The Prime Minister’s directive to accelerate the construction of the 500kV transmission line circuit 3 and bring it into operation by June 2024 presents an enormous challenge. The project still awaits investment approval, adding to the complexity of the task at hand.

The extended 500kV power transmission line circuit 3, consisting of four subprojects spanning a total length of 514 kilometers from Quang Trach (Quang Binh Province) to Pho Noi (Hung Yen Province), is a crucial component of the National Power Master Plan VIII. With a total investment of VND23 trillion, this project aims to increase the power supply from the South to the North to 5,000MW and was originally scheduled for operation in 2025-2026. However, the completion date has been pushed up to June 2024, as instructed by Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien at a meeting on July 8, in order to address the power shortage in the North. The significance and urgency of the extended 500kV transmission line circuit 3 cannot be overstated, especially in light of the severe power shortage experienced in the region. Despite the presence of 85 renewable power projects, primarily located in the central and southern regions, the power generated from these sources has been unable to reach the north due to the limited reach of the existing 500kV transmission line circuit 3, which currently extends only from the south to Vung Ang (Ha Tinh Province). However, meeting the June 2024 deadline presents a monumental challenge, if not an impossible task, given the scale and complexity of the project, which spans nine provinces and is yet to receive investment approval. One particularly intricate section is the Quang Trach-Quynh Luu-Thanh Hoa segment, which covers a distance of 316.7 kilometers and traverses the provinces of Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, and Thanh Hoa. According to the Central Vietnam Power Project Management Board, projects of similar magnitude typically take around 50 months to complete after conducting feasibility studies, not to mention the potential problems associated with site clearance compensation. Complicating matters further, the construction site for this section features difficult terrain and is highly susceptible to adverse weather conditions. Moreover, the process of obtaining Prime Ministerial approval for utilizing forest land in construction projects is often time-consuming, typically taking 10-18 months under favorable circumstances. Numerous regulatory changes in the construction investment sector have posed formidable difficulties for investors in power projects. These obstacles have created hurdles in executing the necessary procedures, including obtaining approval for the extended 500kV transmission line circuit 3. As a result, the Central Vietnam Power Project Management Board, responsible for managing and operating the project, is concerned about potential delays in meeting the 2025 operational deadline. With the new target of June 2024, the pressure to expedite progress is mounting. During the mid-year review conference of the Ministry of Industry and Trade on July 7, EVN General Director Tran Dinh Nhan acknowledged that power supply in the north will face numerous challenges, particularly in 2024-2025. In response, EVN aims to develop the 500kV transmission line circuit 3 from the southern and central regions to the north, committing to completing it by May 2025. Nhan acknowledged that meeting the June 2024 deadline poses a great challenge, but EVN and the National Power Transmission Corporation, the project’s investor, are fully mobilizing resources to ensure timely completion. To ensure progress, the National Power Transmission Corporation has proposed that competent authorities speed up the approval process for the extended 500kV transmission line circuit 3 as an urgent power project in the National Power Master Plan VIII. They have also suggested adopting a mechanism to accelerate the investment and construction progress. Additionally, they have requested the Ministry of Planning and Investment to examine the project and seek the Prime Minister’s approval in July. Based on data from relevant provinces, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development should guide those provinces in project execution. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been tasked with assessing the feasibility study, technical design, and reviewing the investment policy, while the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment should examine the environmental impact assessment report and approve it within five days of the investment policy’s approval. Concluding the meeting on July 8, the Minister of Industry and Trade instructed EVN and the National Power Transmission Corporation to complete the project’s documentation in July and submit it for assessment and approval of the investment policy in August, with the goal of obtaining final approval for the project in September. Once approved, these entities must urgently collaborate with local authorities for site clearance and expedite the project’s completion to meet the Prime Minister’s deadline of June 2024. The timeline reflects the impatience of the Government leader and the determination of power units to develop this critical project, ensuring energy security for northern Vietnam. However, given the current circumstances, even the most optimistic individuals find it challenging to believe that the extended 500kV transmission line circuit 3 can be operational by June 2024. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister’s order undoubtedly increases pressure, compelling relevant agencies and local authorities to accelerate progress as much as possible. In conjunction with these efforts, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and EVN should devise contingency plans to prevent severe power shortages in the north until the extended 500kV transmission line circuit 3 is completed.