Dien on May 24 presided over an online meeting with localities and investors about thermal power projects using domestically exploited natural gas and LNG, named in the list of key projects under the eighth national power development plan (Plan 8).

Under Plan 8, the total capacity of gas-fired power projects to be built and put into operation by 2030 is 30,424MW (23 projects), Of these, 10 plants will use domestically exploited gas and 13 LNG-fired projects.

Meanwhile, to date, most gas-fired power projects are still under preparation for investment and little progress has been made, according to To Xuan Bao, head of the Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority.

Particularly, three projects, namely Ca Na, Nghi Son and Quynh Lap, with total capacity of 4,500MW still cannot find investors.

Meanwhile, Hai Lang project is still in the first phase of preparation for investment, Quang Ninh project has not completed the feasibility study be submitted to the MOIT (Ministry of Industry and Trade) for appraisal again.

As for the other projects, Bac Lieu and Hiep Phuoc LNG are in the first phase, OMon2 is under negotiations for PPA (power purchase agreement), and Long An 1 and 2 are still awaiting adjustments of investment policy and their feasibility studies have not been approved. In the case of Son My 1 and 2 (BOT), the feasibility studies have not been completed.

Bao said his agency is drafting a decree that sets a PPA mechanism to be applied to projects using natural gas and LNG, which will be submitted to the ministry, and later to the Prime Minister for promulgation.

At the working sessions, local authorities cited problems related to the negotiations for PPA negotiations and site clearance in localities. 

Some provinces still cannot conduct negotiations and sign agreements on connecting the national grid because investment in transmission lines remains unclear. They also complained that the proposed incentives and requirements to ensure investments is unsuited to current laws.

Trinh Minh Hoang, Vice Chairman of Ninh Thuan Province, said the provincial authorities have completed bidding documents, but some matters remain unclear. Bidding documents will be released in early June.

Nguyen Van Thi, Vice Chair of Thanh Hoa Province, promised that the provincial authorities would complete procedures in September and kick off the execution soon after legal procedures are fulfilled.

Dien, while urging localities to implement power projects, stressed that all the projects must generate commercial electricity prior to 2029.

Tam An