This was disclosed in a high-level meeting on August 14, led by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, involving multiple government ministries and local authorities.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has completed its review of all power projects proposed by various localities. The draft decision for updating the Power Development Plan, which spans from 2021-2030 with a vision extending to 2050, currently includes 110 wind power projects with a combined capacity of 6,665.3 MW, 128 small hydropower projects totaling 1,362.98 MW, 21 biomass power projects contributing 414 MW, and 34 waste-to-energy projects accounting for 621.1 MW.

However, the 154 solar projects in question were flagged for concerns over land use, investment procedures, and planning approvals, according to a report from the Government Inspectorate. Initially approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and recommended for the Prime Minister's endorsement, these projects are now stalled due to lacking necessary legal and regulatory foundations.

Deputy Inspector General Le Sy Bay highlighted the imperative for local authorities to work closely with relevant ministries to rectify the issues pinpointed in the investigation. Updates were provided by provincial leaders on their ongoing efforts to address these challenges to ensure projects comply with regulations and can proceed.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien noted that many solar power projects proposed by local governments are currently excluded from the plan due to their involvement in the ongoing investigations. Their inclusion will be reconsidered following the conclusion of the investigation and the implementation of any required corrective actions.

In his closing remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasized that only those projects that are free from violations or have successfully corrected their issues will be considered for inclusion in the Power Development Plan. He called for swift and thorough resolution of the identified problems, urging local authorities to report back promptly once rectifications are made, enabling these projects to be reevaluated for inclusion.

For the 154 scrutinized solar projects, the Deputy Prime Minister mandated enhanced collaboration among local authorities, businesses, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and investigative bodies to expedite the resolution process, aiming to achieve Vietnam’s ambitious power development targets without further delays.

Luong Bang