Amendment of decision to sanction Pha Lai Thermal Power Company

According to the press release of Pha Lai Thermal Power Joint Stock Company sent to Hai Duong Newspaper, the Department of Environmental Crime Prevention Police has amended the additional penalty to suspend the company's operations for a period of 12 months. The suspension date is from the date the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Vietnam Electricity Group select another contractor to supply electricity to replace the company.

Previously, on July 7, the Department of Environmental Crime Prevention Police decided to fine Pha Lai Thermal Power Joint Stock Company for discharging dust and exhaust gas containing common environmental parameters exceeding the permitted technical standards for waste at production lines No. 1 and No. 2. In addition to the administrative fine of more than VND 3.9 billion, the enterprise must comply with an additional penalty of suspending operations for 12 months from the date of receiving the penalty decision.

Pha Lai Thermal Power Joint Stock Company has complied with the fine as prescribed. However, if the enterprise has to stop operating for 12 months, it will cause a power supply shortage of 1,040 MW on the system, greatly affecting the power supply for the Northern region and the whole country. On the other hand, on the grid system diagram, Pha Lai Thermal Power Plant plays a role in supporting reactive power and voltage background at the high voltage sensitive power node. The plant supports transmission, balances power at the 110kV/220kV Pha Lai station node, ensures grid safety, and meets 38% of the peak load of Hai Duong province. Therefore, if the plant stops operating, it will affect the maintenance of safe operation methods for the grid and the security of the national power system. In addition, nearly 1,000 workers working at the enterprise will also be affected.

Faced with this situation, on September 15, the People's Committee of Hai Duong province requested the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Ministry of Public Security to reconsider the additional penalty for Pha Lai Thermal Power Joint Stock Company.