Decision 893/QD-TTg 2023 National Energy Master Plan for the 2021-2030 period

DECISION

Approving the National Master Plan on energy for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050^[1]

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the June 19, 2015 Law on Organization of the Government; and the November 22, 2019 Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Law on Organization of the Government and Law on Local Administration;

Pursuant to the November 24, 2017 Planning Law;

Pursuant to the National Assembly’s Resolution No. 61/2022/QH15 of June 16, 2022, on continued improvement of the implementation effect and effectiveness of planning policies and law and a number of solutions for tackling difficulties, addressing problems, accelerating the formulation, and improving the quality of master plans for the 2021-2030 period;

Pursuant to the National Assembly’s Resolution No. 81/2023/QH15 of January 9, 2023, on the National Master Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 37/2019/ND-CP of May 7, 2019, detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Planning Law;

Based on the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Report No. 4225/TTr-BCT of July 3, 2023, on approval of the National Master Plan on energy for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050; and opinions of ministries, sectors and localities on the National Master Plan on energy for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050.

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the National Master Plan on energy for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050 (below referred to as the National Energy Master Plan) with the following principal contents:

I. SCOPE AND BOUNDARIES OF THE MASTER PLAN

The National Energy Master Plan covers the sub-sectors of petroleum, coal, electricity, and new and renewable energies, with such tasks as basic survey, prospecting, exploration, exploitation, production, storage, distribution and use of energy and other related activities.

II. DEVELOPMENT VIEWPOINTS AND OBJECTIVES

1. Development viewpoints

a/ Energy plays an important and essential role in socio-economic development. Energy development must be one step ahead so as to firmly ensure national energy security, promote rapid and sustainable national development, build an independent and self-reliant economy, improve the People’s living standards, and maintain national defense and security. The National Energy Master Plan must have a long-term, efficient and sustainable vision and regard national interests as the prime and foremost priority.

b/ The National Energy Master Plan must ensure the perpetuation, objectiveness, scientism and overall optimization of the factors of energy exploitation, production, distribution and economical and efficient use as suitable to spaces and comparative advantages of regions and localities.    

c/ The National Energy Master Plan must be dynamic, open and adaptable to the world’s energy transition context and reality. To exploit and efficiently use domestic energy resources in combination with reasonable energy import and export; develop energy in parallel with protection of natural resources, the environment and ecology; and regard development of renewable energies and new energies as an opportunity for comprehensively developing the ecosystem of energy industry.

d/ The State shall concentrate investment and encourage all economic sectors to participate in sustainable development of energies on the principle of fair competition and implement the market mechanism for energies of all types, ensuring the harmony of interests among subjects participating in energy investment and use and meeting development requirements of all regions and localities.

dd/ Energy development must closely follow the world’s science and technology development trends, especially regarding renewable energies, new energies and non-energy products, in association with transformation of the country’s economic model toward green growth, green economy, circular economy and low-carbon economy; to develop all types of energy in a synchronous, reasonable and diverse manner according to Vietnam’s schedule and commitments on the sustainable, fair and just energy transition.

2. Development objectives

a/ General objectives

- To firmly maintain national energy security, thus meeting socio-economic development and national industrialization and modernization requirements, assuring national defense and security, improving the people’s living standards, and protecting the eco-environment.

- To successfully carry out the energy transition, thus importantly contributing to achieving the net-zero emissions goal by 2050; to develop the energy sector, ensuring the harmony among sub-sectors with complete and smart infrastructure facilities up to the region’s advanced level and conformable with world’s science and technology development trend.

- To develop an independent and self-reliant energy industry and form an overall energy industry ecosystem based on renewable energies and new energies, striving to become a center for the clean energy industry and a renewable energy exporter of the region.

b/ Specific targets

- Assurance of national energy security

+ To fully meet domestic energy demand in order to achieve socio-economic development targets with the average annual GDP growth rate of around 7 percent in the 2021-2030 period and 6.5-7.5 percent in the 2031-2050 period;

•  Ultimate total energy demand will be 107 million tons and between 165 and 184 million tons of oil equivalent by 2030 and 2050, respectively.
•  Total primary energy supply will be 155 million tons and between 294 and 311 millions of oil equivalent by 2030 and 2050, respectively.

 + To increase the country’s petrol and oil inventories (including also crude oil and products thereof) to 75-80 days of net import by 2030, which may be considered to be gradually increased to 90 days of net import after 2020.

- Fair energy transition

+ The proportion of renewable energies to the total primary energy will be 15-20% by 2030 and 80-85% by 2050.

+ To conserve energy by 8-10% by 2030 and 15-20% by 2050 compared to the normal development scenario.

+ Greenhouse gas emissions will be 399-449 million tons by 2030 and around 101 million tons by 2050. Greenhouse gas emissions will reduce by 17-26% by 2030 and around 90% by 2050 compared to the normal development scenario and peak in 2030 provided that the commitments under JETP are fully and practically realized by international partners.

