At the regular press conference for the second quarter of 2025 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade held on the afternoon of June 19, Mr. Bui Quoc Hung - Deputy Director of the Electricity Department - said that the agency, level, industry, and locality is responsible for resolving the difficulties for renewable energy projects under the authority of the agency, level, or locality.
The Deputy Director of the Electricity Department said that the Ministry of Industry and Trade has proactively implemented many solutions to remove difficulties and obstacles of renewable energy projects.
In particular, regarding planning work, the Ministry issued Decision No. 618/QD-BCT dated March 5, 2025 approving the updated Plan to implement the National Power Development Plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, thereby removing the legal basis for solar power projects in commercial operation.
Other solar and wind power projects have been approved to supplement the planning before, some wind power projects included in the inspection conclusion have been updated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and reported to the Prime Minister for remove remove in the VIII Power Plan Adjustment (in Decision No. 768/QD-TTg dated April 15, 2025 of the Prime Minister).
Regarding the problems with the COD mechanism and FIT prices, Mr. Bui Quoc Hung said that according to the provisions of the law on electricity, the agreement, signing of electricity purchase and sale contracts and recognition of commercial operation days (COD) of solar and wind power projects are under the authority of Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN).
"The problem is related to COD and FIT prices of solar and wind power projects under the jurisdiction of EVN. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has issued many documents urging EVN to find optimal solutions in determining FIT rates. However, EVN has not yet reported specific results" - Mr. Hung informed.
Accordingly, the principle of Resolution No. 233/NQ-CP on removing difficulties and obstacles for projects under the authority of agencies, levels, sectors and localities must be resolved by those agencies, levels, sectors and localities. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is assigned to synthesize and urge relevant ministries, branches and localities to resolve problems and difficulties according to their authority to report to the Government.
Recently, the leader of the Electricity Department said that the Ministry of Industry and Trade has also sent many reports to the Government leaders and Steering Committee 751 (according to Decision No. 751/QD-TTg dated April 11, 2025 of the Prime Minister) regarding the resolution of FIT price problems under the authority of EVN, and at the same time requested and urged EVN to urgently resolve them in the spirit of Resolution No. 233.
According to Conclusion No. 1027/KL-TTCP, the Government Inspectorate concluded that "responsibility for shortcomings, violations of COD recognition and purchase of electricity for solar and wind power plants at fixed prices currently applied belongs to project investors, Power Trading Companies and EVN".
According to Mr. Bui Quoc Hung, EVN is the competent and responsible agency for resolving COD problems to determine FIT benefits, responsible for coordinating with Investors to come up with a decision and agree on FIT benefits for renewable energy projects.
