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.
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.
The Vietnamese government has asked relevant agencies to speed up the progress of LNG-fired power projects towards completion and operation in 2028, earlier than the deadline specified in the power development plan VIII (PDP VIII).
In a recent announcement on amending the PDP VIII, the government noted that for projects with problems, the Ministry of Industry and Trade must help to solve them or report to higher authorities for solutions.
Nhon Trach 3 LNG-fired power plant in Dong Nai province, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of PV Power.
Regarding those already having investors, including LNG Quang Ninh, LNG Thai Binh, LNG Quang Trach II, phase 1 of LNG Hai Lang, LNG Son My I and LNG Son My II, and LNG O Mon II III IV, the trade ministry must speed up the progress to operate them in 2028. 2028 is two years earlier than the deadline in PDP VIII.
For project without investors yet such as LNG Quynh Lap, LNG Nghi Son, and LNG Ca Na, relevant agencies must accelerate the progress to complete them in Q1/2028 at the latest.
The government also requested that under-construction power projects must complete the construction and enter operation in 2025. These include the Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4 LNG-fired power, Nam Cum 4 hydropower, expanded Hoa Binh hydropower, Vung Ang II thermal power, and Quang Trach I thermal power plants.
In addition, it ordered amendments to PDP VIII must be approved on March 20 at the latest. Electricity sources as baseload of the system must exceed 50% of the total in the amended PDP VIII, with the increase in LNG-fired power making up for the decrease in coal-fired power, the government added.
Vietnam currently has only one operational LNG-fired power project – the Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4 in the southern province of Dong Nai.
In its draft amendment to the power development plan VIII (PDP VIII), the Ministry of Industry and Trade said that Vietnam can import LNG from major exporters such as Australia, the United States, and Qatar. In the long term, the country can consider LNG imports from Russia and other Middle East nations.
According to the draft amendment to PDP VIII, the electricity sector is set to consume 10-11.8 billion cubic meters of imported LNG yearly until 2030, then 9-11 billion cubic meters yearly by 2045.
The Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade (DOIT) held a ceremony on the evening of December 13 to honour the capital city’s key industrial products for 2024.
According to the DOIT, 160 businesses participated in the selection programme for Hanoi’s key industrial products in 2024.
The department then selected 36 products from 25 enterprises to submit to the municipal People’s Committee for recognition. Ten products from ten enterprises with the highest scores were recognised as the Top Ten Key Industrial Products of Hanoi for 2024.
Of the 25 enterprises whose products were recognised as key industrial products in 2024, eight companies achieved revenue exceeding 1 trillion VND, while ten were among Vietnam’s 500 largest enterprises in 2024, as announced by the Vietnam Report.
The 2024 revenue from the 36 products of these 25 enterprises reached nearly 50 trillion VND, with an export turnover of approximately 1 billion USD.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Director in charge of the DOIT, Nguyen Kieu Oanh, stated that Hanoi has implemented various programmes to support enterprises whose products have been recognised as the capital city’s key industrial products.
Additionally, enterprises participating in the programme have made efforts to apply scientific and technical advances in modern technology in production, increase automation levels, implement digital transformation, and build smart factory models.
Therefore, the products recognised as Hanoi’s key industrial products help affirm product credibility and enhance their brands in both domestic and international markets.
U.S.-based Pacifico Energy (PE) and France’s EDF have expressed strong interest in investing in Vietnam’s offshore wind and nuclear power sectors, respectively, as the country faces rising energy demands to support economic growth.
The proposals were presented during their talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi on Wednesday.
PE chairman Nate Franklin stated that the company is committed to expanding its investments in Vietnam’s energy sector, including multi-billion-USD offshore wind projects.
Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) receives U.S.-based PE’s chairman Nate Franklin in Hanoi, March 12, 2025. Photo courtesy of the government’s news portal.
He emphasized that PE aims to introduce advanced solutions to help Vietnam enhance energy security, attract high-tech foreign direct investment (FDI), develop the semiconductor industry, supply power to data centers and AI training hubs, and drive fast and sustainable economic growth.
In response, PM Chinh encouraged PE to increase its investments and partner with Vietnamese businesses in the green transition, clean energy, and renewable energy sectors, particularly offshore wind and solar power.
He also urged the company to invest in Vietnam’s electricity grid and transmission infrastructure to strengthen the country’s energy security.
PE is among the leading U.S. investors in Vietnam’s renewable energy sector. In 2019, the company completed a 40 MW solar power project in the central province of Binh Thuan. It is also developing a 30 MW wind power project in the southern province of Ben Tre, which is expected to become operational in 2025.
During a separate discussion with PM Chinh, French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet affirmed that electricity producer EDF intends to continue expanding its cooperation and investment in Vietnam’s energy sector, particularly in renewable energy and nuclear power projects.
Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet in Hanoi on March 12, 2025. Photo courtesy of the government’s news portal.
The Vietnamese leader noted that Vietnam has restarted investment plans for the Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power plants in the central province of Ninh Thuan. He added that multiple partners have expressed interest in collaborating with Vietnam on nuclear energy development.
Vietnam will prioritize partners that commit to working alongside Vietnamese investors in technology transfer throughout the project development, Chinh stated.
The Prime Minister also called on France, and EDF in particular, to support Vietnam in developing policies and regulatory frameworks for nuclear power development.
He suggested exploring cooperation in human resource training, providing preferential financing for nuclear power projects, and investing in production of electrical equipment and supporting industries for Vietnam’s nuclear energy sector.
