Review the progress and remove obstacles to the national key energy projects

The 6th meeting of the State Steering Committee for National Key Projects and Major Energy Projects, October 2, 2024. Photo: VGP/Hai Minh.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, since the beginning of the year, the energy sector has put into operation 4 major projects: the 500 kV Monsoon – Thach My transmission line, the 220 kV Huoi Quang – Nghia Lo transmission line, the 500 kV Vinh Yen substation and the national grid power supply project for Con Dao. Nhon Trach 3 and 4 power plants are preparing to operate commercially in 2025; Hoa Binh hydropower plant expansion, Quang Trach 1 thermal power plant and Tri An hydropower plant expansion are also being accelerated. A number of long-standing difficult projects, such as Long Phu 1 and O Mon 4 Thermal Power Plants, continue to be dismantled.

Localities are committed to completing site clearance for power projects in November 2025.

Concluding the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized: to achieve the growth target of over 8% by 2025 and double digits in the next period, the power sector must grow 1.5 times higher than GDP, equivalent to about 8,000 MW/year, to meet the needs of high-tech development, chip production, etc, digital transformation and data center construction.

The Deputy Prime Minister urged ministries, agencies, and local authorities to proactively resolve obstacles and expedite project implementation. Photo: VGP/Hai Minh.

Currently, of the 58 projects monitored by the Steering Committee, 12 projects have been completed, and many key projects have made positive progress. However, some work is still slow, especially site clearance and investor selection for LNG power projects. The Deputy Prime Minister asked ministries, sectors and localities to proactively handle problems, accelerate progress, and avoid project stagnation.

Ministries, sectors and localities shall, according to their assigned functions and tasks, actively review and develop plans to implement Resolution 70-NQ/TW (20/8/2025) of the Politburo on ensuring national energy security to 2030, with a vision to 2045.

The People's Committees of provinces and cities coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance to urgently select investors for projects that have not yet existed and completed in the fourth quarter of 2025. For projects that have investors, it is required to make a detailed plan, clear progress, and report to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for supervision and urging. At the same time, increase human resources with sufficient capacity and experience for compensation and site clearance; can set up a full-time working group, especially in Dong Nai.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall support, inspect and supervise the progress of power source and grid projects; handle according to its competence projects that are behind schedule. Urgently complete and submit to the Prime Minister to consolidate the Steering Committee and Working Regulations in October 2025; review and supplement power projects under the Adjustment of Power Plan VIII to the key list, especially power supply projects for the North in the 2026-2030 period. At the same time, synthesize and complete the Action Program for the implementation of Resolution 70-NQ/TW in the spirit of "6 clear"; study mechanisms to strictly handle investors who are slow or do not implement projects.

The Deputy Prime Minister requested:

- Complete the selection of investors for power projects without investors (Nghi Son, Ca Na, Quynh Lap) in the fourth quarter of 2025.

- EVN and PVN drastically implement projects, with specific progress and accelerate.

- Regarding the Blue Whale gas field project, the establishment of a working group with ExxonMobil will be completed in October 2025./.