furthermore, it could lead to a potential breakdown, loss of payment capacity, and inability to repay debts to banks, ultimately resulting in bankruptcy and financial losses for businesses and individuals, negatively impacting the business environment.
Resolve by January 31, 2025
In his conclusion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that resolving the difficulties and obstacles facing these projects would be crucial for enhancing the country’s energy sources to meet socio-economic development goals for 2025 and beyond. He urged the immediate, urgent, synchronized, and effective implementation of the agreed-upon solutions, which have been approved by the Government and are supported by various ministries, sectors, and local authorities.
“The Government is determined to address and resolve obstacles comprehensively, aiming to expedite project execution and maximize their effectiveness. We strive to achieve a GDP growth rate of at least 8% in 2025,” the Prime Minister asserted.
Regarding the approach, the Government has opted to resolve issues by selecting optimal solutions based on economic and social benefit analyses while minimizing disputes, complaints, and potential negative impacts on the investment environment. The resolution of issues will prioritize economic measures, and criminal prosecution will only be considered as a last resort if there are legal changes, no adverse consequences, and no acts of corruption involved.
The resolution of difficulties for these projects is considered legitimate when approved by authorized agencies. The legitimate rights and interests of innocent third parties will be protected according to legal regulations.
It is imperative to prevent new violations and avoid corruption and negative consequences during the problem-solving process.
In terms of solutions, there is a consensus on allowing the integration of planning to facilitate project implementation, provided that the project does not violate regulations related to national defense, security, or the planning of key national projects.
For projects with procedural violations related to land and construction, there will be opportunities to rectify and complete the necessary procedures according to legal regulations.
Regarding projects that violate planning in the fields of minerals, irrigation, national defense, etc., a comprehensive assessment of the socio-economic impacts will be conducted. This will involve either adjusting the conflicting planning or integrating and simultaneously implementing the renewable energy project and the relevant planning.
For projects enjoying the FIT price that have been found to be in violation due to the fault of the enterprise and do not fully meet the conditions for the FIT price, the preferential FIT price will no longer apply. Instead, the electricity buying and selling prices will be determined according to regulations, and the preferential FIT prices that have been improperly enjoyed will be recovered through electricity bill compensation.
The Prime Minister emphasized that each agency must resolve issues within its jurisdiction publicly and transparently, adhering to the solutions proposed by the Government. He set the goal of resolving these issues by January 31, 2025.
Regarding the implementation of the Resolution, the Prime Minister requested that ministries, sectors, and localities thoroughly understand their responsibilities and immediately address and resolve obstacles and difficulties within their authority. He stressed that issues should be handled at the appropriate level without passing them upward or dealing with them in a roundabout manner.
For projects that have been prosecuted, the resolution of violations and the implementation of remedial measures will only take place after a court decision takes effect, in accordance with legal regulations. The process of addressing obstacles must be transparent, and any form of corruption or favoritism is strictly prohibited.
“The resolution of difficulties for renewable energy projects must be transparent and free from hassles, harassment, or corruption. The Government has issued a directive to address these issues, and localities should work together with enterprises to resolve them without any red tape or corruption. Any acts of corruption or favoritism will be strictly handled by the authorities,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
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