- Development of the energy industry

+ To exploit and efficiently use domestic energy resources.

•  The annual crude oil exploitation output will reach 6-9.5 million tons in the 2021-2030 period and 7-9 million tons in the 2030-2050 period.
•  The annual natural gas exploitation output will reach 5.5-15 million tons in the 2021-2030 period and 10-15 million tons in the 2030-2050 period.
•  The annual coal exploitation output will reach 41-47 million tons of commercial coal in the 2021-2030 period, 39 million tons by 2045, and 33 million tons by 2050. To strive to conduct exploitation in the Red River Delta coal basin on a trial basis before 2040 and on an industrial scale before 2050 (once the trial exploitation succeeds).

+ To concentrate on developing the energy industry, striving to become a center for clean energy industry and a renewable energy exporter in the region and to form and develop renewable energy centers in regions and localities with advantages:

•  To strive for the target that by 2030, a number of clean energy centers for energy production and use, renewable energy-powered equipment manufacturing industry, petroleum processing industry, construction, installation and related services will be formed and developed in the North, Southern Central Vietnam and the South when conditions are favorable.
•  To develop the production of new energies to meet domestic and export demands. To strive for the target that the green hydrogen production capacity will reach 100,000-200,000 tons/year and 10-20 million tons/year by 2030 and 2050, respectively.

III. PLANNING ORIENTATIONS AND OBJECTIVES OF ENERGY SUB-SECTORS  

1. Oil and gas sub-sector

a/ Oil and gas prospecting, exploration and exploitation

- Oil and gas prospecting and exploration

+ Orientations:

•  To intensify oil and gas basic survey, prospecting and exploration at home in order to increase oil and gas reserves; to adopt specific policies to encourage the participation of major oil and gas companies from the developed countries in the world in these activities in deep-water, offshore and sensitive areas, while ensuring protection of the national sovereignty over seas and islands.
•  To actively carry out exploration in shallow-water and traditional areas, and survey and explore new prospecting and exploitation objects, new sedimentary basins and unconventional hydrocarbons (tight reservoirs, coal gas, shallow gas, shale gas, gas hydrates, etc.) in order to add reserves for long-term exploitation.
•  For shale oil and gas and gas hydrates (combustible ice), to actively survey and make deeper geological assessment and apply scientific and technical advances to expand the scope of survey; to soon organize the general assessment and step up the trial exploitation when conditions permit.
•  To concentrate on intensifying the prospecting and exploration in Cuu Long, Nam Con Son, Ma Lai-Tho Chu, and Red River basins; in parallel with the exhaustive survey, to carry out extensive survey of conventional objects in order to add deposits and put into development, operation and use of existing infrastructure facilities; to gradually shift to the exploration and assessment of exploitability of oil and gas from unconventional objects; to continue expanding the exploration in deep-water and offshore areas such as basins of Phu Khanh, Tu Chinh-Vung May, etc.
•  To carry out basic survey and add prospecting and exploration documents for rarely surveyed areas and transitional shallow-water areas while further carrying out 2D-seismic surveys intertwined with thicker survey networks; to survey and assess prospects of discovered structures and make exploration drills at the most prospective structures in water areas of over-200m depth and offshore areas.
•  To carry out seismic acquisition for reprocessing and supplementation of 2D/3D seismic documents using new and advanced technologies in order to synchronize high-quality seismic documents for whole basins/regions; to step by step organize basic surveys and researches in areas with gas hydrate prospects in Nam Con Son and Tu Chinh-Vung May zones, and study the unconventional oil and gas potential (tight reservoirs, coal gas, shallow gas, shale gas, gas hydrates, etc.) in basins in the Red River and Mekong River deltas and Nam Con Son basin.
•  To continue carrying out measurement and survey and collecting seismic-geophysical data at home and abroad to research characteristics of the geological structure and assess oil and gas potential as well as gas hydrates in Truong Sa-Hoang Sa basin when conditions are favorable.
•  To concentrate on exploration in the 3 areas of southern Red River basin, central Nam Con Son basin and Cuu Long basin.
•  To increase 2D/3D seismic data acquisition and reprocessing, especially in strategic areas, in order to increase resources.

+ Specific targets:

•  In each 5-10 year cycle, to comprehensively assess the oil and gas potential and reserves in inland Vietnam and Vietnamese continental shelf.
•  To increase reserves to 16-22 million tons of oil equivalent in the 2021-2030 period with an offset coefficient of 0.9-1.1, and 16-27 million tons of oil equivalent in the 2031-2050 period with an offset coefficient of 0.6-1.0.

