Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has promulgated a new decision allowing the Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) to raise the average retail price of electricity by between 3-5 per cent on its own, without approval from MoIT.

VietNamNet Bridge - The number of renewable energy plants capitalized at VND1.2-1.4 trillion has been increasing rapidly.

Generating electricity on house roofs and developing household-created electricity is a good solution for clean energy, especially when large solar power projects are having difficulties due to high investment rates and lack of land.

VietNamNet Bridge - The government policy encouraging investment in the power sector has created a firm framework for the development of solar energy.

To deal with possible electrical shortages during the dry season, the Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) will make the most of all power sources, including coal, gas, diesel-fueled and hydropower stations, 

The HCM City People’s Committee has proposed the Ministry of Trade and Industry approve the city’s power transmission development plan with a total investment of about VND42.9 trillion.

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam’s renewable energy production costs remain higher than other countries as the country still does not have a competitive solar energy market. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Renewable energy, especially wind power, is believed to be the solution to Vietnam’s increasingly high demand for power.

VietNamNet Bridge - The target of developing 800 MW wind power by 2020 may be unattainable as the plan to adjust the wind power purchasing price has been delayed.

NPMB said it will start work of 15 power projects in 2017 to ensure power supply stability and prevent overloaded power transmissions to Hanoi and industrial zones in the region.

Five thermal power projects have been developed in Binh Thuan province, raising serious concerns about pollution, as the plants are located near marine protected area (MPA).

 VietNamNet Bridge – Many investors have been ready to take part in the solar power industry but they are still waiting for specific regulations from the Government to set prices.

Coal thermal power will have to continue to be used in Vietnam, though it badly affects the environment. 

Under the national electricity development plan, coal thermal power will make up 50 percent of Vietnam’s total electricity output from 2020. The Mekong River Delta will become one of the nation’s thermal power centers.

VietNamNet Bridge - While economists applaud the idea of importing electricity from Laos, environmentalists say that Vietnam should not encourage Laos to build hydropower plants on the Mekong River. 

 State-run Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) may replace Vietnam’s oil and gas group PetroVietnam to develop the long-delayed thermal power plant Quang Trach 1 in the central province of Quang Binh, according to newswire Phapluatvietnam.vn.

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam may import electricity from Laos to minimize the risks from relying on Chinese imports and to offset supply shortages caused by cutting off power sources which pollute the environment.

VietNamNet Bridge - The telecommunication fee in Vietnam has been decreasing sharply thanks to the policy on eliminating the monopoly in the telecom sector. However, monopolies still exist in other business fields.

VietNamNet Bridge - More foreign conglomerates have expressed their desire to develop clean energy projects in Vietnam, but the number of investors remains modest.

VietNamNet Bridge - Scientists are concerned that coal power plants would still provide 50 percent of the nation’s total electricity output in the future.