On the afternoon of June 11, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hoang Long held a working session with the People’s Committee of Bac Ninh province to review the implementation of power generation and transmission projects under the revised National Power Development Plan for 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 (revised PDP VIII), with a view to addressing bottlenecks and ensuring adequate electricity supply to support the province’s socio-economic development and growth.

Attending the meeting on behalf of Bac Ninh province were Pham Van Thinh, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, together with leaders of provincial departments and agencies, functional units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and representatives of power corporations, electricity companies and project investors operating in the province.

Ensuring power infrastructure meets growth targets

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Long noted that over the past nearly two years, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has advised and submitted a number of key mechanisms and policies to competent authorities for promulgation, helping remove bottlenecks in the development of the energy sector in general and the power industry in particular.

Among these, the approval of the revised PDP VIII, together with decrees guiding the implementation of the 2024 Electricity Law and policy mechanisms on rooftop solar power development and direct power purchase agreements, have laid an important foundation for securing electricity supply to serve socio-economic development.

The Deputy Minister stressed that the implementation of PDP VIII is of particular significance to the goal of ensuring national energy security. Local authorities play a critical role in project execution, ranging from investment policy approval and investor selection to land clearance and the resolution of difficulties and obstacles arising during implementation.

According to a report by the Bac Ninh provincial People’s Committee, electricity demand in the province has continued to rise sharply, particularly in industrial parks. In 2025, commercial electricity output exceeded 16.6 billion kWh, up 3.78% from the previous year. During the first five months of 2026, electricity consumption reached nearly 7 billion kWh, marking a year-on-year increase of 12.72%.

Peak load capacity reached 3,229 MW at the end of May 2026, up 32% from the same period last year. Meanwhile, several 500-kV and 220-kV substations in the province are operating under heavy load conditions, posing a risk of overloading should transmission projects face further delays.

Under the revised PDP VIII, Bac Ninh province is planned to host 17 power generation projects with a combined capacity of approximately 1,932 MW, including wind power, solar power, pumped-storage hydropower, waste-to-energy and thermal power projects. Many of these projects are currently being accelerated, including the 650-MW An Khanh - Bac Giang Thermal Power Plant, which is considered an important baseload power source for northern Vietnam in the coming years.

Regarding the transmission network, relevant entities are implementing 43 projects with a total investment of around VND 35.333 trillion, including 41 grid projects with total investment nearing VND 10 trillion.

Accelerating progress on key projects

Alongside the achievements recorded, the province also highlighted a number of difficulties and challenges encountered during implementation.

Regarding power generation projects, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Long urged the provincial authorities and relevant departments to continue coordinating with project developers to address outstanding issues and strive to complete the projects in line with the Prime Minister’s directives under Directive No.01/CT-TTg dated February 3, 2025, and Directive No.01/CT-TTg dated January 18, 2026.

For transmission projects, several major facilities including the upgrade of the 220-kV Bac Giang - Pha Lai transmission line, the Bac Ninh 500-kV substation and its connection lines, the Bac Ninh 5 220-kV substation and the Yen Dung 220-kV substation are progressing behind schedule. Delays in putting these facilities into operation could affect the province’s ability to meet rapidly increasing electricity demand.

The Bac Ninh Provincial People’s Committee proposed that the Ministry of Industry and Trade provide guidance and resolve obstacles facing several power generation projects to better align with actual implementation conditions, thereby accelerating investment preparation, land acquisition and site clearance, as well as construction activities.

Regarding the transmission grid, the province called on the National Power Transmission Corporation to proactively allocate resources and expedite investment, upgrading and expansion works to meet socio-economic development requirements. Particular emphasis was placed on key projects, including the Bac Ninh 500-kV substation and its connection lines; the Yen Dung 220-kV substation and associated lines; the Lang Giang 220-kV substation and connection lines; the 220-kV line linking the Bac Ninh 500-kV station and Bac Ninh 4 substation; the Bac Ninh 5 220-kV substation and associated lines; and the project to enhance transmission capacity on the 220-kV Bac Giang - Pha Lai line.

According to provincial leaders, with an economic growth target of approximately 12.5 - 13% in 2026, ensuring a stable electricity supply is of particular importance. Therefore, power generation and transmission projects need to be accelerated and, where possible, brought into operation ahead of schedule.