Direction of Primer Minister on electricity supply in 2025 and following years

The directions point out:

Firms ensure national energy security, ensuring electricity is a basic factor of the economy and determines country industrialization and modelization in the coming time.

The Government, the Government Standing Committee, and the Prime Minister have issued many documents with strong instructions to ensure sufficient electricity supply for production, business, and people's daily lives. Directly inspected, urged, and removed difficulties to promote the implementation of power plants and transmission grid projects Thanks to that, even in 2024, when the heat wave was the hottest in more than 50 years, the electricity load reached a record of more than 1 billion kWh/day, but the national power system still operated stably, without any power shortage

However, Power Plan VIII still has some shortcomings, the implementation of power plant projects still faces many obstacles in terms of mechanisms and policies, so the expected development of power plants in the 2021 - 2025 period will only reach 56.7% of the plants, potentially posing a risk of power shortage.

The socio-economic development target is set much higher than in the past. National economic growth in 2025 strives to reach over 8%, and economic growth in the 2026 - 2030 period strives to be at double digits, requiring electricity to grow 1.5 times. The expected annual average is from 12% to over 16% (equivalent to an additional 8,000 - 10,000 MW per year).

This is a huge challenge. If there is no timely solution to quickly develop power sources, especially base power sources, green power, clean power, and sustainable power, there will be a potential risk of serious power shortages, especially in the period from 2026 to 2028.

To proactively take early, remote solutions to ensure absolute, The Prime Minister directs Ministers, Heads of agencies, Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces, and cities, Chairmen and General Directors of corporations: The Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN), Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin), (Dong Bac) Northeast Corporation.

1. Focus on implementing the task of providing enough electricity to serve socio-economic development from 2025 to 2030, ensuring national energy security in the new era, the era of digital transformation, and high-tech development - the era of national development with the requirement of being a particularly important political task. On that basis, promote the highest sense of responsibility, mobilize the entire political system, and concentrate all resources to promote and promptly complete the fastest power source and transmission projects within the scope of management of the agency. Do not let projects and works be blocked due to the slow handling of administrative procedures of ministries, branches, agencies and localities.

2. Closely and effectively coordinate, seriously, resolutely, synchronously and effectively implement the tasks and solutions assigned in the Government's resolutions, directives, telegrams, and directive documents of the Prime Minister on ensuring electricity supply for production, business and consumption of the people in 2025 and 2026 - 2030.

3. The Minister of Industry and Trade is responsible to the Government and the Prime Minister for ensuring adequate electricity supply in 2025 and the following years. The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall direct more strongly, strengthen urging, inspection, supervision, and regularly monitor developments in electricity demand and arising factors to promptly provide appropriate and effective leadership and direction. Quarterly review and report to the Prime Minister on implementation results.

4. Focus on reviewing and studying adjustments to the VIII Power Plan to promptly update new requirements and strategic goals for economic and social development.. Update and supplement new power source projects, green, clean, and sustainable power sources, and at the same time eliminate and replace projects that are behind schedule and not suitable for the country's development requirements (to be completed before February 28, 2025).

5. Urgently deploy the completion of the development and promulgation of legal documents detailing the Electricity Law No. 61/2024/QH15 (before February 1, 2025) to promptly bring the new policies of the Law into life. Especially the mechanisms and policies related to long-term minimum contract electricity output, electricity prices and electricity service prices, mechanisms to ensure the consumption of domestically exploited gas, and the principle of transferring fuel prices to electricity prices. In particular, it is important to carefully study the regulations so that they both meet the requirements of attracting investment and at the same time ensure the harmony of investors' interests with the interests of the state and the people, avoiding loss, waste, and group interests.

