State Steering Committee had a meeting on land clearance work and implementation status of the 500kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen transmission line project

On July 31^st, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Long - Standing Member of the State Steering Committee for nationally important programs and key energy sector projects chaired an online meeting on land clearance work and implementation status of the 500kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen transmission line project.

Attending the meeting were representatives of the leadership of Lao Cai and Phu Tho provinces; representatives of the Government Office and relevant ministries and sectors; leaders of units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

From Vietnam Electricity (EVN), there were Mr. Pham Hong Phuong – Vice President of EVN, Mr. Do Quang Khai - Deputy Director of Power Project Management Board 1 (EVNPMB1).

Reporting on the implementation of compensation and land clearance work for the project, EVN’s Vice President Pham Hong Phuong said that the project has completed the land handover of for 468/468 tower foundation locations. Regarding the transmission corridor, the work of surveying, marking, handing over markers and counting has been completed; the work of approving compensation, support and resettlement plans (provisional and official) has achieved over 99%.

Regarding construction progress, to date the entire project has completed concrete foundation construction at all locations; completed erection of 259/468 tower locations (achieving 55.34%); currently installing and erecting 152/468 tower locations (32.48%); not yet erected towers at 57/468 locations (12.18%); completed stringing and pulling conductors for 10/242 anchor spans.

EVN and EVNPMB1 have been actively implementing the tasks assigned by the Government, as well as the directive conclusions of the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade. The project owner resolutely directs contractors to concentrate all resources with the highest determination and efforts, overcoming all weather conditions and difficult terrain to complete tower erection before August 10^th, 2025; conductor stringing and pulling before August 15^th, 2025; acceptance testing and energizing the project before August 19^th, 2025 according to the schedule assigned by the Prime Minister in Official Dispatch No. 81/CD-TTg dated June 3^rd, 2025.

Continuing to coordinate with localities to complete documentation and procedures related to compensation and land clearance work, payment to people and mobilizing people's support to create conditions to accelerate the project's progress.

To accelerate the completion of compensation and land clearance work, especially land clearance for the transmission corridor section and ensure the schedule for conductor stringing to complete construction and energization according to the Prime Minister's direction, EVN’s Vice President Pham Hong Phuong proposed that the People's Committees of Lao Cai and Phu Tho provinces direct the decisive handling of households obstructing construction and have plans to protect construction. Communes in the project area should urge people to clear trees and relocate; complete handling of remaining compensation and land clearance issues, approve and pay compensation, as well as accelerate approval and payment of resettlement compensation to households, recover all land, convert land use purposes, handle illegal construction…

The Departments of Industry and Trade of Lao Cai and Phu Tho province support mobilizing owners of hydroelectric plants affected by power outages on 220/110kV transmission lines and medium voltage lines to coordinate and agree on power outage schedules according to the project owner's proposal. Request Military Region 2 to continue maintaining forces and means to support construction at difficult locations and when cutting down and relocating assets in the transmission corridor. The Ministry of Public Security continues to direct provincial police to coordinate in propaganda, ensure security and order, mobilize people to support the project and not obstruct construction.

After hearing reports from EVN and opinions from localities, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hoang Long - on behalf of the State Steering Committee for nationally important projects and key energy sector projects - acknowledged and thanked the determination, responsibility and great contributions of localities, EVN and related parties.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that the 500kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen transmission line project is an extremely important project, included in the list of projects celebrating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19^th, 1945 - August 19^th, 2025), closely directed by the Prime Minister. The Deputy Minister highly appreciated that both Lao Cai and Phu Tho provinces committed to completing their tasks, have specific approaches and mobilize the entire political system, especially at the commune level - which has now been decentralized with sufficient authority to directly implement many tasks.

The Deputy Minister requested EVN to continue close coordination with localities. The Deputy Minister also highly appreciated EVN's report for clearly stating the remaining items and specific proposals, while requesting localities to urgently consider and resolve to ensure energization of the project on schedule by August 19^th, 2025.

In addition, the Deputy Minister requested the Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Public Security to continue directing forces in the area to coordinate with local authorities, both supporting construction and ensuring project safety, especially at key locations.