- Oil and gas exploitation

+ Orientations:

•  To properly perform the field management, optimize and maintain the efficient exploitation of oil and gas fields already put into exploitation.
•  To develop and put fields with oil and gas discoveries into reasonable and efficient exploitation to use domestic oil and gas resources in a long-term and concentrated manner in such potential areas as deep-water and offshore ones and for unconventional oil and gas objects; to formulate plans cooperation plans and common exploitation mechanisms in contiguous zones.
•  To continue intensifying research and application of enhanced oil recovery solutions at oil and gas fields.
•  To promote the exploitation of small/marginal oil and gas fields by applying new technologies and connecting fields in order to maximize the use of existing infrastructure facilities and the State’s promotion policies.

- To concentrate resources on accelerating the implementation of 2 major gas projects, including the project on gas exploitation in Lots B&48/95 and 52/97 and the Blue Whale gas project.

+ Specific targets:

•  Domestic crude oil: The crude oil exploitation output will reach 6-9.5 million tons in the 2021-2030 period and 7-9 million tons in the 2031-2050 period.
•  Gas to shore: The gas exploitation output in the 2021-2030 and 2031-2050 periods will reach 5.5-15 billion tons and 10-15 billion tons, respectively.

b/ Gas industry

- Orientations:

+ To develop a complete gas industry with synchronous stages of gas exploitation, collection, transportation, processing, storage and distribution and gas product import and export.

+ To develop the gas market under the market mechanism and subject to the State’s regulation to step by step integrate with the regional and global markets.

+ To safely and efficiently operate the existing system of pipelines to collect, convey and process gases; to continue optimizing gas exploitation and collection from gas fields with large reserves, and at the same time intensify the gas collection from gas fields with small reserves and marginal fields in order to maximize the collection of gas sources through existing pipelines in the Red River, Cuu Long, Nam Con Son and Ma Lai-Tho Chu basins.

+ To step up the implementation of projects on gas field development and gas collection through the pipeline system, floating CNG in fields where no collection system is available; to expand the scope of gas (CNG, LNG, etc.) collection from fields where it is impossible to collect gases through pipelines (small fields, fields of marginal value, gases with a high CO₂ content, and especially accompanied gas fields).

+ To build gas processing plants and pipelines to convey gases to gas processing plants for supply of gases to thermal power centers, gas processing plants and industrial consumption households.

+ To intensify investment in building infrastructure facilities, intensify the building of, and encourage contractors to build, offshore gas collection systems to be connected to existing pipelines; to build pipelines for import of gases from gas fields in neighboring countries into the existing pipeline system and pipelines to be built in the future; to cooperate with domestic and foreign partners in researching and applying rational technological solutions to fully collect gases currently burned out at exploitation platforms and separate products of high value like ethane, propane/butane (LPG) and condensate at gas processing plants in order to improve the value of oil and gas resources; and to build infrastructure facilites to collect and transport gas sources from fields currently under exploitation.

+ To organize the building of LNG warehouses and terminals and import of natural gases (LNG and CNG) to meet the demand of the electricity production and industrial and civil use; to seek import gas sources from Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, etc., by using existing infrastructure facilities, and at the same time promote international relations in order to acquire import gas (LNG and CNG) sources from countries with abundant supply sources and favorable conditions for trade and transport and get ready for gas import from 2023.

+ To improve the synchronous system for supply of natural gases, LNG, CNG, LPG, and DME nationwide to meet the demand for fuels for energy generation, fertilizer production, industry, transport and civil use; to continue developing the system of pipelines for low-pressure conveyance of natural gases for supply to industrial consumption households along pipelines and residential areas in major cities.

+ To concentrate resources on accelerating the implementation of gas industry products, including the Thi Vai LNG import warehouse and terminal project (of a capacity of 1 million tons/year in phase 1 to be completed in 2023; and 3 million tons/year in phase 2 to be completed after 2025); the Son My LNG import warehouse and terminal project (of a capacity of 3.6 million tons/year in phase 1 to be completed in the 2026-2027 period); the Lot B gas project (of a capacity of 6.4 billion m³/year, to be completed by 2027); and the Blue Whale gas projects (of a capacity of 7-9 billion m³/year, to be completed before 2030).            

- Specific targets:

+ To maximize the recovery of associated gas of lots/fields in which PetroVietnam and other oil and gas contractors are carrying out the exploitation in Vietnam.

+ To build infrastructure facilities that can meet 100% of the demand for material gas for electricity generation and other consumer households, in which the liquefied natural gas import volume will reach 15.7-18.2 billion m³ by 2030 and 10.6-12.2 billion m³ by 2050.

+ To develop the gas market to reach an annual trading volume of 30.7-33.2 billion m³ by 2030 and 20-22 billion m³ by 2050.

c/ Oil and gas processing

- Orientations:

+ To develop the oil and gas processing to meet the domestic demand and eventually for export; to attract foreign investment capital sources and capital sources mobilized from the society for development of the oil and gas processing industry on the principle of ensuring the harmony of interests between the nation and investors.

