Forum discusses gas power development in Vietnam

In his opening speech, Pham Manh Hung, vice president of VOV, pointed out the nation’s national energy development strategy until 2030, with a vision towards 2045, which has set out the task of developing the gas industry with a focus on prioritizing investment in technical infrastructure as a means of serving the import and consumption of liquefied gas.

This is along with focusing on quickly developing gas thermal power using liquefied gas aimed at developing gas power gradually into an important source of electricity that supports system regulation.

According to set out in the National Electricity Development Plan to 2030, with a vision ahead to 2045, by 2030 gas thermal power sources will account for 24.8% of the total capacity of the entire electricity generation system, whilst being the largest proportion in the power source structure. In addition, coal thermal power, hydropower, onshore and offshore wind power will make up 20%, 19.5%, and 18.5%, respectively.

With the rapid development of the national economy and population, the Vietnamese electricity industry is also facing numerous challenges amid electricity demand continuing to grow robustly. Gradually depleted primary energy sources coupled with limited primary energy supply capacity will lead to the early need for fuel imports.

Furthermore, the strong development of power sources using renewable energy such as wind and solar leads to certain difficulties when it comes to operating the power system and increasingly strict requirements placed on environmental protection in electricity-related activities.

 “The potential for developing the gas power market in Vietnam has recently captured due attention and debate from policy makers and managers, experts, research and media organizations.

In recent years, the nation’s energy industry has developed strongly in all stages of gas industry development, while prioritizing investment in technical infrastructure to serve the import and consumption of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

This has made an important contribution to the country's development and innovation process. However, scale and efficiency are still at a low level,” he said.

The forum is viewed as being a very necessary and meaningful activity with consultations from many experts, scientists, and businesses' experience to discuss and exchange information and knowledge regarding the current status and development potential for the country’s energy development in the future.

Moreover, it will also contribute to concretizing major policies of the Party and State with a view to creating conditions for the development of new and renewable energy in the coming period, Hung added.

In his remarks, Ta Dinh Thi, deputy chairman of the National Assembly (NA)'s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, said that as one of the six countries in the world most affected by climate change, the nation has and is pioneering in realizing "green" commitments. This is considered by the international community as a model for a developing country that still faces many difficulties but has made leading contributions to the safe "common home" of humanity.

At the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26), the nation pledged to develop and deploy strong greenhouse gas emission reduction measures with its own resources, along with the co-operation and support of the international community to strive to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Based on commitments set out at COP26, the Vietnamese Government and the Group of International Partners officially adopted the Political Declaration establishing the Fair Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with international partners.

As a means of achieving this goal, the country needs to further promote the development of renewable energy, improve energy efficiency, and focus on energy conversion with an appropriate roadmap. This should be done while ensuring the goals of environmental protection and responding to climate change, minimizing the cost burden, improving productivity, quality, efficiency of the economy, and competently solving social problems.

In terms gas and electricity development, Thi said that special attention must be paid to issues such as planning, resource mobilisation, price mechanism, site clearance, imported LNG and domestic gas use, solutions to ensure gas power infrastructure development in Vietnam, and ensuring the supply chain for both domestic and imported gas power production. This is along with investment capital, land use, marine space, and socio-economic efficiency.

In particular, the country also needs to pay attention to difficulties faced by gas power projects and seek proper solutions for this issue, Thi emphasized.