Phu Tho Accelerates Critical Power Infrastructure Projects

On the morning of July 17, the Phu Tho Provincial Steering Committee for Power Development convened a meeting to direct and expedite site clearance for priority 110kV power transmission projects in accordance with Conclusion No. 288/TB-UBND, issued by the Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee on May 8, 2026. The meeting also reviewed preparations for the Hoa Binh 2 500kV Switching Station and its associated 500kV transmission line. The meeting was chaired by Phung Thi Kim Nga, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Committee and Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Power Development.

Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Committee and Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Power Development Phung Thi Kim Nga addresses the meeting.

Under Conclusion No. 288/TB-UBND, alongside the province’s 500kV and 220kV transmission line projects, the 110kV transmission lines and substations have been identified as critical and urgent energy infrastructure essential to ensuring a stable electricity supply for socio-economic development, investment attraction, and the province’s growth objectives in the coming years. Among them, eight 110kV projects have been designated for accelerated implementation to ensure they are energised and put into operation as scheduled.

Director of the Department of Industry and Trade Tran Quang Tuan reports on the progress of site clearance for priority 110kV power projects.

In recent months, the Department of Industry and Trade, together with relevant departments, sectors and local authorities, has proactively implemented a range of measures to remove obstacles and accelerate the implementation of key power infrastructure projects. As a result, the Cam Khe 2 110kV Transmission Line and Substation Project was successfully energised on June 30, 2026.

To date, 11 of the 22 communes and wards involved have completed compensation approval, compensation payments and the handover of project sites to investors. These include Yen Thuy, Tan Lac, Thong Nhat, Kim Boi, Hoang Cuong, Thanh Ba, Phu My, Thai Hoa, Lap Thach, Lien Hoa, and Hop Kim.

However, a number of localities continue to face difficulties in compensation and site clearance. The main issues include disagreements over compensation rates, uncertainty among commune authorities regarding additional support mechanisms for land and assets that do not fully meet compensation requirements, requests from residents to adjust transmission line routes, and overlaps between electricity projects and other development projects.

A representative of the Northern Power Corporation calls for continued provincial support in accelerating site clearance for key electricity projects.

The Hoa Binh 2 500kV Switching Station and its associated 500kV transmission line is a strategically important project that will facilitate electricity imports from Laos while strengthening interconnection, reliability and operational security of the national power grid.

The project requires the acquisition of approximately 24.14 hectares of land, affecting 222 households and six organisations. Procedures for forest land-use conversion and cadastral surveys have been completed, while investors and local authorities are currently establishing compensation councils and carrying out compensation and site clearance activities.

During the meeting, participants reviewed outstanding issues affecting project implementation, focusing on unfinished tasks, difficulties in land acquisition, the number of unresolved compensation cases, the underlying causes of delays, and practical solutions to ensure projects remain on schedule.

Representatives of Phu Tho Power Company propose solutions to accelerate site clearance for electricity projects.

Concluding the meeting, Vice Chairwoman Phung Thi Kim Nga acknowledged the efforts made by the Department of Industry and Trade, relevant departments, local authorities and project investors in implementing Conclusion No. 288/TB-UBND.

Noting that several assigned tasks remain behind schedule, she instructed all agencies and localities to fully carry out the responsibilities assigned by the Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee without seeking adjustments or extensions to project deadlines. Instead, they were directed to concentrate on removing obstacles and completing outstanding work as quickly as possible. Communes failing to meet the required schedule were instructed to submit written explanations and firm completion commitments to the Provincial People’s Committee by July 20.

She also called on commune and ward authorities to strengthen leadership accountability, proactively resolve issues within their jurisdiction, and intensify public communication and community engagement by mobilising the entire political system to support compensation and site clearance efforts.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment was instructed to continue providing timely guidance on land administration, compensation, support and resettlement issues. Regional Land Development Centres were directed to mobilise additional personnel to accelerate land inventory and verification, prepare and publicly disclose compensation plans on a rolling basis, and coordinate closely with local authorities and investors to hand over cleared sites immediately once conditions are met.

The Vice Chairwoman also requested the Provincial Police to instruct police units at the commune and ward levels to work closely with local authorities and investors in public awareness campaigns, while preparing enforcement plans and ensuring construction security in cases where individuals deliberately obstruct project implementation.

She further urged the Northern Power Corporation and the National Power Transmission Corporation to strengthen coordination with local authorities by deploying sufficient technical personnel, promptly providing technical documents, maps, boundary markers, funding and other necessary materials to support compensation and site clearance activities. She emphasised that construction should begin immediately on sections where site clearance has been completed rather than waiting for the entire route to be cleared.

Finally, Ms. Nga assigned the Department of Industry and Trade, as the standing agency of the Provincial Steering Committee for Power Development, to closely monitor the progress of each project, proactively coordinate with relevant departments, local authorities and investors to resolve emerging issues, and regularly report matters beyond its authority to the Provincial People’s Committee and the Steering Committee.

Le Hoang