+ To concentrate on developing combined petrochemical refining and chemical production in order to increase added value of oil and gas products, create raw materials, fuels and materials to serve domestic industrial production and export, thereby reducing import surplus.

+ To study and invest in improvement/upgrading of oil and gas products to suit changing market trends as well as stricter environmental standards (applicable to oil refineries); to study investing in the development of new special-use petrochemical/chemical products of high added value.

+ To maintain safe, stable and efficient operation of existing petrochemical refineries and condensate processing plants; to diversify products of such plants.

+ To take advantage of geographical locations and built infrastructure facilities to develop plants based on deep-processing chains, plants and service establishments; to study and invest in building crude oil/petrol and oil transport-storage-production and trading chains in existing oil refineries; to implement and complete the project on upgrading and expansion of the Dung Quat oil refinery, and form the national energy and petrochemical center in Dung Quat economic zone.

+ To study and invest in new petrochemical/chemical projects in association with oil and gas processing centers.

+ To study the production of hydrogen and renewable energies as supplementary operations of petrochemical, chemical and fertilizer plants for use for manufacturing fuel cells, with orientations for improvement of the next-stage hydrogen value chain.

- Specific targets:

+ Oil and gas product output will meet at least 70% of the domestic demand.

+ To operate plants at their designed capacity in a safe and stable manner together with further improvement, optimization and diversification of products and cost reduction.

d/ Transportation, storage and distribution of oil and gas products

- Orientations:

+ To reasonably develop the oil and gas distribution system in order to ensure uninterrupted circulation and stabilize the consumption market, thereby meeting the whole domestic oil and gas consumption demand.

+ To intensify the application of measures for increasing crude oil and oil and gas inventories.

+ To promote the widespread use of bio-fuels and new fuels in order to minimize dependence on fossil fuels and protect the environment.

- Specific targets:

+ By 2030, to increase the whole country’s total oil and gas inventories (including also crude oil and products) to 75-80 net import days, in which production inventories, national reserves’ inventories and commercial inventories will be 20-25, 15-20 and 30-35 net import days, respectively.

+ After 2030, the oil and gas inventories will be considered for gradual increase to 90 net import days.

2. Coal sub-sector

a/ Coal exploration

- Orientations:

+ To concentrate on exploring and improving the reliability of existing coal resource deposits to serve exploitation engineering and intensify the exploration of new mines, thus ensuring coal exploration is always one step ahead.

+ To renovate and apply advanced exploration technologies, especially for areas lying at considerable depths from the surface and with complicated geological conditions; to continue seeking for partners for technology research, investment and selection and application of appropriate exploration methods to explore the Red River coal basin.

- Specific targets:

+ In the 2021-2030 period: To complete the previous periods’ exploration projects and implement new exploration schemes with a total of 1,071-1,328 thousand meters of drilling at the Northeastern coal basin, and 102-131 thousand meters of drilling at inland and local coal mines; to carry out exploration activities within planned boundaries for trial exploitation in the Red River’s coal basin.

+ Orientations for the 2031-2050 period: To complete the previous periods’ exploration projects and implement new exploration schemes with a total of around 773-943 thousand meters of drilling at the Northeastern coal basin, and around 7-10 thousand meters of drilling at inland and local coal mines; to implement exploration schemes in the Red River coal basin.

b/ Coal exploitation

- Orientations:

+ To concentrate on developing and maintaining large-output pit mines toward the criteria of “green mine, modern mine, high-output mine and safe mine”; to develop open-cast coal mines with a higher limitary stripping ratio suitable to economic and technical conditions and relevant master plans; to carrying out earth and rock dumping activities in the direction of maximizing the use of internal landfills.

+ To integrate small-output mines with appropriate geological, geographical and infrastructure conditions into large-output mines.

+ To increase exploitation outputs in a sustainable and efficient manner; to safely, economically and efficiently exploit coal resources, including also coal reserves in areas of work protection abutments and coal reserves left after pit coal exploitation is finished.

+ To invest in a number of research subjects/schemes/projects on trial exploitation in the Red River coal basin in order to select reasonable exploitation technologies.

+ To encourage localities having small-reserves coal spots to invest in coal exploitation to meet their local demands; to attach importance to the exploitation of peat for use as fuel and fertilizer to meet the demand of the agriculture and forestry sectors.

+ To study the exploitation and use of mine tailings for ground leveling in order to promote circular economy and renovate and restore the exploitation-affected environment; to research the processing of mine tailings into construction materials in order to improve the efficiency of the exploitation and use of mine tailings.

+ To intensify research and application of advanced coal exploitation technologies, especially in large mines and mines close to residential areas, urban and coastal areas, etc.

+ To step up the seek for opportunities for offshore investment in exploration and exploitation of coal (of types that Vietnam needs to import) in an efficient and lawful manner.

