Thien said Vietnam’s energy resources are abundant, but itis hard for Vietnam to compete due to high energy costs, adding that industryconsumes the most energy with 45.7 percent, transportation (31.7 percent).Meanwhile, coal mining and oil and gas sectors tend to stall.
Former Deputy Director of the Central Institute for EconomicManagement Vo Tri Thanh said Vietnam’s energy sector is facing difficultiessuch as end to nuclear energy production, workforce crisis in the VietnamNational Oil and Gas Group, adjustment of electricity prices and environmentfees for petrol, and depleting coal supply.
It is forecast that increasing energy demand will exert morepressures on energy in the next 10-15 years, he said.
When it comes to energy strategy, he took note of energysupply and its structure, market development and growth strategy, and the roleof energy sector in the fourth industrial revolution.
A representative from the Party Central Committee’s EconomicCommission said as Vietnam is stepping up industrialisation and modernisation,energy demand each year is huge. Therefore, it is necessary to synchronouslyand properly develop electricity, oil and gas, coal and new energy sectors,especially clean and renewable energy.
Thien suggested gearing towards a modern and high-techeconomy instead of traditional fields consuming natural resources and energy,with priority given to wind and solar energy.-VNA