With its advantages in natural conditions and potential for renewable energy development, Dak Lak province has enjoyed a great opportunity to become one of the energy centers of the Central Highlands region.

Pressure from the scale of power generation development

Under the revised Power Development Plan VIII, the entire province is planned for 125 power generation projects with a total capacity exceeding 14,036 MW, spanning the period of 2025 - 2035. Along with this is a transmission grid system including many 500 kV, 220 kV, and 110 kV projects to ensure the ability to release power.

Currently, the province is simultaneously implementing many important power generation projects. Among the 15 projects that have received investment approval, the Ea Tih Hydropower project (8.6 MW capacity) is currently undergoing land compensation and clearance, with completion targeted for 2027; the KN Srepok 3 floating solar power project (304 MW) has finalised initial procedures alongside is scheduled to commence construction at the end of the Q2 in 2026.

Ea H'leo wind energy farm

In the wind power sector, 4 projects in the Cu Ne and Krong Buk areas with a total capacity of 200 MW have basically completed construction as well as finalized procedures for commercial operation in the Q2 2026. In addition, 6 other wind power projects have received investment approval and are expected to be completed in 2028.

Simultaneously, the province is also selecting investors for 12 renewable energy projects. Eight eastern projects are expected to complete the investor selection process in June 2026, while four projects in the eastern region are expected to be completed in September 2026. In addition, 20 proposals for new investment projects are currently under review, with construction as well as operation expected between 2026 and 2030.

One of the current challenges is the rapid development of power sources, especially renewable energy, while the power grid infrastructure has not kept pace. To solve the issue, many important power grid projects have been incorporated into the planning and are being gradually implemented. Notably, the Krong Buk 500 kV substation alongside connecting transmission line project, invested by the National Power Transmission Corporation, has a total capital of over 2.1 trillion VND. Along with this, many other transmission line and substation projects are also being considered for investment, contributing to the complete provincial power transmission network.

The need to remove policy bottlenecks

According to Dak Lak PPC, one of the major difficulties currently is absence of detailed guidance for implementing Resolution No. 253/2025/QH15. In addition, the transitional handling of projects currently undergoing pre-feasibility studies before the resolution takes effect has not been clearly defined.

Given this situation, Dak Lak PPC requests the Ministry of Industry and Trade to promptly advise the Government to issue a decree providing detailed guidance on the implementation of Resolution No. 253/2025/QH15; as well as to issue process and procedures for investor selection in power projects to create a unified legal basis.

With more than 14,000 MW in potential, Dak Lak province is given a great opportunity to develop its energy sector in a green and sustainable direction

Furthermore, the province also requests the Ministry of Industry and Trade to direct the Vietnam Electricity Group together with related units to prioritise resources and accelerate the investment progress of key power grid projects. In addition, the province proposed allowing flexible adjustments to some aspects of the plan without changing the total allocated capacity.

PPC Vice Chairman, comrade Dao My emphasized: With a potential exceeding 14,000 MW, Dak Lak province is given a great opportunity to develop its energy sector in a green and sustainable direction. However, to unlock this energy source, a synchronized effort from the Central government to the local level is needed, from perfecting policy mechanisms to investing in infrastructure. Once these “bottlenecks” are removed, the provincial renewable energy sources will have the conditions to maximize their effectiveness, contributing positively to the socio-eco growth at both provincial and national levels.

Translated by TRINH THUY