Recently, the Department of Industry and Trade has actively advised the provincial People’s Committee on critical matters regarding electrical infrastructure. A notable achievement includes the consultation for signing the Record of Discussions (ROD) for the project “Strengthening Self-Reliance for Rural Areas through the Construction of Electrical Infrastructure for Difficult Regions of Điện Biên province.” Following the signing, the department has continued to implement preparatory contents to ensure the project remains on schedule. Simultaneously, the review, update, and adjustment of planning have been prioritized, with the department coordinating with the Department of Finance and consulting units to refine sections of the Điện Biên provincial Plan for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2050. They have also proposed adjustments to Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8) regarding power source projects and transmission grids.

To ensure the feasibility of these plans, the Department of Industry and Trade has collaborated with the Điện Biên Power Company and energy investors to review information on power source and grid projects. Based on this data, they advised the Provincial People’s Committee to request that the Ministry of Industry and Trade supplement and adjust energy projects within the updated PDP8 implementation plan. Rigorous inspection and commissioning processes have also been maintained, such as the temporary energization of a 110kV line to facilitate land clearance for the provincial political-administrative center’s resettlement areas and the successful capacity upgrade of the T1 transformer at the Điện Biên 110kV substation.

Currently, the province operates 23 hydropower plants with a total capacity of 326.8MW, and electricity output is estimated to have increased by 15.6% compared to the same period last year. To further push this momentum, the Department of Industry and Trade has issued numerous documents urging investors to accelerate their progress while advising the provincial People’s Committee to direct local sectors to effectively carry out tasks under PDP8. Specifically, the provincial People’s Committee issued Document VND 577/UBND-KT on January 22, 2026, to expedite electrical projects within the adjusted plan.

From this decisive direction, several key projects have moved forward, most notably the 220kV substation and transmission line connecting Điện Biên and Sơn La, along with the 110kV lines following the Điện Biên 220kV substation. While construction units are focusing on foundations and auxiliary works like site leveling and concrete structures, the project has faced hurdles regarding the agreement on disposal sites for excess soil, which has impacted the leveling schedule. For medium and low-voltage grid projects, progress is also being ramped up, with five projects currently selecting contractors, five choosing design consultants, and others undergoing technical reporting or construction. Most of these are expected to be completed in the second and third quarters of 2026, while the 110kV output line is slated for the fourth quarter of 2026.

In addition to traditional power, the Department of Industry and Trade is coordinating on new energy projects, having advised the provincial People’s Committee on locations for wind measurement masts for the Điện Biên Đông Wind Power Plant Phase 1. They are also appraising nine proposals for energy projects including Điện Biên 1 Solar Power, Nậm Pồ 1A and 1B Solar, Nậm He Thượng 1 Hydro, and various wind power projects in Nậm Pồ and Mường Ảng. Regarding ongoing hydropower construction, the Mường Tùng project has reached 88% completion, Chiềng Sơ 2 is at 37%, Ma Thì Hồ at 48%, and Nậm Mức 2 is at 18%.

In the coming time, the Department of Industry and Trade will continue to review and propose adjustments to planning as required. The unit will focus on finalizing and submitting documents for the rural electrification project for difficult areas to the provincial People’s Committee for approval. Furthermore, they will coordinate tasks to bring national grid power to rural regions, helping to increase the percentage of households with access to electricity, particularly in the most challenging areas of the province.