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.

Calls to deregulate electricity prices in Vietnam

the-shiv September 19, 2023

Deregulating electricity prices could create an ‘economic breakthrough’, according to Thien Dinh Tran, former Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics, and reported by Dan Tri. He points out that it was done before with food prices and that it made a big economic differnce Eds note: Deregulating electricity prices

Back to the drawing board for PDP8 deployment plan

the-shiv September 19, 2023

A draft deployment plan for the Power Development Plan 8 (PDP8) has been sent back to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for revisions due to a lack of detail, particularly on offshore wind, according to The Investor. Why it matters: Doubts have already been raised about Vietnam’s ability to

Power shortages in northern Vietnam next dry season likely

the-shiv September 15, 2023

Northern Vietnam’s power supply next dry season may fall short by up to 10 percent in a worst case scenario according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and reported by The Saigon Times. The publication goes on to dub the power supply a ‘significant challenge’ though this may be

Some renewable energy firms are struggling to make money in Vietnam

the-shiv September 14, 2023

High-interest payments on corporate bonds issued to fund a number of renewable energy projects in Vietnam are making it difficult for a number of renewable energy generators to turn a profit, Vietnam News is reporting. Up until the last year or so bonds were a popular way to raise capital

Vietnam 5th cheapest country to charge an EV but…

the-shiv September 13, 2023

Vietnam is the fifth cheapest place to charge an EV according to Compare the Market as reported in Doanh Nhan Saigon. However, this flex should come with one big caveat–Electricity prices are regulated by the government in Vietnam which has led to supply issues per this analysis from the-shiv. Ergo,

Vietnam competitive electricity market a ‘dream’ on retail price controls

the-shiv September 13, 2023

VN Express is carrying this analysis of Vietnam’s electricity sector focused on the development of a competitive electricity market. It has a quote from Bui Xuan Hoi, principal of the Northern Electricity College, who says a competitive electricity market is nothing more than a ‘dream’ in the context of government

Vietnam’s offshore wind (OSW) targets in doubt

the-shiv September 9, 2023

“To meet the PDP8 scheduled target, the OSW projects should have been identified, investors selected, and permits issued by now,” according to a blog post from the law firm Shearman and Sterling. The law firm points out that the typical lead time for OSW projects is 5 to 7 years

Lack of, slow policy development may hinder wind power development in Vietnam

the-shiv September 7, 2023

The Investor has a write-up of the Global Offshore Wind Report 2023 in which it highlights that a lack of timely supporting policy can be off putting to investors. Specifically, Vietnam introduced a policy a few years ago that would see wind farms completed by the end of 2020 paid

Japanese to build biomass plant in northern Vietnam

the-shiv September 7, 2023

Japanese firm Erex is considering building a 50 megawatt biomass plant in Vietnam’s Bac Kan province, according to The Investor. This is alongside a number of other biomass power projects in neighbouring provinces. Under Vietnam’s Power Development Plan 8, approved earlier this year, biomass is slated to account for 2,270

Electricity purchase prices to be higher in low-sun areas: MOIT

the-shiv August 31, 2023

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has floated the idea of paying different prices for renewables produced in different regions, according to VN Express. Essentially the argument is that to encourage the development of solar projects in areas where there is less sun, power generators should be paid more. Eds

Some SEA solar products circumventing Chinese solar duties: US Dept. Commerce

the-shiv August 30, 2023

Some solar products exported from Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia are circumventing duties applied to some Chinese solar products the US Department of Commerce has found, and Solar Power World is reporting. A presidential proclamation from June 6, however, exempts solar imports from the four Southeast Asian countries from paying

VN’s natural gas dreams stall on contract delays

the-shiv August 29, 2023

Prolonged negotiations over guarantees on power purchases and prices between state power provider Electricity Vietnam (EVN) and private power project developers may delay Vietnam’s shift to LNG, according to the Vietnam Investment Review. Giang Duy Nguyen, Deputy Director General of PV Power, a private power developer with two projects in