- Specific targets:

+ For the 2021-2030 period: To strive for increasing the entire sector’s raw coal output (exclusive of peat output) to 46-53 million tons/year which is equivalent to 41-47 million tons of commercial coal/year.

+ Orientations for the 2013-2050 period: The entire sector’s annual raw coal output will be gradually reduced from 53 million tons by 2030 (equivalent to 47 million tons of commercial coal) to around 44 million tons by 2045 (equivalent to around 39 million tons of commercial coal) and around 36 million tons by 2050 (equivalent to around 33 million tons of commercial coal). To strive to carry out trial exploitation in the Red River coal basin before 2040 and eventually industrial-scale exploitation before 2050 (once the trial exploitation succeeds).

c/ Coal screening, sorting and processing

- Orientations:

+ To maintain or renovate existing coal screening and sorting plants and coal processing centers in combination with reasonable maintenance of mine screening clusters; to continue building new concentrated coal screening and sorting plants in different regions to meet coal processing requirements and market demand.

+ To domestically process coal in combination with mixing of imported coals in order to diversify coal types for electricity production; to diversify coal products to meet the market-based domestic consumption demand.

+ To intensify scientific and technological research and application in the coal processing (for use for metallurgy and coal gasification for production of appropriate gas products for energy and industrial sectors) in order to diversify coal-based products for non-energy uses, thus meeting environmental protection requirements and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

+ To carry out coal screening, sorting and processing activities in locally managed mines to meet consumption demands and in conformity with mining projects’ capacity and environmental protection requirements; to build concentrated peat processing establishments with advanced technologies in the direction of prioritized processing of quality products for use in agriculture and forestry and satisfaction of environmental protection requirements.

- Specific targets:

+ For the 2021-2030 period:

•  To build new coal screening and sorting plants and concentrated coal processing centers in order to increase the present coal screening, sorting and processing capacity in Uong Bi area by 4-5 million tons; to build new screening workshops with a total capacity of around 1.5 million tons/year in Uong Bi area.
•  To increase the concentrated screening and sorting capacity in Hon Gai area to around 5 million tons/year.
•  To strive for the target that 60-65% percent of total coal production output will be put into concentrated screening, sorting and processing.

+ Orientations for the 2031-2050 period:

•  To maintain existing coal screening and sorting plants and concentrated coal processing centers; to step up technological renovation and renewal and increase the rate of high-quality coal recovery for export when the demand for consumption of domestically produced coal gradually decreases.
•  To strive for the target that 65% of total coal production output will be put into concentrated screening, sorting and processing.

d/ Coal market and coal import and export

- Orientations:

To import and export coal based on the market demand and the Government’s direction in order to best meet the domestic coal demand, especially coal for electricity production; to take the initiative in seeking stable and long-term import coal sources to meet the domestic coal demand, with coal inventories taken into consideration.

- Specific targets:

+ Coal market: To step by step form the coal market with numerous sellers and buyers, and diverse coal suppliers for consumer households; to complete the study of international coal price index appropriate to reference of prices of coal to be imported into Vietnam for trial application and further improvement for application of coal price index in coal import transactions as suitable to Vietnam’s specific conditions, and operate the coal market according to the development roadmap of the competitive energy market approved by the Prime Minister.

+ Coal import:

•  In the 2021-2030 period: The volume of Vietnam’s coal imports will be gradually increased and reach around 73 million tons by 2030, in which the demand for various types of imported coal of thermal power plants designed/planned to use imported coal will be around 44 million tons.
•  Orientations for the 2031-2050 period: The volume of coal imports will continue to rise and reach the peak of around 85 million tons by 2035 then gradually decrease and down to around 50 million tons by 2045, in which the demand for various types of imported coal of thermal power plants designed/planned to use imported coal will be around 64 million tons by 2035 and gradually decrease to around 34 million tons by 2045. By 2050, Vietnam will no longer import coal.

+ Coal export:

•  In the 2021-2030 period: Vietnam will export high-quality coal which the domestic market has no demand for or does not use up under the Prime Minister’s direction. The annual coal export volume will be around 2-3 million tons.
•  Orientations for the 2031-2050 period: To continue exporting high-quality coal which the domestic market has no demand for or does not use up under the Prime Minister’s direction until 2035. After 2035, to intensify the processing of high-quality coal from domestically produced coal for export to meet the global market demand.

dd/ General ground planning and external transportation

- Orientations:

+ To build new or improve existing works on the ground (exploitation areas, waste landfills, technical and environmental protection infrastructure facilities, etc.) to meet the demand of each coal exploitation, screening and sorting or processing project; to satisfy landscape, environmental and disaster prevention and control requirements, ensure coal production efficiency, and flexibly meet demand for land for future development.

