Ministry of Industry and Trade: urgently complete and submit to the Government the draft Law on Electricity (amended)

On September 13, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Industry and Trade , Minister Nguyen Hong Dien chaired a meeting on the draft Law on Electricity (amended).

Attending the meeting were Deputy Minister Truong Thanh Hoai, representatives of the Departments, Divisions and units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade and representatives of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group ( Petrovietnam ); Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN).

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien chaired the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien emphasized: The Electricity Law Project (amended) has been added by the National Assembly to the 2025 Law and Ordinance Development Program, adjusting the 2024 Law and Ordinance Development Program of the National Assembly (Resolution No. 129/2024/QH15 dated June 8, 2024 of the National Assembly). Accordingly, the Electricity Law Project (amended) will be submitted to the National Assembly for comments at the 8th session (October 2024). In case the Law project is well prepared by the Government and the discussion process at the National Assembly reaches high consensus, the National Assembly Standing Committee will consider and coordinate with the Government to submit it to the National Assembly for approval at the 8th session, according to the procedure at a session.

The Minister also said that, in the spirit of efforts to absorb and amend through consultations, all the difficulties in implementing the Electricity Law in the past and new issues (such as renewable energy, new energy, perfecting the construction of the electricity market at 3 levels, operation management, management of slow-progressing electricity projects, etc., which have had many practical and experienced solutions) have been included in the draft Law. However, there are still some contents that the Drafting Committee and the Editorial Team need to continue to exchange and discuss to soon reach consensus and complete the draft Law.

At the meeting, Mr. Tran Viet Hoa - Director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority reported on the reception and completion of the draft Electricity Law (amended).

Accordingly, implementing the tasks assigned by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 932/QD-TTg dated September 5, 2024 on the establishment of a Working Group to review legal problems in the implementation of electricity projects, direct and coordinate the completion of the Electricity Law Project (amended) and related laws and the direction of the Minister, the Electricity Regulatory Authority has coordinated with relevant Departments and Divisions under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, EVN, and Petrovietnam to review legal problems and complete the Electricity Law Project (amended).

Representatives of the Editorial Board and the Drafting Committee gave comments on the draft revised Electricity Law.

Regarding the reception of opinions from units, the Electricity Regulatory Authority coordinated with relevant Departments and Divisions, the National Electricity System and Market Operation Company Limited (NSMO), EVN, and Petrovietnam to complete the draft Electricity Law (amended) on a number of issues such as scope of regulation; application of the law; interpretation of terms; State policies on electricity development; Electricity development planning, project investment, development of renewable energy and new energy, electricity market; electricity trading, electricity prices and prices of electricity services; operation and dispatch of the national electricity system; electrical safety, safety of dams and hydroelectric reservoirs, etc.

Also at the meeting, members of the Editorial Board and the Drafting Committee gave their opinions on the draft Law on Electricity (amended) such as regulations on approving investment policies for power projects for power grid and power source investment projects passing through two or more provinces; regulations on bidding to select investors in the form of public-private partnerships; electricity trading with foreign countries; implementation of offshore wind power projects, etc.

Overview of the working session

Acknowledging the comments and conclusions at the meeting, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien highly appreciated the responsible and effective working spirit of the Drafting Committee and Editorial Team to complete the draft to be submitted to the National Assembly Standing Committee in the coming time.

The Minister emphasized that the Editorial Team and the Drafting Board must urgently complete the draft law in accordance with the direction of the Minister to meet the deadline for submission to the Government and the National Assembly. In addition, the Minister also assigned the Editorial Team and the Drafting Board to complete the draft outline of the Decree and Circular in parallel with completing the draft of the Law to ensure the issuance of guiding documents after the Law is passed.

Bui Cong

Source: https://www.pvn.vn/chuyen-muc/tap-doan/tin/03b8b025-89bd-4a1b-8ecd-d988788bf82a