The site clearance and handover of the local authorities faces delay
According to the Central Power Projects Management Board (CPMB) – which is in charge of project management and implementation on behalf of the National Power Transmission Corporation, as of October 9, 95/304 (or 31.3%) tower foundation positions have been handed over, including 69/172 positions by Khanh Hoa province, and 26/132 positions by Ninh Thuan province. These provinces have not been handed over any land for the right of way. Regarding forest land-related procedures, 41/159 positions have been handed over, including 41/117 positions by Khanh Hoa province, and 0/42 positions by Ninh Thuan province.
Digging foundation pit at position 210 in Van Phong - Vinh Tan 500kV transmission line in Ninh Thuan province
Currently, EVNNPT/CPMB has been working closely with relevant authorities of Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan provinces to focus on collaborating with contractors to make an inventory and mobilize people to hand over their lands to contractors in a successive manner. However, all project items are 3 months behind schedule.
According to the document of the Embassy of Japan, Van Phong 1 BOT Thermal Power Plant Project in Van Phong Economic Zone (Khanh Hoa Province) is a BOT project being signed under the witness of the Prime Ministers of the two countries in October 2018. This is also an important project, playing a big role in supplying electricity to Vietnam. The project has been being implemented smoothly with the target of being put into commercial operation in 2023. However, this target is likely to be threatened due to obstacles in the construction of Van Phong - Vinh Tan 500kV transmission line being invested by Vietnam Electricity (EVN).
The Embassy of Japan also stated: in the past, the power plant owner - Van Phong Power Co., Ltd. and the investor - Sumitomo Group sent a letter to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to request for accelerating procedures on changing the land use purpose, making compensation for site clearance and handover to EVN with the aim of constructing the power transmission line.
Devoting the best resources to the project
Recognizing the importance of Van Phong - Vinh Tan 500kV transmission line project, during the last time, EVNNPT/CPMB has sent a written request to the local authorities and asked them to hold a meeting on determining the origin of land, making a compensation plan, and approving payment for the land acquired.
According to the leader of EVNNPT, although EVNNPT/CPMB has made great efforts and prepared construction plans, the most decisive factor to the project progress is the site clearance. Therefore, EVNNPT has proposed that the local authorities should complete the entire site clearance by June 2022 to enable the project construction, in order to ensure the project completion schedule by December 2022 according to the signed contract.