+ To organize the transportation system (roads, railways and conveyor belts) suitable to coal production capacity of each area with modern and environmentally friendly technologies and high economic efficiency; to associate coal mines with major consumer households in each area in conformity with socio-economic development master plans and master plans on development of urban centers and infrastructure facilities in areas where coal exploitation activities are carried out; to intensify the use of conveyor belts, railways and waterways to transport coal and minimize coal transportation by automobile in order to mitigate adverse environmental impacts.

+ To maintain, renovate and upgrade a number of motor roads in conformity with exploitation expansion master plans of mines and urban development master plans in coal exploitation areas.

+ To maintain existing conveyor belt lines or build new ones in sync with the existing special-use railway transport system for transportation of raw coal from mines to screening and sorting establishments and of finished coal products from screening and sorting establishments to concentrated coal warehouses, thermal power plants and coal export terminals in the region as appropriate to each coal export period.

+ To maintain national railway sections for coal transportation (from Mao Khe, Trang Bach and Hong Thai mines to Pha Lai thermal power plants 1 and 2, and some inland areas and from Nui Hong mine to the mixing station in the north of Khanh Hoa mine) and for material and supplies transportation (the Mai Pha - Na Duong railway section).      

- Specific targets:

+ In the 2021-2030 period:

•  Motor roads: To maintain around 125 km of existing motor roads to serve coal production; to renovate and upgrade around 112 km.
•  Railways: To maintain, renovate or upgrade the existing Vang Danh and Khe Than - Uong Bi - Dien Cong railway system for transportation of coal, materials and supplies for Vang Danh, Nam Mau and Dong Vong mine clusters; to maintain the existing railway system in Cam Pha area for coal transportation from mines to the Cua Ong coal sorting plant.
•  Conveyor belts: To maintain conveyor belt lines with a total length of around 46 km; to build a number of new conveyor belt lines with a total length of around 45 km in Uong Bi, Dong Trieu, Hon Gai and Cam Pha areas.

+ Orientations for the 2031-2050 period:

•  The northeastern coal basin: To maintain motor roads, railways and conveyor belt lines built in previous periods.   
•  The Red River coal basin: To build new conveyor belt lines with a total length of around 4.5 km.

e/ Coal import and export terminal planning

- Orientations:

+ To renovate and expand existing inland terminals and build new ones in coal production areas to serve coal import, export and mixing with advanced, modern and environmentally friendly technologies.

+ To study renovation and expansion of existing special-use terminals of consumer households to facilitate direct coal import or coal transshipment to ships of appropriate tonnages pending the formation of centralized terminals in regions.

+ To renovate and expand existing centralized terminals and build new ones in coal production areas and in regions (the North and the South) under the General Master Plan on development of Vietnam’s seaport system approved by the Prime Minister and other relevant master plans, with appropriate port types, complete technical infrastructure and logistics services, and advanced, modern and environmentally friendly technologies to serve coal import, export and mixing, taking into account reasonable coal inventory capacity to meet demands of production, particularly electricity production; and gradually remove small-sized and scattered landing stages with obsolete technologies.

- Specific targets:

+ Inland coal import and export:

•  In the 2021-2030 period: To continue maintaining, renovating, upgrading and modernizing existing terminals and terminal clusters (Ben Can, Hong Thai Tay, Dien Cong, Lang Khanh, Km 6, Cam Pha, Khe Day, and Mong Duong Chemicals) to accommodate the import of 16-20 million tons of coal and the export of 45-50 million tons of coal per year.
•  Orientations for the 2031-2050 period:

For the northeastern coal basin: To build new Dong Trieu - Pha Lai terminal  with a capacity of 1-2 million tons/year to facilitate the coal sale for Dong Trieu, Chi Linh I and Chi Linh II mines.      

For the Red River coal basin: To build new coal export terminals in appropriate locations with each terminal’s capacity of around 1-2 million tons/year and ability to accommodate ships of a tonnage of up to 2,000 tons.

+ Coal import and transshipment terminals:

•  For the 2021-2030 period:

In the North (including also the northern Central Vietnam): To build hub terminals to serve coal import, transshipment and supply in the North in combination with deep-water seaports under the Master Plan on development of Vietnam’s seaports in order to supply coal to electric power centers of Cam Pha, Quang Ninh, Nghi Son, Thanh Hoa, Son Duong, Ha Tinh, Quang Trach and Quang Binh. The capacity of each hub terminal will be 20-30 million tons/year. Potential locations for building hub terminals to serve coal import, transshipment and supply will include Hon Net (Quang Ninh province) and Quang Trach (Quang Binh province).

In the South (including also the southern Central Vietnam): To build hub terminals to serve coal import, transshipment and supply in the South in combination with deep-water seaports under the Master Plan on development of Vietnam’s seaports in order to supply coal to electric power centers of Van Phong, Khanh Hoa, Vinh Tan, Binh Thuan, Duyen Hai and Tra Vinh. The capacity of each hub terminal will be 25-35 million tons/year. Potential locations for building hub terminals to serve coal import, transshipment and supply in the South will include Go Gia (Ho Chi Minh City), Duyen Hai (Tra Vinh province) and Van Phong (Khanh Hoa province).

