Hanoi (VNS/VNA)𓃲 - TheMinistry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) is collecting opinions on the draftNational Energy Master Plan for 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050 to ensurenational energy security.

Accordingto the MoIT, the local energy economy has changed rapidly in recent decades. Vietnam has exported crude oil, coaland natural gas, making important contributors to the national budget inthe last 20 years. Theministry also said energy imports have had a strong tendency to increase inrecent years.  From1997 to 2019, Vietnam'seconomy maintained a growth rate of nearly 7 percent, and its energy demand in the recent10-year period increased 6.5 percent for primary energy while demand forelectricity rose 10.5 percent in the period, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Dang Hoang Ansaid at aconference in Hanoi last month. Toensure adequate energy supply for social and economic development as well asnational defence, the ministry determined a national energy master plan isneeded. The ministry said thenational energy master plan for 2021-30 with a vision to 2050 is expectedto build scenarios that will not increase energy costs, prevent energyfrom becoming a burden for the economy,ensure harmonised energy development and contribute to promoting the country’seconomic development. Theministry said the master plan is tohelp provide a comprehensive assessment of national energy supply anddemand and connect energy developmentwith socio-economic-environmental development goals set by Vietnam and its commitments to the internationalcommunity. TheMoIT said the plan will ensure theharmonious development of energy sub-sectors while also creatingfavourable conditions for State management in the energy sector. At thesame time, most experts consider renewable energy a solution to the risk ofelectricity shortages and for sustainable and green growth in Vietnam where cheaper thermal power has beenharming the environment. Tran Anh Tuan, Secretary of the World Energy Council,recently told local media that thedevelopment of renewable energy such as wind, solar power, hydrogen will be aninevitable trend to create a clean, low-cost, stable and environmentallyfriendly source of energy. Commercialelectricity growth is estimated to increase rapidly and strongly in the next 15years. Nguyen The Thang, Head of the Electrical SystemDevelopment Department under the Institute of Energy, told local media that in one scenario commercial electricitywill reach 490.8 billion kWh by 2030 and 976 billion kWh by 2050, maintainingan increase of 8.3 percent in 2021-30, then by only 3.4 percent in 2031-50. Inanother scenario, commercial electricity will reach 523 billion kWh in 2030 and1,110 billion kWh in 2050. In thepast years, Vietnam has built small hydropowerplans, considered a form of renewable energy with a minimal negativeimpact on the environment and one that promotes rural economic development. Accordingto the MoIT, there are more than 1,000potential small hydropower developments across the country, ranging from 100 kWto 30 MW, with a total capacity of more than 7,000 MW, the biggest capacityamong ASEAN countries. However,due to climate change and droughts, many hydropower reservoirs could not workdue to lack of water while some construction projects have been delayed. Theministry will not allow developing supersmall projects with a capacity of below 30MW, as they could not be the solutionto national energy security. Meanwhile,the traditional thermal power using coal has been proved to harm the environmentand is no longer being developed inmost other countries, so the ministry has made some changes in its latest PowerPlan VII. At theend of last week, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh and his Republic of Korea counterpart, Sung Yunmo,signed an energy cooperation deal between the two sides at the10th Meeting of Vietnam-RoKJoint Committee on Energy, Industry and Trade Cooperation, in which they willboost Korean investment in liquefied natural gas power and renewable energyprojects as well as co-operation in improving efficiency and safety of energyin Vietnam. MoIThas publicised the draft and asked for comments on its website./.