The move aims to support Vietnam’s efforts to achievezero-net emissions by 2050, as nuclear power is viewed as near-cleanenergy, according to the MoIT. Particularly after the UN Climate ChangeConference (COP26) in Scotland, many countries have recognised it as a cleansource of power since nuclear power plants produce no greenhouse gas emissions during operation.
However, the ministry also noted the Government must obtainapproval from the Party Central Committee's Politburo and Secretariatbefore including nuclear power projects in the plan.
Under the latest revised draft of the PDP8, the MoITintroduced two plans with different goals.
In the first plan, Vietnam expects to generate a total of146,000MW of electricity by 2030 and 343,000MW by 2045, exclusive of rooftopsolar power which currently has capacity of some 7,755MW.
The country plans to produce more offshore and onshorewind power with production expected to significantly surge from7,000MW by 2030 to 54,000MW by 2045, and the latter from 14,721MW to 42,650MW.
The second plan pushes for stronger energy transition. Itsets for Vietnam to generate around 150,970MW of power by 2030 and 426,857MW by2045.
However, according to the Government’s Office, the draftplan lacks national grid development planning so there is insufficient evidencefor the finalisation of total investment to be required for power development until2045.
The office held that potential for expanding renewableenergies in Vietnam remains huge. Therefore, the MoIT must developtransparent and competitive mechanisms for the efficient use of such energyresources, enabling the country to successfully fulfill COP26 commitments andenhance its energy self-sufficiency in the coming time.
It is also important to have more analysis on the future useof the renewables, the office added./.