HCMC – The Government has ordered the Ministry of Industry and Trade to scale down thermal power generation in the years ahead as the country gradually switches to renewable energy.
Notice 277/TB-VPCP issued by the Government Office said the ministry should cut back gas- and coal-fired power projects while increasing power output from wind farms, and to focus on shifting to green and clean energy.
According to the notice, the ministry was also tasked with reviewing the feasibility of domestic gas-fueled power plants, cutting down on LNG imports by 2030.
The Government also asked the ministry to work with investors of thermal power projects facing difficulties with funding and construction, with an aim to talk them into dropping their projects in the spirit that no disputes or lawsuits will ensue.
It is necessary to calculate electricity imports from neighboring countries, especially Laos, review solar power plants in a way that ensures economic efficiency, and assess the impacts of self-consumption of rooftop solar power, the Government Office said.
In a proposal to the Government, the ministry sought to do away with low-tech thermal power projects. As removing such projects may lead to complaints, demands for compensation, or even legal actions from investors, the ministry proposed that specific policies be employed to handle such cases.
For projects found by inspectors to have infringed on regulations, the ministry wants their licenses to be revoked, according to the proposal.
The Government Office’s notice said the ministry is responsible for completing the National Power Development Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2045. The plan should take into account the reduction of CO2 emissions by replacing coal-fired power projects with renewable energy sources.
