The meeting was attended and directed by Mr. Nguyễn Tuấn Tùng – Chairman of the Board of Members of EVNNPT, Mr. Trương Hữu Thành – General Director of EVNNPT presided the meeting. Also present were Mr. Vũ Hồng Nguyên – Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, members of the Board of Members Mr. Đỗ Đức Hùng, Mr. Trần Đăng Khoa, and Deputy General Directors Mr. Lưu Việt Tiến, Mr. Bùi Văn Kiên, Mr. Nguyễn Ngọc Tân, Mr. Hoàng Văn Tuyên, as well as leaders from the Northern and Central Project Management Boards (NPMB, CPMB), industry consultancy units, and EVNNPT’s professional departments.
EVNNPT Chairman Nguyen Tuan Tung attends the meeting online and gives guidance at the session.
Under Prime Ministerial Decision No. 768/QĐ-TTg and Ministry of Industry and Trade Decision No. 1509/QĐ-BCT, four HVDC transmission lines, to be state-funded, are planned to be put into operation in the 2031–2035 period:
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Trung Trung Bộ 1 – Bắc Bộ 1 line (2×700 km, converter station capacity 5,000–10,000 MW)
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Trung Trung Bộ 2 – Bắc Bộ 2 line (2×1050 km, converter station capacity 5,000–10,000 MW)
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Nam Trung Bộ – Bắc Bộ 3 line (2×1550 km, converter station capacity 4,000–10,000 MW)
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Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu to Hải Phòng line (2×1700 km)
EVN has assigned EVNNPT to conduct detailed studies and procedures to expedite investment and operation of HVDC links under the adjusted Power Development Plan VIII. Based on this directive, EVNNPT has instructed relevant units to prepare necessary procedures for submission to authorities for approval of two HVDC projects targeted for operation in 2031 — the Trung Trung Bộ 1 – Bắc Bộ 1 and Trung Trung Bộ 2 – Bắc Bộ 2 lines. These lines aim to carry power from the Quảng Bình – Quảng Trị and Quảng Ngãi regions to the North, enhancing energy security in Northern Vietnam and optimizing renewable energy imports from the Central region.
During the meeting, EVNNPT and consulting units analyzed major challenges, including absence of specific legal procedures and technical standards for HVDC, potentially lengthy approval durations, and the lack of special mechanisms for HVDC development. On the technical side, Vietnam lacks domestic experience in HVDC deployment. Detailed studies are necessary to understand the interaction between HVDC systems and the existing HVAC network — particularly because HVDC systems operate at much higher power transfer scales than the current 500 kV AC interconnections. Other hurdles discussed included unclear timelines for certain power sources, the absence of final HVAC connection details in the adjusted Power Plan VIII, and significant capital requirements for the two projects.
To meet project timelines, EVNNPT plans to recommend special mechanisms from the Government and relevant ministries, priority capital allocation, financial support, and assistance in land clearance compensation.
EVNNPT leaders and delegates listen to the representative of the Planning Department report on HVDC project implementation.
At the meeting, Chairman Nguyen Tuan Tung emphasized that these projects are included in the adjusted Power Development Plan VIII and must be implemented to ensure national energy security. He stressed the need for thorough feasibility studies and careful planning. Chairman Nguyen instructed the General Director to ensure that all required procedures are completed and to accelerate investor selection, training of specialized human resources, and cooperation with international organizations to exchange knowledge and experience in HVDC system development.
In conclusion, General Director Truong Huu Thanh assigned NPMB and CPMB to carry out necessary procedures for investment approval, select investors, and prepare detailed progress reports to guide project implementation with the goal of energizing the HVDC lines by January 2031, with efforts to complete construction ahead of schedule by October 2030. EVNNPT will establish a Steering Committee and Project Management Board with a spirit of urgency, similar to the 500 kV Mạch 3 project, and urges rapid coordination to ensure milestones are met.