HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn has called for tougher penalties against power project developers who drag their feet and threaten national energy security. 

He was speaking at a conference on Thursday where he pointed out that numerous power sources and grid projects under the adjusted 8th power development plan (PDP8) are progressing too slowly.

The Deputy PM urged the Ministry of Industry and Trade and local authorities to press the developers to speed up construction and put power plants into operation three to six months earlier than planned.

Developers who failed to implement projects on time would be strictly punished.  

For projects without investors, the Ministry of Industry and Trade was tasked with speeding up the procedure to select the developers by the end of this year.

Reviews would also be carried out to identify problems and difficulties in implementing power projects to raise timely solutions.

The Deputy PM highlighted the need to accelerate approvals for LNG, offshore wind and renewable projects while urging State-owned energy companies, including Vietnam Electricity, PetroVietnam and Vinacomin, to ensure progress of assigned projects, including the country’s two first nuclear power plants.

Efforts must also be enhanced to ensure adequate fuel supply for power projects and water at hydropower reservoirs, the Deputy PM asked. — VNS