New power development plan needs quality more than speed: PM

The power development plan VIII (PDP VIII) must ensure progress. but more importantly, quality, contributing to boosting national development in the right direction and benefiting the country, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Friday.

“We should be calm and not rush with the draft,” he told the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) at a conference aimed at promoting domestic production and consumption, and expanding export markets in 2023.

PDP VIII is one of a number of important plans being drafted by the MoIT, and is under verification for approval in line with regulations, he added.

Under the latest draft PDP VIII that the ministry sent to the government in November 2022, the total capacity of power plants in Vietnam will reach 121,757-145,989 megawatts by 2030, with renewable energy accounting for 18-27%.

Coal-fired power will hold the biggest portion, at 20.6-29.8% (30,127-36,327 MW). It will be followed by gas-fired and LNG-fueled power, 24.9-27% (30,330-39,430 MW); hydropower, 19.8-22.5% (27,353-28,946 MW); renewable energy (excluding hydropower, including solar, wind and biomass power), 18-27% (21,871-39,486 MW); and imported power, 3.3-3.4%.

At the conference, the PM noted that the power sector must fully tap the country's competitive advantages, including the potential for wind and solar power.

He also emphasized the need to avoid massive developments of power sources without enough transmission lines, distribute electricity in line with the conditions of each region and the whole country, and use power economically and efficiently.

“Electricity prices must be suitable to the economy and personal incomes,” he stated, adding that electricity prices in Vietnam should not be as high as developed countries. “If the prices are too high, people, businesses and the economy will not be able to afford them,” he noted.

Therefore, the government leader asked the MoIT to think carefully about this issue in the spirit of harmonizing benefits and sharing difficulties and risks between the state, businesses and people.

The ministry should coordinate with the Commission for Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC) to direct investors to speed up the progress of key projects in the electricity, oil, gas and coal industries," the prime minister said.

It also needs to promote energy restructuring and carbon emission reduction in combination with clean and renewable energy development, he added.