LNG, offshore wind power developers in Vietnam seek policy support to overcome obstacles

As the implementation of LNG and offshore wind power projects remains challenging while enormous investment capital is required, developers definitely need strong support policies and mechanisms, said insiders.

LNG power development – A big challenge

At a forum entitled "Energy Transition: Vision and Action," in Hanoi early this week, Nguyen Quoc Thap, chairman of the Vietnam Petroleum Association (VPA), said that the government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade have made significant efforts to remove obstacles for LNG-fueled power projects. However, current regulations are still insufficient to resolve bottlenecks in negotiating power purchase agreements (PPAs).

According to the association, apart from the Nhon Trach 3 and 4 LNG power projects in the southern province of Dong Nai with a total capacity of 1,624 MW, which have completed investment and are in test runs, only the 1,200 MW Hiep Phuoc 1 plant in Ho Chi Minh City is expected to start operation in 2026, but the PPA has yet to be finalized.

There are 12 others in the list, among which nine with a combined capacity of 16,400 MW already have investors, while three (4,500 MW in total) are still seeking investors.

The VPA chairman also listed a range of regulatory and policy obstacles facing LNG power development, including the lack of a legal framework to replace government guarantees for loans or funding arrangements for build-operate-transfer (BOT) or independent power producer (IPP) projects, and the lack of mechanisms for foreign exchange conversion guarantees and international payment obligations for imported LNG.

Moreover, the infrastructure planning for LNG, ranging from ports to storage, is still inconsistent and incomplete, he noted.

Other notable challenges include slower-than-expected growth in the LNG power consumption market compared to targets set in the Power Development Plan VIII (PDP VIII) and its adjusted version; no clear decision on centralized LNG terminal construction; no standard PPA template for BOT and IPP projects; and funding difficulties due to a lack of offtake guarantees and output commitments.

Therefore, Thap proposed the enactment of a National Energy Law with an integrated approach, aiming to synchronize the planning of LNG ports, power plants, transmission systems, and end-users.

He also recommended simplifying the investment selection procedures for BOT and IPP projects; establishing a selective mechanism for large-scale or key LNG power projects; and developing a flexible pricing mechanism for LNG electricity along with offtake commitments.

In particular, he emphasized the urgent need to finalize the Direct Power Purchase Agreement (DPPA) mechanism between LNG power plants and large electricity consumers.

This, he said, would help resolve the power offtake bottlenecks currently handled by state utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and relevant ministries for BOT power projects, while enabling end-users to verify the source of energy used in their production processes - similar to product origin labeling.

This mechanism is especially critical for large-scale LNG power plants, which require guaranteed offtake commitments from industrial consumers who need clean, stable, and internationally compliant electricity for export-oriented manufacturing, he stated.

Thap also proposed resolving legal and procedural obstacles and accelerating the implementation of ongoing LNG power projects such as Son My 2 in former Binh Thuan province (now Lam Dong), Bac Lieu in former Bac Lieu province (now Ca Mau), and Ca Na in former Ninh Thuan province (now Khanh Hoa).

A representative from PV Gas, a subsidiary of state-owned giant Petrovietnam, stated that there is currently no mechanism for EVN to commit to long-term LNG purchases, nor any policy for direct negotiations with LNG suppliers. In addition, while Vietnam's market is relatively small, there are too many LNG importers, which weakens the purchasing power and the bargaining edges of domestic buyers.

PV Gas estimates that if 15 LNG power plants with a combined capacity of 22,524 MW come into operation, annual LNG import demand could reach 16 million tons. If existing gas-fired power plants switch to LNG due to declining domestic gas supply, total demand may exceed 26 million tons per year. This massive demand requires vast capital and strong policy support to meet the LNG power capacity targets by 2030.

According to the adjusted PDP VIII, Vietnam is projected to have 22,524 MW in installed LNG power capacity by 2030. To support LNG power development, the country has cut import duties on LNG from 5% to 2%. The country will guarantee an offtake of at least 65% of annual electricity output from projects using imported LNG power for up to 10 years.

Offshore wind power: Still in the fog

At the end of June 2025, Lung Lo Construction Corporation under the Ministry of National Defense proposed investing in 11 offshore wind power project clusters totaling around 9,000 MW in three marine areas of the northern, south-central, and southern regions.

The company also proposed 14 more offshore wind projects and called for investor selection procedures to be initiated according to regulations. It committed to complying with all legal provisions and investment approval decisions and accepted full responsibility for costs and risks if projects are not approved.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade later assessed the proposal from Lung Lo as a 100% state-owned enterprise, in line with Point a, Clause 1, Article 28 of the Electricity Law No. 61/2024/QH15.

The company's submission was found to have had many deficiencies. For instance, the proposal lacked legal representative information and signature; and it did not clarify whether the electricity would be sold to the national grid.

Financial capacity documentation was also incomplete missing the past two years' financial reports, a parent company or credit institution commitment, or financial guarantees. The proposal also lacked details on investor selection, capital sources, financing plans, and survey information as required under Point b, Clause 1, Article 28 of the Electricity Law.

Previously, Petrovietnam had also proposed to survey the south-central marine area after its subsidiary, PTSC, received two survey licenses in the southern region for power export projects.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade stated that the South Central Offshore Wind Cluster 1 currently has no designated investor, making Petrovietnam’s survey request appropriate. However, the area overlaps with two other pending survey applications from Pacifico Energy Vietnam and CI GMF II Cooperatief U.A. To date, no enterprise has been officially granted survey rights for this area.

According to Nguyen Thai Ha, CEO of T&T Energy Group, achieving the offshore wind capacity targets outlined in the revised PDP VIII faces multiple obstacles.

Key challenges include an incomplete legal and policy framework; underdeveloped technical infrastructure and supply chains; lack of integrated grid planning; and a shortage of experienced, high-quality personnel.

Currently, there are no specific regulations for marine spatial planning, survey licensing procedures, or offshore wind development. Overlapping marine area claims remain unresolved. Potential offshore wind zones and development criteria have not been published, delaying implementation," he commented.

EVN estimates that the investment cost for offshore wind power is around VND93 billion ($3.55 million) per MW, significantly higher than other renewables like solar or biomass, so investors remain hesitant in the absence of clear support mechanisms.

Dr. Du Van Toan from the Institute of Environment, Sea and Islands Science under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, proposed early issuance of a dedicated law or development of a specialized decree on offshore wind power. As an initial step, he suggested assigning Petrovietnam to carry out offshore wind project surveys, leveraging its existing advantages and experience in the field.

Vietnam currently has no offshore wind power projects. According to the adjusted PDP VIII, the country aims to have 6,000 MW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, 17,500 MW by 2035, and between 113,000 and 139,000 MW by 2050.

The adjusted PDP VIII for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, was signed by Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son on April 15, 2025. The plan sets a target of doubling power output by 2030, with renewables accounting for 28-36%. It aims to ensure sufficient power supply for an average GDP growth of 10% per year in the 2026-2030 period and about 7.5% in the 2031-2050 period.

The output of electricity produced and imported in 2030 is expected to reach 560.4-24.6 billion kWh and rise to 1,360.1-1,511.1 billion kWh in 2050. By 2030, the total capacity of power plants serving domestic demand (excluding exports) is 183,291 - 236,363 MW.