Proposal to temporarily impact the forest to construct the 500 kV line

To keep up with the schedule, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development proposed to temporarily use the forest to construct the 500 kV line 3 to bring electricity to the North.

The 500kV line 3 project must be completed by June 2024, but is at risk of being delayed due to regulations on converting forest land use purposes and procedures for impacting forests to open temporary construction roads. According to data from Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN), the forest area of the temporary road of the 500kV Quynh Luu - Thanh Hoa line is nearly 3.5 hectares, and the Quang Trach - Quynh Luu section is more than 6 hectares.

To remove obstacles, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has just submitted to the Government a draft Decree allowing impacts on forests to construct temporary roads and temporary material gathering areas.

The draft stipulates that power source and grid projects can only temporarily use forests when other land areas cannot be arranged. The plan for use must also minimize the affected forest area, and the current status of the area and reserves must be investigated and assessed.

In strictly protected areas of special-use forests, forest areas containing rare and endangered forest plants will not be used for temporary construction. After construction is completed, the forest must be restored immediately during the nearest reforestation season but no later than 12 months.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee decides to approve the temporary forest use plan. In case the area is under the management of ministries, the Provincial People's Committee shall seek the opinion of the relevant ministry.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development assessed the need for temporary use of forest land as "very necessary and urgent" due to the special nature of the power grid. Most of the power grid lines go through forests and mountains with complex terrain, so the foundations and poles are far from existing traffic routes. To carry out the construction, contractors and investors need to build temporary items, including temporary roads, temporary storage areas for materials, machinery and equipment.

"Without temporary items, it will be impossible to construct foundations, columns, and power transmission lines," the agency said.

Previously, the State Steering Committee for important national programs, works and projects, key energy sector projects, EVN, and localities with power grid projects passing through had many documents recommending and proposing temporary use of forests to implement power grid projects.

In February 2023, the Government issued a Resolution for the 500 kV Monsoon - Thanh My pilot project to impact more than 4 hectares of natural forest in Nam Giang (Quang Nam) to build some temporary works to serve the construction.

At the same time, the Government also assigned this Ministry to study and supplement the provisions of Decree No. 156/2018. This requirement continues to be set by the Government when implementing the 500 kV line 3 project from Quang Trach (Quang Binh) to Pho Noi (Hung Yen).

In Directive 02, right after Tet, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to urgently amend Decree 156, focusing on supplementing regulations on temporary forest use according to shortened procedures. The Prime Minister requested that the Decree be issued before February 28 so that the 500 kV line 3, Quang Binh - Pho Noi, can be energized on schedule, ensuring national energy security.

At the meeting on February 16, the Minister of Industry and Trade continued to request the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to report to the Prime Minister to soon issue a decree amending Decree 156 allowing impacts on forests for project construction. While waiting for this decree to take effect, he proposed that the Government issue a policy allowing localities to convert forest land and agricultural land for construction purposes.

The 500kV line 3 extension consists of 4 component projects, with a length of 514 km connecting Quang Trach (Quang Binh) to Pho Noi (Hung Yen) with a total investment of about 23,000 billion VND (nearly 1 billion USD). These projects will all start construction in October 2023 and January 2024.

Phuong Dung

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