Accelerate the implementation of key and urgent projects of the electricity sector:

The Prime Minister requested the Minister of Industry and Trade to direct the acceleration of the implementation of projects. Specific:

On power plant projects

1. Direct localities to immediately select investors for power source projects in the Power Plan VIII that do not have investors such as LNG Nghi Son, LNG Quynh Lap, and LNG Ca Na... to be completed in the second quarter of 2025; accelerate investment progress to complete by the third quarter of 2028 at the latest.:

2. For power plant projects expected to be completed and put into operation in 2025 (Nam Cum 4 Hydropower Plant, Hoa Binh Expansion, Nhon Trach 3, Nhon Trach 4, Vung Ang 2, Quang Trach 1 (1,403 MW - Unit 1 connected to the grid on September 2, 2025)...

The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the People's Committees of the provinces direct and urge investors to speed up the progress of putting the projects into operation earlier (from 3 to 6 months). Require the investors to pledge specific time progress to operation for MOIT (before 20 January- 2025).

3. For power plants provided for completion in 2026-2030 as Naduong 2, Quang Trach 1, An Khanh - Bac Giang, Long Phu 1, Hiep Phuoc- phase 1 and projects, that have to choose investors, or established report realizable (as Quang Ninh, Thai Binh, Quang Trach2, Hai Lang- phase1 LNGs, Son My 1,2 BOTs, Bac Lieu, Long An 1, O mon 1,2,4…).

MOIT, peoples committee of provinces to guidance, speed up investors to harry up complete procedures to invest for starting up, harry up and pledge to harry up progress and operation time of the projects, strive to early operate (from 1-2 years in cooperation to the plan). The necessary cases to study and propose for rank with competence to determine, specific in the period 2026-2028.

4. To focus on determining success deploying to invest in Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant in 5 years.

On power grids:

1. To determine investing in the power transmission grid projects in VIII Power Plan, strengthen unite locals, strengthen the capability for safe and stable operation for the national system, specifically for transmission projects to releasing capacities of power plants (Nhon Trach 3,4), Harry up to construct Lao Cai- Vinh Yen 500 kV in operation in 2025 for releasing capacities of the North hydropower plants and to import electricity from China (if necessary).

2. Focus to construct Monsoon – Thach My 500 kV transmission in January/2025. Study policy to invest in transmission lines from hydropower plants in Laos to northern provinces (in 2025) by convention between the two countries.

Encourage implementation in implementing electricity economize

The Primer Ministry requires the Ministry of MOIT:

1. Direct to synchronously implement the solutions on electricity economize in guidance No 20CT-TTg on 8/June/2023 of Primer Ministry on strong electricity economize in the 2023 – 2025 period and following years

2. Guide, improve in electricity economize for highest effective

3. Focus to direct propaganda, introduce and assist people, and enterprises to construct and use rooftop solar electricity for self–production and self-use to take part in reducing press to the national electricity system by Direction No 135/2024/ ND-CP on 20/October/2024.

4. Speed up direct electricity payment and selle by decree No 80/ND/CP on 3/July/2024/ND-CP on mechanism direct payment and sale between renewable energy and large electricity customers

For the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the PM is required to close and combine with MOIT and agencies to submit the PM for the approval process to correct the water reservoir on the basin of Redriver. The process built on the principle for flexible operation agrees with the development of climate and ties down on electricity supply, specific North region in the period from now to 2030 (complete in Feb/2025).

Absolute not situation to lack of fuel for power plants:

PM required EVN Chaimen and General Directors:

1. Focus on directing the rapid and drastic implementation of power source projects as investors such as Quang Trach 1, 2, Hoa Binh expansion, Tri An expansion...

2. Research and propose investment in the construction of power transmission projects according to Power Plan VIII, especially transmission projects to serve the capacity release of power plants (Nhon Trach 3 and 4)

3. Urgently construct and strive to complete the 500 kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen line within 6 months (must be completed by September 2025 at the latest) to relieve the capacity of hydropower sources in the North and import electricity from China (if necessary).