•  Orientations for the 2031-2050 period: To continue maintaining hub terminals built in the previous period to serve coal import, transshipment and supply in combination with deep-water seaports under the Master Plan on development of Vietnam’s seaports.

g/ Mine closure

- Orientations:

To comply with current regulations; to consider and choose appropriate mine closure time and form to ensure full and economical exploitation of resources and bring into fullest play the efficient operation of built works.

- Specific targets:

To synchronously implement schemes on mine closure simultaneously with the termination of investment projects on coal exploitation in each specific period detailed in the Plan on implementation of the Master Plan in each period.

3. New energy and renewable energy sub-sector

In the new energy and renewable energy sub-sector, types of renewable energies specified in the Master Plan include (i) wind power; (ii) solar power; (iii) biomass energy; (iv) solid waster energy; (v) small hydropower; (vi) other renewable energies (tidal, geothermal and biogas energies); and new energies (hydrogen, ammonia, and hydrogen-based fuels). The general objectives of the National Energy Master Plan are to promote the production and use of renewable energies and intensify the application of renewable energy technology, thus importantly contributing to realizing Vietnam’s “net-zero emissions” commitments at COP26 by 2050.

Orientations for vigorous development of offshore wind power in combination with other renewable energies (solar power, onshore wind power, etc.) for production of new energies (hydrogen, blue ammonia, etc.) to meet the domestic consumption and export demand. Renewable energy-fueled power sources for production of new energies to meet the domestic consumption and export demand will be prioritized/permitted for unlimited development on the basis of assuring national security and defense and energy security and bringing about high economic efficiency, thereby turning the energy sector into a new economic sector of the country.

a/ Renewable energies for power generation

- Orientations:

To continue promoting the development of renewable energies (hydropower, onshore and offshore wind power, solar power, biomass, etc.), new energies and clean energies (hydrogen, blue ammonia, etc.) as suitable to the capability to ensure safety for the power system with reasonable cost prices of electric power, especially self-supplied power and rooftop solar power.

- Specific targets:

+ To strongly develop renewable energies to serve electricity production at the ratio of 30.9-39.2% by 2030, striving for the target that renewable energies will account for 47% in case of receiving strong international financial, technological and governance supports under JETP. This ratio will rise to 67.5-71.5% by 2050.

+ Development of the renewable energy industry and service ecosystem:

•  By 2030, to form 2 inter-regional renewable energy industry and service centers covering electricity production, transmission and sale; industry for manufacturing renewable energy equipment, construction, installation and related services, and building of renewable energy industry ecosystems in regions with great potential such as the North, Southern Central Vietnam and the South when conditions are favorable.
•  To develop electric power sources from renewable energies and produce new energies for export; to strive for the target that by 2030 the electricity export capacity will reach 5,000-10,000 MW.

b/ Renewable energies for heat generation

- Orientations:

+ To promote the development of renewable energy technology fueled by biomass, biogas and solar power for heat generation in industrial, commercial and civilian areas.

- Specific targets:

+ Total renewable energy sources for heat generation and thermal power cogeneration will reach 8-9 million and 17-19 million tons of oil equivalent by 2030 and 2050.

+ Development of solar power: To increase the absorption area of solar water heating systems used in commercial, service provision, civilian and industrial production activities in order to supply energy amount of around 3.1 million tons and 6 million tons of oil equivalent by 2030 and 2050, respectively.

+ Development of biofuels and biogas:

•  To use biofuels to generate an energy amount of around 0.28 million tons and 13 million tons of oil equivalent by 2030 and 2050, respectively.
•  To use biogas with a volume of around 60 million m³ and 100 million m³ projected to be built by 2030 and 2050, respectively.

c/ Renewable energies for other sectors

- Orientations:

To develop various types of renewable energy, including bio fuels, hydrogen, ammonia and hydrogen-based synthetic fuel for use in electricity production, transportation (road, railway, waterway and air transportation), industries (steel, chemical, oil refining and other industries), and civilian and commercial buildings, thus contributing to stepping up energy transition and step by step decarbonizing the economy; to formulate technological roadmaps for the production and use of hydrogen fuels and hydrogen-based fuels.

- Specific targets:

+ To increase the output of hydrogen production through electrolytic processes and other processes with carbon capture to 100,000-200,000 tons and 10-20 million tons by 2030 and 2050, respectively.

+ To increase the output of synthetic fuels to 2-3 million tons by 2050.

+ To intensify the application of solutions for carbon recovery, use and storage in industrial production establishments and power plants, reaching a carbon capture capacity of around 1 million tons and 3-6 million tons by 2040 and 2050, respectively.

