Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha chaired an in-person and online nationwide meeting on the afternoon of July 9 regarding the supplementation and updating of the plan to implement the Master Plan for National Power Development for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision towards 2050 (Power Development Plan VIII).
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested that the implementation plan for Power Development Plan VIII should not omit eligible projects. Photo: VGP
According to Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hoang Long, to ensure the development of concentrated solar power projects to implement the direct power purchase and sale mechanism, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has reviewed and proposed to the Prime Minister that the Government Inspectorate take the lead in coordinating with relevant units to urgently address difficulties and obstacles related to 154 concentrated solar power projects that are subject to inspection and investigation and have inspection conclusions, so that localities and investors can soon implement projects in line with the source structure in Power Development Plan VIII.
In addition, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will coordinate with relevant units to continue reviewing and identifying eligible concentrated solar power projects.
Regarding wind power projects, the Ministry of Industry and Trade proposed removing from the implementation plan of Power Development Plan VIII some projects due to localities’ slow proposal submission, procedural difficulties, planning overlaps with mineral areas, among others.
Leaders of some localities pointed out that many projects were only slow in proposing compared to the deadline, or had violations that could be remedied and did not fall under investigation or criminal handling, and met the criteria of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, but were still not included in the implementation plan of Power Development Plan VIII.
In addition, some provinces also proposed allocating more capacity for wind, solar, waste-to-energy, and biomass power projects, or updating additional projects to meet the capacity assigned according to Power Development Plan VIII.
Regarding projects under inspection and investigation, the Government Inspectorate affirmed that solar power projects with inspection conclusions are no longer under inspection and investigation. Therefore, the Ministry of Industry and Trade should review and identify projects that have remedied and handled violations according to inspection, examination, investigation, and audit conclusions and court judgments (if any) and meet the criteria for system safety, transmission technology, and economic efficiency, among others, to be included in the plan.
Concluding the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasized the view of not limiting the development of renewable energy on the basis of ensuring system safety, while adjusting and updating Power Development Plan VIII in a timely manner, creating favorable conditions for the shift from fossil energy to renewable energy.
The Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade to continue reviewing and updating the plan for solar and wind power projects that have no violations or are in the process of remedying violations according to the conclusions of inspections, examinations, investigations, audits, and court judgments (if any) when meeting the criteria for system safety, transmission technology, and economic efficiency, among others.
“Do not waste the investment resources of enterprises and meet the development requirements of localities,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade should create favorable conditions for localities to review and report on the supplementation of solar and wind power projects with energy storage systems, waste-to-energy, biomass power, and other projects.
Regarding wind power projects overlapping with the planning for mineral exploration and exploitation, the Deputy Prime Minister suggested removing obstacles by proposing adjustments to the power development planning and mineral exploration and exploitation planning to harmonize the interests of localities, businesses, and relevant investors.
The conclusion of the inspection on the management of investment and construction of power projects according to Power Development Plan VII and the adjusted Power Development Plan VII, issued by the Government Inspectorate on December 25, 2023, clearly pointed out that the addition and recommendation of the Ministry of Industry and Trade for the Government’s approval of 154 solar power projects with a total capacity of 13,837 MW in Power Development Plan VII were “without basis or legal grounds.” Accordingly, the Government Inspectorate transferred the case to the investigative agency to clarify the signs of the crime of irresponsibility causing serious consequences.
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