Firmly safeguarding national energy security and ensuring adequate electricity supply are fundamental and decisive factors in successfully achieving socio-economic development objectives and constitute a particularly important political task for the entire political system. On October 12, 2026, the Prime Minister held a meeting and issued directives regarding measures to guarantee electricity supply for the 2026–2030 period, as well as adjustments to the Power Development Plan VIII (documented in Notice No. 531/TB-VPCP dated October 17, 2026).

In line with the conclusions of the Party Central Committee, resolutions of the Politburo, and directives of the country's key leaders, the Prime Minister has instructed the Ministry of Industry and Trade to immediately focus on implementing the Prime Minister’s directives on ensuring electricity supply for 2027 and subsequent years and to deliver concrete results. The Ministry is also required to direct and assign tasks, or propose that competent authorities assign tasks, to relevant agencies, units, and local authorities to implement effective and feasible measures in a coordinated and decisive manner, ensuring sufficient electricity supply for socio-economic development and the daily needs of the people, with no power shortages under any circumstances. The specific tasks and responsibilities of each relevant ministry, agency, and locality, together with deadlines for completion, must be clearly defined to facilitate monitoring, follow-up, and supervision of implementation.

Specifically, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is focusing on implementing urgent, immediate measures to ensure an adequate electricity supply for 2027:

- Direct and urge ministries, agencies, and localities to focus on developing self-produced, self-consumed rooftop solar power systems at households, agencies, government offices, and production and business establishments, ensuring strict compliance with the Prime Minister’s directives under Directive No. 10/CT-TTg dated March 30, 2026. Encourage the installation of battery energy storage systems (BESS) to reduce peak-hour electricity demand and enhance the ability to meet electricity needs using on-site power sources. In this regard, propose that the Government and the Prime Minister assign specific targets to each locality, particularly the northern provinces, clearly specifying the number of systems and their commissioning timelines. The results of implementing this assigned task will serve as an important criterion for assessing the performance of leaders of ministries, sectors, and localities. This task must be completed before October 30, 2026.

- Provide guidance and urge localities to promptly issue support policies for households installing self-produced, self-consumed solar power systems, in accordance with Clause 2, Article 22 of the Law on Electricity, with completion expected by December 2026.

- Direct project investors to focus on implementation, ensure projects remain on schedule, and complete and bring Na Duong 2 Thermal Power Plant and Quang Trach I Thermal Power Plant into commercial operation in 2026.

- Urgently review and expedite the implementation of eligible utility-scale solar power projects, floating solar power projects on hydropower reservoirs, and associated grid infrastructure for power evacuation included in the Revised Power Development Plan VIII, and propose that the Prime Minister assign specific tasks to local authorities and corporations for their immediate implementation. Priority should be given to projects in northern Vietnam, particularly those on the Lai Chau and Son La hydropower reservoirs, as well as projects in areas with favorable conditions for grid connection and power evacuation. Vietnam Electricity (EVN) shall continue to study and invest in battery energy storage systems (BESS) at substations and other suitable locations within the power system, ensuring that these systems are put into operation in 2027.

- Take the lead in coordinating with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Justice, and other relevant ministries and agencies to study and issue mechanisms, policies, and guidelines to accelerate the development of battery energy storage systems (BESS), and encourage the installation of rooftop solar power systems for self-generation and self-consumption combined with BESS in industrial parks and industrial clusters, particularly in northern provinces, with completion by December 2026.

- Direct ministries, agencies, and local authorities to promote energy conservation, aiming for an annual electricity saving of at least 3% of the total national electricity consumption. During peak hot-weather months (April, May, June, and July), the target for electricity savings shall be at least 10% of consumption.

- Implement electricity demand-side management, load shifting, and demand response programs in a coordinated manner; reduce peak load demand on the power system by at least 3,000 MW during peak hours; and bring system-wide electricity losses below 6%.

- Proactively coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to urgently implement the directions of the Standing Deputy Prime Minister set out in Government Office Document No. 9678/VPCP-CN dated September 23, 2026, regarding the application of a special mechanism for temporarily exempting compliance with regulations on the temperature of discharged cooling water. Report to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision on the proactive dispatch of power plants to ensure security of electricity supply in emergencies, in accordance with Clause 3, Article 53 of the Electricity Law.

