Quang Nam agrees to support and resolve issues regarding investment policy approval procedures for the 500kV Thanh My - Quang Trach Branch - Doc Soi transmission line project

On March 31^st, 2025, in Quang Nam, Mr. Phan Thai Binh - Standing Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee, held a working session with the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) regarding procedures related to investment policy approval for the 500kV Thanh My - Quang Trach Branch - Doc Soi transmission line project.

The meeting was attended by relevant departments, agencies, and local authorities of Quang Nam Province.

EVNNPT was represented by Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tan - Deputy General Director, leaders from EVNNPT's specialized departments, and leaders from the Power Transmission Project Management Board (NPTPMB).

Reporting at the meeting, NPTPMB representatives stated that their unit has been assigned by EVNNPT to implement investment procedures for the 500kV Thanh My - Quang Trach Branch - Doc Soi transmission line project.

The project encompasses the construction of a new 500kV transmission line approximately 77.3km long, passing through 3 communes in Dai Loc district and 3 communes and towns in Nam Giang district of Quang Nam province. Its important objective is to enhance power transmission capacity for Quang Nam and the Central Highlands, ensuring power evacuation on the 500kV side of 500kV Thanh My  substation and receiving additional power from sources in Laos (the potential total capacity of power sources from the Monsoon wind power area in Laos to Vietnam is expected to increase to 2000MW). The project also helps ensure stable, reliable, long-term power supply for socio-economic development in the region, in accordance with the Prime Minister's policy on electricity imports and the specific connection plan for the Monsoon Wind Power Plant (Laos).

Currently, the project's route has been approved by Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee. EVNNPT and NPTPMB are coordinating with relevant departments, agencies, and local authorities of Quang Nam province to complete the documentation for investment policy approval of the project.

Competent authorities in Nam Giang and Dai Loc districts are implementing procedures to update and adjust supplementary mid-term land use planning for the Project. However, if by the current time the supplementary planning has not been approved by competent authorities, the implementation schedule of the Project will struggle to ensure energization in 2026 as directed by the Government and EVN to serve power evacuation on the 500kV side of 500kV Thanh My  substation.

At the meeting, EVNNPT Deputy General Director Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tan stated: "This is a very significant project aimed at evacuating power imported from Laos to Vietnam to ensure energy security for the country in the coming years. The project implementation aligns with the Power Development Plan VIII approved by the Prime Minister and the approved Quang Nam Provincial Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050."

However, to date, the project investment policy has not been approved, resulting in insufficient legal basis for specialized agencies to conduct appraisals for project implementation. To complete the project in 2026 as directed by competent authorities, EVNNPT requested Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee to consider and support the approval of the Project's investment policy in parallel with incorporating the Project into Land Use Planning in Dai Loc and Nam Giang districts to be submitted to the Provincial People's Committee/People's Council in the next adjustment period.

At the meeting, leaders of relevant departments, agencies, and local authorities of Quang Nam province discussed, provided feedback, and agreed to approve the investment policy and designate EVNNPT as the investor to implement power transmission projects in the province.

Concluding the meeting, Mr. Phan Thai Binh - Standing Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee, highly appreciated EVNNPT's role in managing operations and investing in transmission grid projects to ensure national energy security. Quang Nam Province has collaborated with EVN in general and EVNNPT in particular to implement and complete many electricity projects in the province. Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee fully trusts EVNNPT to implement the project to ensure completion on schedule in 2026.

The leaders of Quang Nam province requested EVNNPT to continue coordinating with Dai Loc and Nam Giang District People's Committees, providing data on the area and types of land to be acquired so that the districts can update their Land Use Planning for the 2021-2030 period and submit it to the Department of Agriculture and Environment before April 15^th 2025. After receiving the updated proposals from the two districts, the Department of Agriculture and Environment will organize consultations with departments/agencies and submit to Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee before April 30^th 2025. The Provincial People's Committee will review and report to the Provincial People's Council for approval at the meeting in early May 2025.

Additionally, the leadership of Quang Nam Province requested EVNNPT, while coordinating with local authorities to provide land data, to quickly complete documentation for investment policy approval. After completing the procedures, Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee will approve the project's investment policy immediately after the Land Use Planning is approved in early May 2025.