Dossier for approval of the policy on buying and selling electricity with foreign countries in Vietnam from February 1, 2025

What are included in the Dossier for approval of the policy on buying and selling electricity with foreign countries in Vietnam?

On February 1, 2025, the Minister of Industry and Trade of Vietnam issued Circular 03/2025/TT-BCT stipulating the dossier, procedures, and formalities for electricity trading with foreign countries.

Article 4 of Circular 03/2025/TT-BCT regulates the dossier for approval proposal for electricity trading with foreign countries as follows:

(1) The dossier for approval proposal for electricity trading with foreign countries through the national power system includes:

- A written request for approval to trade electricity with foreign countries;

- A copy of the written request to buy electricity or approval to sell electricity from the foreign party;

- A copy of the agreement document from another Power Grid Management Unit in cases specified in Clause 5, Article 3 of Circular 03/2025/TT-BCT;

- Copies (translated into English or Vietnamese) of legal documents issued by the competent authority of the host country (electricity selling or electricity buying country), showing information about the investor's capability and experience and project information.

- Proposed plan for electricity trading with foreign countries, including the following contents:

+ Preliminary description of the current status of the grid at the connection area for export and import of electricity;

+ Electricity demand: capacity, electricity energy, projected annual load curve, typical day of the proposed project for each year in line with the phases of the electricity development planning and the approved implementation plan. For projects with a connection at a voltage level of 110 kV or higher, the following information must be supplemented: Preliminary analysis and selection of technology and technical solutions for grid connection; land clearance and resettlement plan (if any), impact of the project on the environment, fire and explosion prevention, and national defense and security (if any);

+ A copy of the development plan for the grid area serving the connection of the two countries (in case of import/export according to the system) or the interconnected transmission line connecting the project (in the case of import/export by project) that has been approved by the competent authority for a voltage level of 110kV or higher;

+ Grid connection plan: Capacity, electricity energy; projected time to buy or sell electricity; connecting grid and connecting point; location of meters for buying or selling electricity; voltage level for buying and selling electricity; geographical map and connection diagram of the grid area of the two countries reflecting the electricity trading plan for the project;

+ Investment form, preliminary determination of construction volume, total investment, project implementation time, capital mobilization plan according to progress, and socio-economic efficiency of the project, and investment phase division if any from the Vietnamese side;

+ Implementation solutions.

(2) The dossier for approval proposal for electricity trading with foreign countries connecting directly not through the national power system includes:

- A written request for approval to trade electricity with foreign countries;

- A copy of the written request to buy electricity or approval to sell electricity from the foreign party;

- A copy of the agreement document from another Power Grid Management Unit in cases specified in Clause 4, Article 3 of Circular 03/2025/TT-BCT;

- Copies (translated into English or Vietnamese) of legal documents issued by the competent authority of the host country (electricity selling or electricity buying country), showing information about the investor's capability and experience and project information; proposed plan for electricity trading with foreign countries.

What are procedures for approving the policy on buying and selling electricity with foreign countries in Vietnam from February 1, 2025?

According to Article 5 of Circular 03/2025/TT-BCT regulating the approval procedure for the proposal dossier of Vietnam Electricity Group and organizations, individuals in Vietnam with the demand to trade electricity with foreign countries, it shall be implemented as follows:

Step 1: Within 05 working days from the date of receiving the dossier, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is responsible for providing a written response clearly stating the completeness and legality of the dossier as prescribed in Article 4 of Circular 03/2025/TT-BCT;

Step 2: Within 10 working days from the date of receiving a complete and valid dossier as prescribed in Article 4 of this Circular, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is responsible for organizing the appraisal and obtaining written opinions on the electricity trading plan with foreign countries of the export and import electricity project from the following agencies and units:

- Relevant ministries, sectors, and localities for projects with connections at a voltage level of 220 kV or higher;

- Relevant localities, power units for projects with connections at a voltage level below 220 kV.

Step 3: Request Vietnam Electricity Group and organizations, individuals in Vietnam with the demand to trade electricity with foreign countries to clarify appraisal opinions or organize for the appraisal agency to consider and evaluate the electricity export and import project on-site if necessary.

Step 4: Within 15 working days from the date of completing the collection of written opinions from relevant ministries, sectors, localities, and power units on the electricity trading plan with foreign countries, the Minister of Industry and Trade shall consider and approve the policy for electricity export and import projects.

Note: Vietnam Electricity Group and organizations, individuals in Vietnam with the demand to trade electricity with foreign countries are responsible for preparing the dossier for approval to trade electricity with foreign countries as prescribed in Article 4 of Circular 03/2025/TT-BCT and for the accuracy and honesty of the dossier requesting approval for electricity trading with foreign countries.

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