3 bases for adjusting the National Energy Plan

The workshop on adjusting the National Energy Plan took place in the context of new laws and many important resolutions being issued, creating new requirements for energy infrastructure.

Many new requirements are being placed on the National Energy Plan.

On the morning of December 11th in Hanoi , the Ministry of Industry and Trade organized a workshop on adjusting the National Energy Master Plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050. The event took place in the context of the Politburo having just issued Resolution 70-NQ/TW on ensuring national energy security – a document considered a guiding principle for the energy sector in the new phase.

Overview of the conference. Photo: PC

This revised planning project aims to comprehensively assess national energy supply and demand, connect energy development with economic , social, and environmental goals, and fulfill Vietnam's international commitments. Accordingly, the planning adjustments must adhere to three major groups of contents.

Firstly, the economic growth rate, projected to reach double digits in the period 2026-2030 according to Resolution 306/NQ-CP, requires the energy system to have high reserves and the ability to immediately meet rapidly increasing demand.

Secondly, the nationwide administrative reorganization process requires a review of the list of key energy projects, aligning them with the new development space of the merged localities.

Thirdly, the planning must be updated in conjunction with major policies such as Conclusion 76-KL/TW on the oil and gas industry; Resolution 57 on science, technology and digital transformation; Resolution 59 on international integration; Resolution 66 on lawmaking; and Resolution 68 on the development of the private economy.

Furthermore, Vietnam's energy sector is facing new global development trends, reflected in five factors: volatile international energy markets, the need to ensure energy security, changing technology costs, accelerated energy transition, and the need to respond to climate change. Therefore, the Government requires the revised energy plan to propose optimal infrastructure development options nationwide.

At the workshop, the consulting units of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, namely the Joint Venture of the Vietnam Institute of Energy and the Vietnam Petroleum Institute, presented a summary of the National Energy Planning Adjustment Project.

The preliminary report of the project indicates that Vietnam's total primary energy supply in 2024 is estimated to reach 116 KTOE, an increase of 4.9% during the 2021-2024 period. Of this, coal and renewable energy are projected to grow at annual rates of 5.9% and 7.8%, respectively, during the same period. This shows positive signs of energy transition, but the diversification of primary energy sources still needs improvement.

Primary energy supply remains heavily reliant on a limited number of energy sources, as well as fuel imports. Data shows that imported fuel accounts for 41.9% of total primary supply, reaching its highest value ever. This is a noteworthy trend for ensuring long-term national energy security.

A new spirit in planning adjustments.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hoang Long emphasized the special nature of this adjustment, given that the amended Planning Law has just been promulgated, creating many changes compared to previous planning periods.

According to the Deputy Minister, this planning could be the first to be implemented immediately after the new law comes into effect. “I request that the agency in charge of developing the plan thoroughly study this law. At the same time, they should work specifically with the agency in charge of drafting the plan to issue guiding documents and directions for the future, because we must go through all the steps and procedures, and the plan must comply with the law and legal regulations. Therefore, the steps we have taken previously will have to be adjusted and changed. The new spirit of the Planning Law is to provide a broad direction, while the details are left to the ministries to manage, ensuring both overall coherence and flexibility in management and implementation,” the Deputy Minister emphasized.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hoang Long speaks at the workshop. Photo: Dinh Tuan

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Long also stated that in 2025, the Politburo issued seven important resolutions, considered seven major strategies, encompassing many fields from science and technology, international integration to healthcare, education, and private sector development. Among them, Resolution 70 on national energy security is seen as a "guideline for action" for the energy sector; it is in line with Vietnam's transition to double-digit growth targets in the coming period.

Along with economic growth, the restructuring of the two-tiered local government system also creates a need for planning adjustments, as many localities have to reallocate development space and regional energy needs.

Some aspects related to coal have been moved to other planning areas under the new law, leaving only the related infrastructure, so the energy plan also needs to be adjusted accordingly. In addition, many important conclusions of the Politburo, such as Conclusion 16 on the development of oil and gas, must be integrated into this revised plan. Notably, in April 2025, the Prime Minister signed a Decision on the adjustment of the Power Development Plan VIII. Therefore, many factors need to be included in this revised plan.

According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Long, the Ministry of Industry and Trade had started implementing this planning adjustment very early on, but because it depends on many factors, the planning agency also took appropriate steps to ensure synchronization. The first draft of the adjusted energy plan is expected to be submitted to leaders at all levels in the next few days.

In the context of many new requirements emerging, the planning process will be implemented quickly, without going into too much detail, but the major orientations need to be fully finalized. Therefore, at today's workshop, the leaders of the Ministry of Industry and Trade expect to receive many valuable opinions from experts, representatives of ministries, sectors, localities and international organizations.

Reporters' Team

Source: https://congthuong.vn/3-can-cu-de-dieu-chinh-quy-hoach-nang-luong-quoc-gia-434313.html