154 solar power projects are still awaiting review.

The Security Investigation Agency of the Ministry of Public Security believes that time is needed to review all 154 solar power projects transferred by the Government Inspectorate.

In a recent report to the Prime Minister on the issuance of supplementary and updated plans for the implementation of the new Power Development Plan VIII, the Ministry of Industry and Trade stated that it had held a meeting with the Security Investigation Agency (A09) of the Ministry of Public Security to review 154 projects transferred by the Government Inspectorate in Conclusion No. 1027/KL-TTCP dated April 28, 2023.

However, the Security Investigation Agency stated that more time is needed to review all 154 solar power projects transferred by the Government Inspectorate.

Therefore, currently, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has no basis to advise the Government on how to handle these solar power projects.

Loc Ninh 1-2-3 solar power project cluster. Photo: PECC2

The Ministry of Industry and Trade also stated that it will base its actions on the report from the Ministry of Public Security to continue coordinating with relevant units and localities to find solutions for solar power projects that have been assigned to investors by localities in the coming period, and will report to competent authorities for consideration and decision.

Previously, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha instructed the Ministry of Industry and Trade to coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to thoroughly review 154 solar power projects. This included classifying projects with legal obstacles, and projects with legal obstacles but whose violations and wrongdoings can be rectified according to the conclusions of inspections, audits, and investigations. Projects that meet the nine criteria should then be considered and proposed to the competent authorities for review in accordance with the law.

Also in Notice No. 396/TB-VPCP, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Public Security to carefully review the list of 154 solar power projects transferred by the Government Inspectorate, including analysis, evaluation, and classification criteria for projects based on violations: for projects without criminal law violations or projects with violations that can be rectified to continue implementation, consider and study proposals for handling them, avoiding waste of state, enterprise, and citizen assets, and report to the Prime Minister before August 30, 2024.

Notably, among these 154 solar power projects, many have already become operational and are generating electricity.

Conclusion 1027/KL-TTCP dated April 28, 2023, mentions the approval of the addition of 168 solar power projects, with a total capacity of 14,707 MW, to the power planning at all levels for the period 2016-2020.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has approved the addition of 114 solar power projects with a total capacity of 4,166 MW to the provincial power development plan, scheduled for operation between 2016 and 2020.
Of these, besides the 14 projects (870 MW) approved in the Power Development Plan of 4 provinces before 2016, updated to the 2016-2020 period, and 8 projects (122 MW) already approved in the Power Generation Plan of 5 provinces, the remaining 92 projects (3,194 MW) were individually added to the Power Development Plan of 23 provinces based on proposals from the People's Committees of the provinces, stemming from requests from the investors.
Of these, 15 out of 23 provinces do not have solar power investment plans in their provincial power development plans, and none of the 63 provinces and cities have solar power plans for the period up to 2030 that have been prepared and approved according to Decision No. 11/2017/QD-TTg.
Therefore, the Government Inspectorate concluded that the Ministry of Industry and Trade's approval of these 92 projects lacked legal basis in terms of planning (there was no planning), violating Clause 1, Article 4 of Decision 11/2017/QĐ-TTg.
Subsequently, the total solar power capacity approved in the revised Power Development Plan VII by 2020 was 850 MW. However, the Ministry of Industry and Trade advised and submitted to the Prime Minister a proposal to add 54 individual projects with a total capacity of 10,521 MW to the revised Power Development Plan VII, based on requests from provinces and investors, without establishing a national solar power development plan until 2020 as required by Decision 11/2017/QD-TTg.
Therefore, the Government Inspectorate concluded that the approval of these 54 projects lacked a planning basis and violated Clause 1, Article 4 of Decision 11/2017/QD-TTg.
According to the Government Inspectorate, approving the addition of solar power projects of no more than 50 MW to provincial power plans, or submitting to the Prime Minister for approval the addition of solar power projects over 50 MW to the revised Power Plan VII without preparing a revised plan or a plan as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 4 of Decision 11/2017/QĐ-TTg, does not ensure competition in attracting investment, does not ensure transparency, and risks giving rise to a "request-and-grant" mechanism.
Given this situation, the Government Inspectorate has recommended that the Prime Minister assign the Ministry of Public Security to receive the case files and documents for consideration, investigation, and handling in accordance with the law regarding the Ministry of Industry and Trade's approval and recommendation to the Prime Minister for the approval of 154 additional solar power projects with a total capacity of 13,837 MW that lacked legal basis and planning grounds (excluding 14 projects with a capacity of 870 MW approved before 2016 and updated to the 2016-2020 period).
Notably, the approval of 123 projects with a total capacity of 8,496 MW is the main cause of imbalances between power sources and the grid, power source structure, and regional distribution, creating difficulties in managing and operating the power system, and wasting resources… demonstrating lax management and showing signs of the crime of irresponsibility causing serious consequences as stipulated in Article 360 ​​of the 2015 Penal Code (amended and supplemented in 2017).

Source: https://baodautu.vn/154-du-an-dien-mat-troi-van-phai-cho-ra-soat-d225640.html