MOIT reviews power supply performance in the first half of 2026 and outlines priorities for the months ahead

Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung chairs a working session with Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and relevant agencies.

Reliable power supply maintained despite record demand

Reporting at the meeting, Nguyen Anh Tuan, President and CEO of EVN, said the Group had ensured a safe and reliable electricity supply for socio-economic development and major national events during the first six months of the year.

Total electricity generation and imports were estimated at 171.1 billion kWh, up 9.5% year-on-year, while commercial electricity sales reached approximately 151.8 billion kWh, an increase of 9.67% compared with the same period in 2025.

Despite an early and prolonged heatwave that pushed electricity demand sharply higher, EVN, together with the National System and Market Operator (NSMO), implemented a coordinated set of operational measures, flexibly dispatching all available generation sources, including oil-fired backup units, to successfully meet record peak loads.

On May 27, 2026, Vietnam’s national peak demand reached an all-time high of 57,189 MW, while the northern region recorded a peak load of nearly 29,900 MW. The power system nevertheless remained secure and stable throughout the period.

On the investment front, EVN continued to advance key infrastructure projects, focusing on strengthening transmission capacity between northern and central Vietnam, expanding electricity imports from Laos and China, facilitating the integration of new power generation projects, meeting rapidly growing demand in major economic hubs, and preparing electricity infrastructure for APEC 2027.

The Group also instructed its subsidiaries to intensify public awareness campaigns on electricity conservation while working closely with industrial customers to implement demand response and load-shifting programs, thereby promoting more efficient energy use.

For the second half of 2026, EVN reaffirmed its commitment to implementing comprehensive measures to ensure a secure and reliable electricity supply under all operating conditions, particularly during the summer peak demand period in northern Vietnam.

Representatives from Northern Power Corporation (EVNNPC), Hanoi Power Corporation (EVNHANOI), Power Generation Corporation 1 (EVNGENCO1), the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT), Petrovietnam, and the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (VINACOMIN) also reported on electricity supply during the first half of the year, the availability of coal, gas, and fuel oil for power generation, and challenges related to power projects, transmission development, and fuel imports. They also proposed solutions to ensure electricity supply for the remainder of 2026 as well as the medium and long term.

Based on recommendations from the energy companies, representatives from the Ministry’s departments and the National System and Market Operator (NSMO) clarified issues related to market mechanisms, regulatory policies, and power system operation while proposing measures to address existing bottlenecks and strengthen national energy security.

Ensuring an adequate electricity supply remains the top priority

Addressing the meeting, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Truong Thanh Hoai stressed that power development is a long-term undertaking requiring years of preparation. The immediate objective is to ensure sufficient electricity supply through 2030 while proactively preparing development solutions for the period to 2035.

He noted that the upcoming review of power generation and transmission investment portfolios should not only address current needs but also accommodate Vietnam’s economic growth over the next decade. Regarding urgent projects, he called on energy groups and enterprises to carefully prioritize investments, concentrating resources on projects with the highest strategic value and implementation efficiency.

Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung delivers remarks at the meeting.

Concluding the meeting, Minister Le Manh Hung highly appreciated the efforts made by EVN and other energy enterprises in maintaining a stable electricity supply despite domestic challenges, global uncertainties, and growing concerns over energy security.

He said that rising energy demand driven by rapid economic growth presents both challenges and opportunities for Vietnam’s energy sector to continue innovating and improving its performance. Given the country's ambitious development objectives, he emphasized that the energy sector must accelerate implementation of its assigned tasks, with EVN's foremost responsibility being to ensure sufficient electricity supply for both economic development and people's daily lives.

The Minister instructed EVN to continue working closely with Petrovietnam, VINACOMIN, and other relevant organizations to secure adequate and uninterrupted supplies of coal and natural gas for electricity generation.

He also requested NSMO to coordinate with power producers in optimizing maintenance schedules to avoid plant outages during peak summer demand while ensuring sufficient inventories of spare parts, equipment, and emergency resources to maintain high generating unit availability. In addition, EVN's power plants were urged to strengthen risk assessment and risk management measures during periods of extreme heat and exceptionally high electricity demand.

Regarding demand-side management, the Minister instructed EVN to work closely with provincial Departments of Industry and Trade and electricity consumers to expand energy efficiency programs, demand response initiatives, and load-shifting measures. He also encouraged EVN to maintain close coordination with the Electricity Authority in proposing appropriate policy mechanisms.

Beyond short-term measures, the Minister emphasized the importance of strengthening investment portfolio management by implementing projects according to established priorities and the roadmap set out in the revised National Power Development Plan VIII (PDP VIII). Relevant departments under the Ministry were instructed to closely monitor the progress of major projects, promptly identify implementation bottlenecks, and coordinate solutions to resolve them. In the transmission sector, particular attention should be given to ensuring that key grid expansion projects remain on schedule.

About the ongoing review and implementation of the revised PDP VIII, the Minister requested EVN, power generation corporations, project management boards, and related organizations to continue assessing and proposing technically and economically feasible power generation and transmission projects capable of meeting Vietnam's evolving electricity demand.

Highlighting the importance of energy conservation and demand-side management, the Minister stressed that these areas require stronger and more decisive implementation. He also called for enhanced public communication campaigns to raise awareness and encourage more efficient energy use in line with the Government’s energy-saving targets.

In parallel, EVN was urged to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies, expand digital transformation initiatives, and vigorously implement Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, particularly in relation to strategic technologies and strategic technology products assigned to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The Minister also instructed the Ministry's functional departments, in coordination with major energy groups, to conduct a comprehensive review of the existing policy and regulatory framework, particularly issues arising during implementation, in order to support amendments to the Electricity Law. At the same time, they were tasked with developing an integrated plan to ensure a reliable electricity supply in both the short term and throughout the 2026–2030 period, with the overarching objective of safeguarding national energy security while supporting Vietnam’s economic growth.