Not So Fast - The new DPPA mechanism and the Anti-Corruption Campaign in Vietnam

Under Article 27 of Decree 80/2024 on mechanism for direct sale and purchase of renewable energy with large electricity customers, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) will be entitled to suspend or terminate a Direct Power Purchase Agreement (DPPA) if there is an “act of taking advantage of the mechanism, policy for making profit”. For termination, the consequences of such act needs to be irremediable and the MOIT will need to obtain opinion from related authorities (presumably from the Ministry of Public Security).

Any large customer or any renewable energy producer enters into a DPPA will need to comply with (or “use”) the DPPA mechanism. In addition, obviously, the parties to a DPPA enter into the DPPA for the purpose of making profit (or saving costs). But Decree 80/2024 is not clear when the use of the DPPA mechanism would be considered as “taking advantage” (lợi dụng) of the mechanism or when an entity is deemed to make so much profit that the relevant DPPA may need to be suspended or terminated.

Electricity Price Range For LNG Power Plants In 2024

On 27 May 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) issued Decision 1260 approving the electricity generation price (EGP) range for the year 2024 applicable to LNG combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) thermal power plant (nhà máy nhiệt điện tua bin khí chu trình hỗn hợp sử dụng LNG in Vietnamese).

The ceiling price of such EGP range is VND 2,590.85 per kWh (about 10.67 UScents at the exchange rate of 1 USD = 24,262 VND), exclusive of VAT. Such ceiling price was calculated based on the following factors:

Mechanism for Calculation of Electricity Generation Price Bracket for Post-FiT Solar/Wind Power Plants

After the expiration of the preferential Feed-in Tariff (FiT) policy for solar and wind power projects in Vietnam, the energy selling price of solar and wind power plants in Vietnam will now be up to the parties’ negotiation in a power purchase agreement (PPA) but must be within the electricity generation price (EGP) bracket approved by the competent authorities. For that purpose, on 1 November 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) issued Circular 19 regulating the mechanism for establishing EGP brackets for solar and wind power plants (Circular 19).

Environment Permits Under The Environment Protection Law 2020 in Vietnam

The Environment Permit (Giấy phép môi trường) is a new concept under the Environment Protection Law 2020. In essence, an Environment Permit consolidates most of the environment permits or licences under the previous environment laws into a single document which would help the relevant authorities and businesses to monitor and record all the environmental aspects of an investment project. 

Projects subject to Environment Permit

Except for some certain emergency public investment projects, an Environment Permit is required for all investment projects which have potential adverse effect on the environment and which generate wastewater, dust and emissions or hazardous waste which must be treated or managed (the Regulated Projects).

Timing

Regulated Projects which have not started commercial operation by 1 January 2022, and which have an approved Environment Impact Assessment Report must obtain the Environment Permit before commissioning the environmental protection works of the Regulated Project.

Regulated Projects which have not started commercial operation by 1 January 2022, and which do not have an approved Environment Impact Assessment Report must obtain the Environment Permit before issuance of the mining licence (for mining project), the approval of the field development plan (for oil exploration project), the approval of the feasibility study (for PPP project or construction project), and the investment decision for other projects.