On the afternoon of February 21, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), Minister Nguyen Hong Dien chaired a meeting to discuss the progress of the Lao Cai – Vinh Yen 500kV transmission line project.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Office of the State Steering Committee for national key programs, projects, and works in the energy sector, leaders of relevant units under MOIT, Vietnam Electricity (EVN), and the People's Committees of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, and Vinh Phuc provinces.

Construction to commence in February 2025

According to the revised Power Development Plan VIII, Vietnam aims to achieve a total system capacity of approximately 230,000MW by 2030, three times the current total capacity, to meet economic growth targets. Therefore, developing power sources to meet domestic demand and future electricity export goals necessitates significant investment in the transmission system, particularly interregional transmission, to release capacity.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien chairs meeting on progress of Lao Cai – Vinh Yen transmission line project. Photo: Can Dung

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien emphasized that the Lao Cai – Vinh Yen 500kV transmission line is one of the key projects aimed at releasing the capacity of power projects in the Northwest region both now and in the future while being ready for electricity imports from China if necessary. Therefore, the Prime Minister has mandated that EVN, the project's investor, commence construction in February 2025. To ensure the project's completion before August 30, 2025, EVN and relevant ministries, sectors, and localities must implement activities decisively.

Report on the project's implementation status, EVN Chairman Dang Hoang An stated that EVN has assigned the Power Project Management Board 1 (EVNPMB1) to manage the project, with a total investment of approximately VND 7.411 trillion. The starting point of the line is the Lao Cai 500kV Substation, and the endpoint is the Vinh Yen 500kV Substation, with a total length of approximately 229.5km, passing through 4 provinces and 12 districts (Lao Cai: 2 districts; Yen Bai: 2 districts; Phu Tho: 3 districts; and Vinh Phuc: 5 districts). In total, there are 468 transmission tower foundation positions (Lao Cai: 100 positions; Yen Bai: 173 positions; Phu Tho: 94 positions; and Vinh Phuc: 101 positions), with a total land occupation area of 63.03 hectares for the tower foundations, affecting 2,189 households, of which 248 households require resettlement. Currently, EVN has approved the overall contractor selection plan and has completed the review, approval, and issuance of bidding documents for all PC packages (steel tower supply and construction), as well as materials and equipment supply packages (conductors, fiber optics, insulators, electrical accessories, etc.). EVN is also collaborating with the four affected provinces to accelerate compensation and site clearance efforts to facilitate the early handover of tower foundation locations and right-of-way.

EVN Chairman Dang Hoang An. Photo: Can Dung

This project is important and urgent, with a very tight implementation timeline as mandated by the Prime Minister. To ensure its success, political will, support from all levels of government, and public backing are crucial. Accordingly, the investor, EVN, has made several recommendations and proposals to ministries and sectors, urging them to take drastic measures in directing activities that support the investor during the project's construction. Local authorities are required to expedite the approval of land prices to provide a basis for the investor to carry out compensation and site clearance; assist residents in resettlement, ensure timely payment to affected households, and encourage people to hand over the land.

During the meeting, local representatives reported on land surveying and boundary demarcation progress for the project’s execution.

Overview of meeting on Lao Cai - Vinh Yen 500kV transmission line project on afternoon of February 21. Photo: Can Dung.

Accordingly, local authorities propose that the consulting unit focus on accelerating cadastral surveying and promptly completing the standardization process for immediate implementation. At the same time, they should soon hand over the corridor boundaries of the four communes in the province to ensure the inventory process and project progress.

Regarding resettlement, only 7 households can be resettled on-site, while the rest require centralized resettlement. Therefore, Vinh Phuc province has recently reviewed available infrastructure plans but noted significant challenges.

Mobilizing entire political system

In concluding the meeting, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien reaffirmed the project's critical role in the energy sector, helping release power capacity in the Northwest region and prepare for electricity imports from China if needed. The government has identified this as a key national project, requiring rapid execution within six months from groundbreaking.

The Minister pointed out that, based on reports and feedback from localities, the provincial authorities involved in this project have made great efforts in implementation. As a result, investment preparation and site clearance and compensation work have seen positive progress. However, the reports also indicate that only Lao Cai province has basically completed the approval of the resettlement compensation plan, while the remaining provinces have achieved very low completion rates, especially Phu Tho province.

Additionally, compensation payments have only been completed up to 98% in Lao Cai province, while the other provinces have barely made any progress. Along the entire route, no tower foundation positions have been handed over yet, which is the most critical step for actual implementation.

In order to ensure the project's completion as required by the Prime Minister, in the coming period, the People's Committees of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, and Vinh Phuc provinces, along with Vietnam Electricity (EVN), are urged to implement the following key tasks decisively:

Firstly, mobilize the entire political system to lead and implement site clearance efforts, supporting the investor during the construction process, while promoting the proactive approach demonstrated by Lao Cai and Vinh Phuc provinces. Additionally, enhances public communication and engagement efforts to gain community consensus, ensuring support and favorable conditions for land handover, construction, and long-term project protection once operational.

Secondly, urgently consider implementing all related tasks in parallel to accelerate the preparation and approval of compensation, support, and resettlement plans, expedite the payment process to affected residents and actively encourage them to hand over the land, aim to complete the handover of foundation locations by February 2025 and the corridor areas by March 2025, with a determined, serious, and resolute approach.

"If there are obstacles regarding mechanisms or legal issues, the Government and the National Assembly will consider them. All tasks that can be carried out should be implemented by local party committees and authorities," the Minister emphasized. "EVN is required to commence construction in February. After the groundbreaking, simultaneous implementation should begin at all foundation and pole locations handed over by local authorities, aiming for completion as soon as possible before the August 31 deadline cause this project is a tribute to National Day on September 2."

Thirdly, direct forest owners to urgently develop plans for the utilization and full recovery of forest products for submission to the relevant authorities for approval by February 2025. Additionally, complete related procedures for liquidation and auction of assets (if applicable) no later than March 15.

Fourthly, require the People's Committees of Yen Bai, Phu Tho, and Vinh Phuc provinces to instruct district-level authorities to issue official approvals for waste disposal sites by March 10, 2025 (Luc Yen district - Yen Bai province, Doan Hung and Thanh Ba district - Phu Tho province, and Tam Dao and Lap Thach district - Vinh Phuc province.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien commended Vinh Phuc yesterday (February 20) for completing the forest land conversion and suggested selecting this location for the groundbreaking ceremony.

For EVN, the Minister required: First, urgently and decisively coordinate with local authorities to complete the necessary documents and procedures related to compensation, site clearance, payment to affected residents, and continue to encourage them to hand over the land.

Second, promptly complete the contractor selection to begin construction as soon as the site is available and conditions are met. The Minister emphasized learning from the Quang Trach - Pho Noi 500kV transmission line project, where the selection of the main contractor was done quickly, but the subcontractor selection, especially materials and equipment suppliers, was slow or involved some contractors with insufficient capacity. For this project, lessons should be learned early and proactively, and EVN should make early proposals for material reserves.

Third, coordinate with local authorities to effectively carry out public communication and advocacy, ensuring public support for site clearance, construction activities, and project protection.

Fourth, prepare all necessary conditions, materials, equipment, vehicles, human resources, and funds for site clearance. It is recommended to uphold the spirit of the Quang Trach - Pho Noi 500kV transmission line project by following the "four on-site" principle: "on-site command; on-site forces; on-site materials and equipment; and on-site logistics" to ensure the best execution of the project. At the same time, EVN is required to establish a construction schedule as a basis for implementation, organization, supervision, and progress monitoring.

Translator: Thu Hường