4. Focus on completing the construction of the 500 kV Monsoon - Thach My line project (in January 2025).

5. Research and propose an investment policy for transmission line projects from Lao power plants to the Northern provinces to increase electricity imports from Laos (in 2025) according to the Agreement signed between the two countries.

6. Direct power plants under the management of the Group to do a good job of production preparation, ensure operational efficiency and be able to mobilize maximum power generation capacity during peak months of 2025. Do not allow fuel shortages (coal, gas, oil) for thermal power plants and water shortages in hydroelectric reservoirs according to the reservoir operation process approved by competent authorities.

7. The Chairman and General Director of EVN proactively coordinate with the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities and electricity customers to effectively implement electricity-saving solutions. Direct local power units to implement the provisions of Decree 135/2024/ND-CP, guide, support, and create favorable conditions for people to install self-produced and self-consumed solar power most conveniently.

Concentrate maximum resources to urgently organize the construction of Nhon Trach 3 and 4 Thermal Power Plants:

The Prime Minister requested the Chairman and General Director of PVN to:

1. Concentrate maximum resources to urgently organize the construction of Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4 Thermal Power Plants, complete and put into commercial operation in June 2025.

2. Restart the construction of Long Phu 1 Thermal Power Plant (in the first quarter of 2025) and complete in 2026

3. Quickly deploy projects in the Block B - O Mon Gas and Power Project Chain, ensuring the first gas flow is achieved by the end of 2026, supplying power plants in the O Mon Thermal Power Center to ensure synchronous progress of the gas and power chain. Strive to be 1-2 years ahead of schedule.

4. Actively handle difficulties and obstacles in the Blue Whale Gas and Power Project Chain to soon deploy power plant projects according to the plan.

:5. Quickly complete research to deploy the pilot offshore wind power project in 2025.

Improving capacity, productivity and output of domestic coal mining:

The Prime Minister requested the Chairman and General Director of Vinacoamina to:

1. Focus on directing the rapid and drastic implementation of power source projects invested by the Group (such as Na Duong 2), to be completed in 2026.

2. Synchronize effective and dramatic implementation measures to directly manage production to enhance production ability and domestic coal output

3. Closely monitor and follow the developments of weather, domestic coal supply and demand to arrange and plan appropriate coal mining operations, ensuring sufficient and stable coal supply for power plants.

4. Promote coal mining to increase by 20% to 25% compared to 2024.

For local authorities, the Prime Minister requested:

1. Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and cities urgently and effectively implement the Plan to implement the Power Plan VIII approved by the Prime Minister. To take the initiative to have solutions to attract investment.

Proactively find solutions to attract investment, promptly select investors, and promote the rapid implementation of power source and grid projects in the planning and plans in the area, especially large-scale projects and baseload projects.

Strive to start construction in the second quarter of 2025 and complete energization in 2027 for the following plants: Quang Ninh, Thai Binh LNGs.

For projects that have not yet selected investors (Ca Na, Nghi Son, Quynh Lap LNGs). The People's Committees of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ninh Thuan provinces urgently select investors for the projects, ensuring sufficient conditions for investment implementation in 2025.

Create maximum convenience for people and businesses to use rooftop solar power:

1. Direct local authorities to coordinate closely and effectively, support EVN, PVN, TKV and investors of power projects to carry out contents under their authority in implementing investment in construction of power works and projects, procedures related to forest land, rice land, especially key and urgent projects to ensure electricity supply for the North.

2. Direct the implementation of effective energy saving in the area, especially in public lighting, lighting for advertising purposes, and outdoor decoration.

3. Apply optimal management solutions, and smart technology, and use solar energy in public lighting, and outdoor advertising.

4. Focus on propaganda, guidance, support, and maximum facilitation for people and businesses to install and use self-produced and self-consumed rooftop solar power according to Decree No.135/2024/ND/CP on 20/10/2024 stipulated mechanisms, policies solar rooftop for self-production and self-use to participate in reducing pressure for the national power system.