'There is a power shortage due to a project that has been assigned for decades and has not been implemented. This time, if it is not implemented, it will have to be revoked'

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien said there is a power shortage because there are projects that have not been implemented for decades, and this time they must be revoked.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien - Photo: GIA HAN

Afternoon 7-11, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien explained delegates' opinions on the draft Law on Electricity (amended).

Should the whole country sit and wait for a few investors?

Mr. Dien said that by 2030, the amount of electricity needed will be twice the current capacity, and by 2050 it will be five times.

When traditional power sources have no more room to develop, hydropower is gone, coal power cannot develop, solar energy also has its time, it is impossible to increase current capacity by 7 times with renewable energy.

Therefore, nuclear power and new energy sources in the future are definitely necessary. To make these types of electricity, the law must be mentioned right now. Thus, after 10 years, there will be nuclear power projects.

According to Mr. Dien, the new additions in this revised bill mainly regulate new energy; regulate the development of a competitive electricity market and clearly define the authority of the agency deciding on investment policies for urgent electricity projects, and policies to recover slow-progressing electricity projects.

Mr. Dien explained that electricity projects are different from other industrial projects in that electricity must always be one step ahead. At the same time, the electricity produced must have a consumer address, not just be developed and then "put away".

“In reality, there are projects that have been assigned to investors for decades, even nearly 20 years, but they have enough reasons not to implement them. Thus, we are lacking electricity because previous projects did not have any attraction mechanism, only applying a general mechanism to investment projects.

While the specific power projects that have been planned must be done, assigned must be done, if they cannot be done they must be revoked, that's the way it should be, can't the whole country just sit and wait for a few investors? Therefore, these are issues that cannot be done without regulations," said Mr. Dien.

Supplementing regulations to build a competitive electricity market

After 20 years of discussion, the competitive electricity market is still very vague and far away - Photo: TT

The Minister of Industry and Trade said that this draft law also adds regulations on key mechanisms and policies to build and develop a competitive electricity market at all three levels according to the market mechanism with State regulation, especially on electricity production and trading.

According to Mr. Dien: "Up to now, electricity generation has been competitive. Now 52% of non-state investors are clearly competing, and cannot not compete.

Regarding wholesale, we have just issued a policy on direct electricity purchase and sale. We have also stipulated that not only 5 units are allowed to buy wholesale electricity. Regarding retail, we are amending regulations on prices, 2-component prices, hourly price frames... All of these are in operation."

Regarding the 6 specific policy groups in the bill, Mr. Dien affirmed that it has more clearly defined the decision-making authority and specific mechanisms and policies to promote the development of renewable energy, new energy and some basic power sources such as gas power, nuclear power, including green hydrogen power.

"The potential for renewable energy is huge, but without mechanisms and policies, it is impossible to open up to the maximum possible capacity for localities. The needs of localities are very large. Power Plan VIII cannot be opened because the law is still restrictive," Mr. Dien emphasized.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien: Urgent task is to have a mechanism to attract investors

Regarding electricity prices, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien said: "Now there is a price framework regulated by the Law on Prices and the Law on Electricity. Within that framework, the Government will specify how to set the price framework, based on the price framework negotiated by the parties, not one side taking advantage of the other."

Regarding the requirement that all negotiations must be completed within 12 months, Mr. Dien said: "If not, they will find an excuse to prolong it. If it is prolonged, we will have a power shortage. Therefore, the price framework is clearly regulated. We cannot say there is no market, no competition, we must negotiate. If we do not negotiate, I will withdraw and stop the project."

The Minister of Industry and Trade added: "The urgent task is to have appropriate, synchronous and feasible mechanisms and policies to attract domestic and foreign investors to develop power sources and grids. Especially electricity from renewable energy, new energy sources, clean energy or inter-regional transmission grids."

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thieu-dien-do-co-du-an-giao-ca-chuc-nam-khong-lam-lan-nay-khong-lam-phai-thu-hoi-20241107194049237.htm