Regarding measures to ensure electricity supply during the 2028–2030 period and subsequent years, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Industry and Trade to:

- Work directly with leaders of the Ministry of Finance and the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Presidents and CEOs of Vietnam Electricity (EVN), Vietnam National Industry–Energy Group (PVN), and Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin) to review power generation and transmission grid projects that have been implemented, are currently under development, or need to be undertaken in the coming period, and agree on a list of projects to be assigned to state-owned groups for implementation to ensure the target of adequate electricity supply is met. Each project should be assessed in terms of implementation progress, expected commercial operation date, ability to secure financing, outstanding obstacles requiring resolution, and the authorities responsible for addressing them. Where necessary, consider proposing the use of the state budget to invest in certain urgent power projects and facilities, and report to the Prime Minister for consideration and direction before October 30, 2026.

- Work directly with local authorities to develop detailed plans and critical-path schedules for the implementation of projects and facilities under their purview, ensuring completion in accordance with the adjusted Power Development Plan VIII. These plans must clearly specify key milestones and scheduled commissioning dates, with formal written commitments submitted to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for consolidation, monitoring, and supervision. Furthermore, the feasibility of each project must be thoroughly assessed. If a project cannot be completed within the required timeframe, the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall coordinate with the relevant provincial or municipal People’s Committee to evaluate the situation and determine an appropriate course of action. Any matter falling beyond their authority shall be reported to the Prime Minister for consideration in accordance with applicable regulations.

- Take the lead, in coordination with relevant ministries and agencies, in reviewing and consolidating the proposed adjustments to the Revised Power Development Plan VIII, and consult with local authorities to finalize the adjustments for submission to the competent authorities for consideration and decision.

- Take the lead, in coordination with relevant ministries, agencies, and local authorities, in urgently proposing emergency power projects and facilities in accordance with the capacity thresholds prescribed under electricity laws, and submit them to the Prime Minister for approval in accordance with regulations.

- Monitor and urge local authorities to expedite project investment procedures and investor selection. Inspect and urge investors holding investment certificates to implement their projects in accordance with their committed schedules. Maintain strict oversight after investment licenses have been issued, and coordinate with relevant authorities to take firm action against investors that delay project implementation or violate regulations.  Be accountable to the Government and the Prime Minister if projects included in the plan are not implemented or fail to enter operation as scheduled.

Ensuring electricity supply during the 2027–2030 period to support economic development is a top political priority. The Ministry of Industry and Trade must proactively carry out its assigned tasks without waiting for instructions, relying on others, or shifting responsibility to higher-level authorities. Any matters beyond its authority must be promptly reported to the competent authorities for consideration and resolution. As the state management agency responsible for energy and electricity, the Ministry of Industry and Trade bears ultimate responsibility to the Government and the Prime Minister if electricity shortages occur under any circumstances.

Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall be responsible for directing the following:

- Promptly issue support policies for households installing solar power systems for self-production and self-consumption, in accordance with Clause 2, Article 22 of the Law on Electricity; this task must be completed by December 2026.

- Direct the expeditious completion of project investment procedures and investor selection; inspect and urge investors that have been granted investment registration certificates to implement their projects in accordance with committed schedules; maintain strict oversight after licenses have been issued and take strict action against investors that delay implementation or violate regulations; and be held accountable to the Government and the Prime Minister if projects included in the approved plan are not implemented or fail to be put into operation as scheduled.

- Direct project investors to develop detailed plans and critical-path schedules for the implementation of works and projects under their management, ensuring completion in accordance with the Revised Power Development Plan VIII. These plans must clearly specify key milestones and commissioning dates and include written commitments, with copies submitted to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for consolidation, monitoring, and supervision. Strictly comply with the requirement to submit quarterly reports to the Ministry of Industry and Trade on implementation progress against committed schedules. Implementation results shall serve as an important criterion for assessing how effectively local leaders fulfill their assigned responsibilities.

Secretaries of provincial and municipal Party Committees shall lead and direct the provincial and municipal People’s Committees to strictly implement the Prime Minister’s directives and promptly take measures to ensure an adequate electricity supply during the 2027–2030 period.

Translator: Hải Yến