On October 14, in Hanoi, the Steering Committee for Coal Supply Coordination for Power Generation among EVN, Vinacomin, and Dong Bac Corporation held its second meeting of 2026 to review coal supply during the first nine months of the year, agree on tasks for the fourth quarter, and prepare fuel supplies for 2027.

The meeting was co-chaired by Ngo Son Hai, Vice President of EVN; Tran Hai Binh, Deputy General Director of Vinacomin; and Colonel Vu Sy Thang, Deputy General Director of Dong Bac Corporation. Also in attendance were Dinh The Phuc, a member of EVN’s Board of Directors; representatives of the National Power System and Market Operation Company Limited (NSMO); and leaders of departments, divisions, and member units of EVN, Vinacomin, and Dong Bac Corporation.

Leaders from EVN, Vinacomin, and Dong Bac Corporation chairing second meeting of Steering Committee for Coal Supply Coordination for Power Generation in 2026

Ensuring sufficient coal for power generation

According to NSMO, total electricity generation across the national power system from January through September 2026 was estimated at 266.2 billion kWh, up approximately 9.5% year on year and about 3.8 billion kWh above the annual operational plan. Of this, coal-fired power generation accounted for 132.91 billion kWh, representing roughly 50% of the total electricity generated. EVN’s coal-fired power plants generated 55.825 billion kWh, accounting for 42% of total coal-fired power generation across the system.

During this same period, Vinacomin and the Dong Bac Corporation supplied 19.48 million tons of anthracite coal to EVN’s coal-fired power plants. Amidst international market volatility - which caused supply chain disruptions and drove up the costs of coal, oil, gas, and logistics - EVN and its member power generation corporations worked closely with the NSMO, Vinacomin, and the Dong Bac Corporation to increase the utilization of power plants running on domestic coal, thereby helping to maintain a continuous power supply.

Following the conclusions of the Steering Committee’s first meeting on April 20, 2026, EVN’s thermal power plants reviewed their coal requirements and coordinated with coal suppliers to register delivery schedules. They generally maintained coal inventories at prescribed levels and increased reserves to the maximum possible levels during the dry season. The plants also stepped up updates on their operational status and coordinated with relevant parties to expedite coal unloading, ensuring that coal deliveries remained on schedule during the peak of the dry season.

EVN’s power plants are projected to require approximately 9.68 million tonnes of coal in the final three months of the year. Vinacomin and the Dong Bac Corporation have committed to supplying this entire volume.

EVN Vice President Ngo Son Hai delivering concluding remarks at meeting

Preparing for 2027 dry season peak

According to NSMO Vice President Nguyen Quoc Trung, NSMO has developed four operational scenarios for the national power system for 2027. Accordingly, NSMO must optimize power generation dispatch to conserve water in hydropower reservoirs ahead of the challenging 2027 dry season. As a result, thermal power plants will continue to be dispatched at high levels in the coming period.

To meet this requirement, EVN and its power generation corporations are accelerating negotiations and the signing of coal supply contracts with Vinacomin and Dong Bac Corporation for 2027.

EVN Vice President Ngo Son Hai called on EVN’s thermal power plants to coordinate with Vinacomin and Dong Bac Corporation to increase coal inventories to the maximum level from the beginning of March 2027; complete negotiations and sign all anthracite coal supply contracts for 2027 within October 2026; and strictly control coal inventory levels in accordance with the signed cooperation agreements.

Regarding coal suppliers, EVN called for increased transportation capacity and coal availability to meet the actual demand of power plants, particularly during the dry season; strict control of coal quality in compliance with environmental regulations; and the exploration of long-term coal supply contracts to stabilize supply and costs amid fluctuations in coal prices and transportation capacity.

Translator: Hải Yến