Vietnam energy news coverage is extensive. This is in large part due to a growing thirst for energy to support the Vietnamese economy’s rapid growth. In particular, renewable energy has become an important topic as the country aims to be net-zero by 2050. This section monitors Vietnam energy news including renewable energy, the electricity supply, and key energy regulations.

Draft decree on Vietnam rooftop solar removes feed-in-tariffs altogether

the-shiv December 27, 2023

A dossier proposing a decree on rooftop solar power development, put forward by Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, has suggested removing feed-in-tariffs for excess power fed into the national grid, Vietnam Net is reporting. Key points: MoIT says this is because there is no legal framework for selling excess

Vienam’s PDP7 assessment finds solar overdeveloped, grid underprepared

the-shiv December 26, 2023

A report into the implementation of Vietnam’s Power Development Plan 7 has found that solar power development between 2016 and 2020 went well above what was planned, Vietnam News is reporting. Key takeaways: The PDP7 set out a plan to develop 850 MW of solar power by 2020; However, a

Kuwaiti investors visit Nghi Son refinery amid expected heavy losses

the-shiv December 25, 2023

A group of investors connected to Kuwait Petroleum International, which has a 35.1 percent stake in Vietnam’s Nghi Son oil refinery, visited the facility yesterday, the Kuwait News Agency is reporting. This comes after speculation that the refinery could report a loss of US$1 billion this year which may signal

Prioritise local wind power over imports: Vietnam industry group

the-shiv December 25, 2023

It was announced last week that Vietnam’s state owned power provider EVN was considering importing electricity from Laos at 7 cents per kilowatt. Nestled just near the bottom of this article from VN Express on the issue is a comment from Bui Van Thinh, chairman of the Binh Thuan Wind

Vietnam looking to import wind power from Laos on lower prices

the-shiv December 19, 2023

Vietnam is considering importing wind power from Laos because it’s cheaper, Tuoi Tre is reporting. One project in Laos is offering electricity at 7 cents per kilowatt hour whereas wind power projects in Vietnam that were online before November 1, 2021 receive 9.8 cents per kilowatt hour per a renewable

Japan led consortium approved to build LNG plant in northern Vietnam

the-shiv December 18, 2023

A consortium of Japan’s Tokyo Gas and Kyuden International, along with Vietnam’s Truong Thanh Group, has been approved to build a new LNG plant in northern Vietnam’s Thai Binh province, the Borneo Bulletin is reporting. The project is estimated to be worth just shy of US$2 billion.

Vietnam draft solar decree no feed-in-tariffs sends ‘negative signal’

the-shiv December 14, 2023

A draft decree from Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade addressing rooftop solar says excess electricity can be fed into the grid but will not be paid for, has been met with some concerns, PV Magazine is reporting. The publication quotes solar analyst, Moritz Stitcher as saying “it sends another

Vietnam wind power project up for grabs in mortgagee auction

the-shiv December 7, 2023

Vietnam’s Agribank is auctioning off the Phong Dien 1 wind power plant with a starting price of VND1,205 billion (US$49.6 million) after the firm behind the project Vietnam Renewable Energy Engineering (VREE) failed to meet its debt obligations , The Investor is reporting. Background: Wind power producers were offered very

Vietnam’s Just Energy Transition Partnership released at COP28

the-shiv December 4, 2023

Vietnam revealed its Just Energy transition Partnership agreement on Friday at COP28, with the bulk of the funding to be provided in the form of loans for hydropower projects, Climate Home News is reporting. The agreement is mostly made up of loans as opposed to the grants that Vietnam wanted,

Vietnam’s coal mining culture lauded amid key energy-transition announcement

the-shiv December 4, 2023

Coal mining is ‘a great part’ of Quang Ninh province’s cultural identity, Vietnam News reported Sunday just days after the government revealed its Just Energy Transition Partnership roadmap at COP28. A couple of points of note: One, it’s not clear if this was a conscious decision or simply circumstantial, but

Japanese firm opens solar cell factory in northern Vietnam

the-shiv November 29, 2023

A subsidiary of Japan’s Vsun Solar has inaugurated a US$200 million factory in Phu Tho in northern Vietnam, The Investor is reporting. Covering 13 hectares the project will reportedly employ 700 people when it reaches peak capacity.

Vietnam has finalised US$15.5 billion just energy transition partnership roadmap

the-shiv November 25, 2023

Vietnam has finalised the roadmap for the implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) it agreed to last year, worth about US$15.5 billion split between public and private investment, CNN is reporting. No details of the agreement have been supplied, however, Reuters reported several weeks ago that it was

Import tax hikes suggested to support local plastics business

the-shiv November 24, 2023

Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has knocked back a request from the Long Son Petrochemicals Complex, to increase import tariffs on several plastics products , The Investor is reporting. Why it matters: If it had been approved this would have gone against Vietnam’s general policy of removing barriers to trade. That

Lack of clear policy, pricing ‘undercutting investor confidence’ in Vietnam renewables: Bloomberg

the-shiv November 22, 2023

The Vietnam Business Forum’s Power and Energy Working Group has published a report in which they say that a lack of legal frameworks around renewable energy is causing problems for firms looking to develop the sector, Bloomberg is reporting. Specifically, the working group has called for clearer regulations around power

Vietnam’s oil, petrol imports top US$13 billion in first ten months of 2023

the-shiv November 22, 2023

Vietnam is becoming increasingly dependant on oil imports with 9.02 million tons imported in the first ten months of this year, an 11.6 percent increase over the same period last year, Vietnam Net is reporting. It also imported petrol products to the tune of 8.79 million tons. In contrast, over

Petrol trading regulations updated to allow retailers to buy from multiple sources

the-shiv November 20, 2023

Petrol retailers in Vietnam are now allowed to source petrol from up to three distributors as opposed to one previously, Doanh Nhan Vietnam is reporting. The changes are outlined in Decree 80/2023/ND-CP. Why it matters: Petrol shortages were common last year as oil prices spiked and prices set by the

Doubts raised over Vietnam’s ability to generated power from LNG next year

the-shiv November 17, 2023

Despite a brand new LNG terminal in southern Vietnam, it’s unlikely Vietnam will be able to use LNG imported until 2025, The Investor is reporting. Vietnam currently has no LNG fired power plants to speak of and the first LNG plant is not expected to come online until the end

2020 resolution fails to realise shift to market based electricity pricing

the-shiv November 14, 2023

A government resolution issued in 2020 declared that electricity pricing needed to be transparent and determined by market rules, however, there is still a huge mismatch between input costs and retail prices, Vietnam Net is reporting. Key takeaways: Before this year electricity prices has not increased since 2019; Several provinces

Singapore firm to add 245 MW in Vietnam renewable energy to portfolio

the-shiv November 13, 2023

Singapore’s Sembcorp Industries has said it intends to spend US$160.3 million on renewable energy assets in Vietnam, The Investor is reporting. This will include wind, solar, and hydro power purchased from local investment firm Gelex.

Vietnam’s biggest oil refinery needs more Vietnamese leadership: PM

the-shiv November 13, 2023

In a visit to Vietnam’s Nghi Son oil refinery on Saturday, Vietnam’s Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh, said that the challenges facing the refinery could be solve with more local leadership and more decentralisation, The Investor is reporting. “There need to be more Vietnamese people in the company’s leadership. More