Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has asked relevant ministries, agencies, and localities to take necessary measures to accelerate the construction of the 500 kV national transmission line, circuit 3.

Running from Quang Trach district in central Quang Binh province to Pho Noi in northern Hung Yen province, the 514-km line will be built at a total cost of VND23 trillion ($973.85 million).

It is expected to help increase power transmission capacity between the central and northern regions from 2,200 MW to 5,000 MW.

Included in the Power Development Plan VIII (PDP 8) and consisting of four sub-projects, the project is set for completion by June 2024.

Implementation of the sub-projects, however, faces delays resulting from a lack of detailed implementation plans, supervision, inspections, and forecasts on the difficulties and obstacles, in order to prepare measures in response, according to the Deputy Prime Minister.

He requested that the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) promptly make plans for the implementation of the project, with details on timelines, lists of works to be done, and the authorization and responsibility of relevant agencies following directions from the Prime Minister. The MoIT was instructed to report on the results to the Prime Minister before October 30.

Deputy Prime Minister Ha also asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment to complete appraisals for the project to be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval or for the adjustment of investment policies for the sub-projects.

MoIT, Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), and its subsidiary, the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT), the project investor, are to quickly approve the technical design for sub-projects and select contractors.

They were also instructed to work closely with relevant localities to complete site clearance and begin construction as soon as approval is forthcoming.