MOIT discussed solutions to remove difficulties for key power projects

Minister Tran Tuan Anh chaired a meeting on removing difficulties for the key power projects

At the meeting, Mr. Phuong Hoang Kim – Director of Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy made a general report on implementing the power projects in Power Development Planning VII (adjusted project – PDP) and the solutions to guarantee power supply for demand consumption, which in the first six months of 2019 increased nearly 10% compared to that in the same time of 2018, in particular strongly in the hot months as April, May and June.  Demand consumption is predicted to continuously increase by the same rate in the late months of 2019, and the power system should ensure sufficient supply.

Regarding the development of renewable energy, Mr. Phuong Hoang Kim informed, the total capacity of solar power projects (SPPs) proposed by investors up to now has reached about 25,000 MW, and of wind power projects WPPs about 16,500 MW. By the end of June 2019 there were 89 SPPs with a total capacity of nearly 4,500 MW put into operation, that timely supplemented power supply to the national power system in the first 6 months of 2019. However, the existing 500-220-110kV power grids in  Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Dak Nong and Dak Lak provinces, where there are many SPPs, recent time in some hours, sustained  overload affecting the safe and stable operation of power system.

For 2020, the electricity supply is expected to be basically satisfied but some potential risks still implicit and the risk of power shortage may occur in extreme situations (in the case, if demand is higher than forecast, poor water follow to hydropower reservoirs, coal and gas  shortage for thermal power plants).

Summarizing the progress of implementing 62 power plant projects with a capacity of over 200 MW each, Mr. Kim straightly pointed out that many projects are still behind schedule planed in the PDP VII +.

Facing this situation, Deputy Minister Hoang Quoc Vuong emphasized to accelerate implementing renewable energy projects, because the time to implement these projects is much shorter than that for thermal power projects. Regarding the shortcomings from the policy to prolong the implementation progress of the projects, Deputy Minister Hoang Quoc Vuong said, it is necessary to carefully consider where the stuck is to report to the Government.

Minister Tran Tuan Anh emphasized, for immediate risks, there are both subjective and objective reasons. In subjective reasons, there are difficult issues due to the overlapping regulations and procedures but also problems that can be solved. Therefore, the Minister asked the Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy and the relevant units of the Ministry to hasten the progress of projects and work with a highest sense of responsibility.

The Minister requested, to review the legal sanctions and regulations for investors having projects behind schedule. Besides, the Minister also stressed the responsibilities of several local leaders due to lack strong guidance on projects under PDPVII + leading to the breakthrough the Planning structure.

Regarding the Power Development Planning VIII, the Minister requested the units under the Ministry to accelerate the completion progress of the projects, innovate the modes of implementing and updating the actual situation, pay attention to the structure of the power sources and issues related to technology and the legal framework in the future.

Regarding the operation of hydropower plants, the Minister assigned the Electricity Regulatory Department to coordinate with the Department of Industrial Safety and Environment to work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to review the inter-lake operation process, add the new regulations related to extreme weather.

The Minister concurred with the idea of continuously promoting the propaganda and implementation of saving and effective energy use.

Regarding this subject, Deputy Director of Energy Saving and Sustainable Development Department Trinh Quoc Vu informed, the key enterprises consume 40% energy demand of the whole country. So if these enterprises use energy efficiently, a significant electricity amount will save.

Mr. Trinh Quoc Vu emphasized more, in 2019, the Department of Energy Saving and Sustainable Development will coordinate with EVN to organize for several enterprises to sign a commitment to save 10% of electricity consumption in 2019.

Concluding the meeting, Minister Tran Tuan Anh proposed Deputy Minister Hoang Quoc Vuong and units under MOIT to carefully examine Power Development Planning VIII and considered it as a key and strategic task; review Decree 63, thereby finding solutions to facilitate projects.

The Minister requested the Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy to reevaluate the entire important projects in PDPVII+ with focusing on projects in behind schedule or projects for which the progress cannot be determined.

The Minister emphasized, it is necessary to determine the social ties of these projects for the electricity industry, determine the causes, consequences and responsibility for each individual, agency and unit to drastically solve these obstacles.

VietnamEnergy.vn