Vietnam to amend power development plan VIII

Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade is drafting amendments to the Power Development Plan VIII (PDP VIII) for submission to the Prime Minister by February 28.

The ministry made the statement at a Wednesday meeting on amendments to the PDP. The move aims to further facilitate LNG-fired power, waste-to-energy facilities, and rooftop solar power.

Regarding LNG-fired power, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hoang Long said the ministry is drafting a decree towards issuance in February.

The decree will facilitate the pass-through price mechanism and the pledged minimum purchase of electricity output, which can speed up LNG-fired power projects.

For rooftop solar power, Long emphasized the ministry would draft terms to facilitate rooftop solar power at industrial parks, given its rapid growth in line with Decree 135/2024.

About floating solar power, the ministry will add more projects to the PDP, prioritizing hydropower reservoirs with available grid connection.

Speaking of waste-to-power facilities, Long highlighted the ministry would maximize the addition of projects per localities’ suggestions. PDP VIII now features only 2,200 MW of waste-to-power energy.

Vietnam currently has no LNG-to-power plants. Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4, Vietnam’s first LNG-to-power plants, are set to begin commercial operations in June and September 2025, respectively, according to project investor PV Power.

In November 2024, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said Vietnam expected its electricity supply to grow 11-15% in 2025.

Regarding power sources, the minister asked units to increase the output of gas-fired power, even utilizing more LNG in case natural gas is insufficient. The National Power System and Market Operation (NSMO) reported at the time that Vietnam does not need LNG-fired power for the rest of 2024.