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Vietnam adds 142 inspected solar power projects to Power Development Plan’s implementation scheme

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Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has approved the inclusion of 142 solar power projects, which were previously inspected, into the implementation scheme of the Power Development Plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision until 2050 (PDP VIII).

The 100 MW Ea Sup 3 solar power complex, developed by Xuan Thien Group, in Dak Lak province, Vietnam's Central Highlands. Photo courtesy of the company.

The 100 MW Ea Sup 3 solar power complex, developed by Xuan Thien Group, in Dak Lak province, Vietnam’s Central Highlands. Photo courtesy of the company.

Among them are large-scale solar power plants such as Trung Nam in the central province of Ninh Thuan (204 MW), CMX Renewable Vietnam in Ninh Thuan (168 MW), Hong Phong 1 A & B in the central province of Binh Thuan (250 MW), Dau Tieng 1 & 2 in the southern province of Tay Ninh (350 MW), Sao Mai in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang (210 MW), Hoa Hoi in the central province of Phu Yen (214 MW), BIM 2 in Ninh Thuan (250 MW), Ea Sup 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak (600 MW), and Van Ninh in the central province of Khanh Hoa (100 MW).

In its decision issued on Wednesday, the ministry (MoIT) clarified that the 142 projects had been commercially operational as of January 13. They were included in the scheme based on the Electricity Law, the Planning Law, the Investment Law, the Bidding Law, PDP VIII, and other relevant documents.

The move aligns with the government’s policy to address issues related to renewable energy projects.

The list of such solar power projects only comprises project names, capacities, and names of provinces where they are located. Specific project sites are mentioned in their investment proposals or pre-feasibility study reports.

Last year, the Government Inspectorate concluded that the MoIT had approved the inclusion of 154 solar power projects into the scheme without sufficient legal foundation. Of these, 123 were identified as the primary cause of energy source imbalances and wasteful use of social resources.

The government later agreed to remove obstacles for these 154 projects per a resolution passed at its November 2024 meeting. In a subsequent meeting on December 12, 2024, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh outlined the government’s general principles to resolve those projects’ difficulties, especially for those with no intent of violating regulations.

“We will not legalize violations, but create mechanisms to resolve these issues decisively,” the PM remarked, stressing the importance of avoiding wastes of social resources while maintaining investors’ confidence.

“Local authorities and businesses need to work together to resolve such issues. It is critical to strictly prevent corruption, bribery, and unfair practices, and those committing violations will be held accountable,” he added.

According to the MoIT, by the end of 2023, the capacity of renewable energy sources (wind and solar) reached 21,664 MW, accounting for approximately 27% of the country’s total capacity.

The cumulative electricity generation from renewable energy (wind, ground-mounted solar, and rooftop solar) in 2023 was approximately 27,317 million kWh, making up nearly 13% of the total electricity system.

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Promoting circular economy in industrial parks

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The benefits of green transformation in industrial parks are both huge and lasting, according to leaders of the Ministry of Planning and Investment. However, in the short term, many challenges and obstacles have meant the transition process has not been as strong as expected.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) held a conference entitled “Advancing circular economy in Vietnam’s industrial parks for sustainable development” on the afternoon of April 12.

In his opening speech, Le Thanh Quan, Director General of the Department of Economic Zones Management under the Ministry of Planning (MPI), said that in the more than 30 years of establishment and development, industrial and economic zones have been recognised as playing an important role in fostering socio-economic development, accelerating the process of industrialisation and modernisation, and promoting international integration.

Circular economic development is a trend that many countries around the world consider to be the green industrial revolution of the 21st century and is consistent with the country’s development orientation in the coming period. In particular, the eco-industrial park model is seen as the driving force to boost the circular economy.

According to Quan, the benefits of this transformation are great and long-lasting, but in the short term, many obstacles are preventing the transformation process from taking place as strongly as expected.

Smail Alhilali, Industrial Development Officer at the Department of Environment, UNIDO, said: “Promoting circular economy in industrial zones can help Vietnam to not only reduce environmental impacts but also create opportunities for innovation and green growth.”

Vietnam has a lot of potential. With existing support and available directions, Vietnam should learn from previous countries and successfully implement digital and energy transformation. The country should not only focusing on cleaner production and reduced emissions but also address the consumption issues.

The conference included discussion sessions on the important role of industrial parks in implementing circular economy principles, the opportunities and challenges of integrating circular economy activities between different industries in industrial parks, and others.

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Foreign offshore wind power investors can sell projects, Vietnam SOEs prioritized to buy

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Foreign investors of offshore wind power projects in Vietnam can sell their projects, and wholly state-owned enterprises (SOEs) or subsidiaries of those SOEs are prioritized to buy them.

The transaction is only permitted if the Vietnamese investors in the company refuse to purchase, according to the government’s Decree 58/2025 on renewable and new energy, effective from March 3, 2025.

Transactions of a part of an offshore wind project or an entire project must comply with the Electricity Law 2024 and other laws related to investment, enterprises, and sea.

They must be approved by the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade if there is involvement of foreign investors.

A sea-based wind power project in Tra Vinh province, Mekong Delta, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Trungnam Group.

A sea-based wind power project in Tra Vinh province, Mekong Delta, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Trungnam Group.

In cases of not-yet operational projects, the foreign buyers must meet the following requirements.

First, they must have experience in investing and developing at least one offshore wind power project that is operational in Vietnam or in the world. “Experience” includes direct investment, contributing a minimum 15% of the project’s total investment capital, and the ratio of equity to capital contribution being at least 20%.

Second, the foreign buyers must ensure that the offshore wind power project has the participation of domestic enterprises with at least 5% of chartered capital or voting shares of the company that implements such projects. The “domestic enterprises” must be wholly state-owned enterprises (SOEs) or firms with SOEs holding more than a 50% stake.

Third, they must commit to utilizing domestic supplies (workforce, service, products) during their investment, construction and operation, on the basis of ensuring competitiveness of prices, quality, schedule, and available capability.

For operational projects, the transations must meet the “second” requirement mentioned above.

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Law on national defence, security industry, industrial mobilisation passed

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The 15th National Assembly (NA) on June 27 passed the law on national defence-security industry and industrial mobilisation in its ongoing seventh plenary session.

Specifically, all the 464 deputies present in the sitting, or 95.47% of the total number of deputies, said “yes” to the law.

The law comprises seven chapters and 86 articles.

Article 80 in the draft law proposed earlier about the responsibilities of People’s Court was removed, while Article 28 was added on the development of technologies with dual purposes and Article 71 on training, research, and expert exchanges to serve defence-security industry.

The law will take effects from July 1, 2025.

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