An Draft Decree on temporary forest use for the construction of electricity and power grid projects to serve national and public interests, emphasizing the unique nature of power grid lines, especially the 500kV transmission lines.
Due to the complex terrain of most forest and mountainous areas, the locations of the power pole foundations are far from existing transportation routes.
Without temporary items (temporary roads, temporary storage yards, which are auxiliary items for the construction of power pole foundations, transportation of materials, machinery, equipment…), it would be impossible to construct items such as foundations, power poles, and transmission lines.
Given the above requirement, the temporary use of forest land during construction is crucial and urgent. The State Steering Committee for important national programs, projects, and key energy sectors, Vietnam Electricity Group, and localities with power grid projects passing through have proposed and suggested using forest land for electricity grid projects in many documents.
The 500kV line project extends for 514km, from Quang Trach (Quang Binh) to Pho Noi (Hung Yen), with a total estimated investment of VND 23,000 billion. Photo: Luong Bang. |
On February 23, 2023, the Government issued Resolution No. 23/NQ-CP on a pilot basis to allow the impact on natural forests to create temporary works to serve the construction of the Monsoon – Thanh My 500kV power line project in Nam Giang District (Quang Nam) on 4,251 ha of natural forests.
At the same time, the Government delegated the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to study and supplement regulations on forest use for temporary works serving the construction of projects during the process of amending and supplementing Decree No. 156/2018/ND-CP.
To ensure the progress of the construction of the 500kV transmission line project from Quang Trach (Quang Binh) to Pho Noi (Hung Yen), on February 15, the Prime Minister issued Directive No. 06/CT-TTg to urge the implementation of key tasks after the Lunar New Year holiday in 2024.
In this regard, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is assigned to take the lead, coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to urgently amend Decree No. 156/2018/ND-CP, which stipulates in detail the implementation of some provisions of the Forestry Law.
For the time being, focus on supplementing regulations on forest use to immediately implement temporary construction works serving the construction of the Quang Trach – Pho Noi 500kV transmission line project and other essential electricity transmission projects in the appropriate order and simplified procedures. Issue the Decree before February 28, ensuring timely completion of electricity supply as planned and national energy security; other amendments and supplements are carried out in accordance with the regulations of the Law on Promulgation of Legal Normative Documents.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, it is necessary and urgent to build a decree on the temporary use of forests to serve the construction of power and electricity grid projects to promote socio-economic development for national and public interests.
The design process has already calculated to minimize the impact on forests, such as the height of power poles and the high point positions of power pole foundations, to avoid changing the purpose of forest use in the corridor.
Therefore, temporary construction works to serve construction are indispensable, such as transportation routes for equipment, construction materials, and installation of power lines.
“The temporary use of forests for the construction of power and electricity grid projects has great significance and positive impact on the implementation progress and effectiveness of the projects, especially the current 500kV transmission line projects,” emphasized the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Tam An
