Proposal to consider and resolve the petition of Pha Lai Thermal Power Joint Stock Company

To ensure the safe operation of the power grid, the security of the national power system and the stable socio-economic development in Hai Duong, the Provincial People's Committee has just requested the Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, Public Security, and Industry and Trade to study, consider and resolve the proposals and recommendations of Pha Lai Thermal Power Joint Stock Company to ensure compliance with legal regulations and the current practical situation.

Previously, in early August 2023, Pha Lai Thermal Power Joint Stock Company reported and explained a number of contents related to compliance with environmental protection laws during the company's operations, and at the same time requested the Provincial People's Committee to issue a document recommending competent authorities to consider and temporarily not apply additional penalties according to the administrative violation penalty decision No. 23/QDXPHC dated July 7, 2023 of the Department of Environmental Crime Prevention and Control (Ministry of Public Security). According to this decision, the company was fined more than 3.9 billion VND for environmental violations and the additional penalty is to suspend operations for 12 months.

According to the opinion of the Provincial People's Committee, Pha Lai Thermal Power Joint Stock Company has so far complied with the fine according to the decision. However, the application of additional penalties will cause a shortage of electricity supply, greatly affecting the electricity supply for the Northern region and the security of the national power system, especially in the context of the recent decline in hydropower water levels and from now until 2030, there will not be many new sources participating in the system.

On the other hand, on the national power system diagram and the Northern power grid, Pha Lai 1 Thermal Power Plant plays a role in supporting reactive power and voltage background at the power node with high voltage sensitivity. Supporting transmission, balancing power at the 110kV/220kV Pha Lai station node, ensuring safety for the power grid, meeting up to 38% of the peak load of Hai Duong province. Therefore, the suspension of the two production lines Pha Lai 1 and Pha Lai 2 will certainly affect the assurance and maintenance of safe operation methods for the power grid and the security of the national power system. In addition, the suspension will affect the lives and jobs of nearly 1,000 workers working at the company...