4. Electricity sub-sector

The electricity sub-sector shall comply with the National Master Plan on Electricity Development for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050 (Electricity Master Plan VIII) approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 500/QD-TTg of May 15, 2023.

5. Investment capital demand

The investment capital demand of the energy sector for the 2021-2050 period will be VND 15,304-19,398 trillion. Investment capital amounts phased out for the two periods are as follows:

- For the 2021-2030 period: VND 4,133-4,808 trillion.

- For the 2031-2050 period: VND 11,170-14,590 trillion, which will be accurately determined in subsequent master plans/plans.

IV. ORIENTATIONS FOR LAND ALLOCATION AND USE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY WORKS AND ACTIVITIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND ECOLOGICAL, LANDSCAPE AND RELIC CONSERVATION      

1. Land allocation and use for energy development

The land demand for development of establishments and infrastructure facilities of the energy sector will be 93,540-97,240 hectares and 171,410-196,76 hectares for the 2021-2030 period and 2031-2050 period, respectively.

The sea surface area for offshore works will be around 334,800 hectares and 1,302,000-1,701,900 hectares by 2030 and 2050, respectively.

2. Environmental protection, response to climate change, and ecological, relic and natural landscape conservation

To carry out vigorous energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies and new energies in order to reduce polluting and greenhouse gas emissions, thereby achieving the net-zero emissions target by 2050.

To apply new and modern technologies in the direction of transition to a low-carbon economy or circular economy, reduction of energy consumption and emissions, and eventually satisfaction of requirements on carbon emissions per export product/goods unit and compliance with regulations on the carbon market.

To prevent and limit to the utmost the development of energy works and infrastructure facilities in locations that are likely to exert impacts on forests, nature and biodiversity reserves, natural heritages, landscapes, relics and cultural heritages that have been ranked according to the environmental zoning provided in the National Master Plan on Environmental Protection.

To implement appropriate solutions in the course of project implementation in order to improve resilience and ensure safe and stable operation of energy works, thereby minimizing risks of, and losses and damage caused by, climate change to energy works and infrastructure facilities.

V. LIST OF IMPORTANT PROJECTS PRIORITIZED FOR INVESTMENT IN THE FIELD OF ENERGY AND PRIORITY ORDER FOR IMPLEMENTATION THEREOF

1. Criteria and scientific grounds for formulation of the list of important projects prioritized for investment in the field of energy

Important projects prioritized for investment in the field of energy shall be formulated on the basis of the following criteria:

a/ Projects of national importance that are decided or have their investment policy approved by the National Assembly under Article 7 of the Law on Public Investment and Article 30 of the Law on Investment.

b/ Projects that satisfy one of the following criteria:

- Having an important role in the energy supply-demand balance of the whole country, regions, areas and important energy centers for assuring national energy security and meeting national socio-economic development needs.

- Securing the national defense and security, protecting the national sovereignty, and helping develop particularly difficult geographical areas, mountainous areas and islands.

- Prospecting and exploring primary energy sources and developing new energies.

- Investing in infrastructure for import of primary energies and investing in the offshore energy exploitation so as to contribute to assuring national energy security.

- Being capable of creating inter-regional linkage or linkage of energy supply, production and use chains, thus forming energy clusters and centers.

- Contributing to adapting to climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting the environment (biomass, production of electricity from garbage, solid wastes, cogeneration, use of residual gas, etc.), and realizing climate commitments.

- Contributing to creating a general ecosystem on renewable energy industry and services.

- Generating electricity and exporting new energies produced from renewable energies.

- Efficiently using land.

- Applying modern technologies.

- Bringing about high socio-economic efficiency.

Important projects prioritized for investment shall be divided into the following 2 groups: 

- Important projects prioritized for investment: projects that have clear legal grounds for implementation and have been planned since the previous period or are in the stage of investment preparation.

- Important projects with potential: projects that are formulated on the following conditions:

+ Satisfying the criteria for important projects prioritized for investment.

+ Being feasible for implementation which depends on development prospects in the coming period (market demand, connecting projects, related infrastructure facilities, etc.).

+ Applying new and environmentally friendly technologies.

2. List of key investment projects in the field of energy

The list of key investment projects in the field of energy includes:

a/ Important projects prioritized for investment specified in Appendix IA to this Decision.  

b/ Important projects with potential specified in Appendix IB to this Decision.  

c/ Other projects specified in Appendix II to this Decision.

VI. SOLUTIONS AND RESOURCES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MASTER PLAN

1. Solutions for mobilization and allocation of investment capital

- To diversify sources of capital and forms of capital mobilization, efficiently attract domestic and foreign capital sources for energy development while ensuring national defense, security and competitiveness of the energy market. To further call for and effectively use international support commitments (e.g., the Political Declaration on establishing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), etc.), green credits, carbon credits, green bonds, etc.

- To diversify forms of investment (state investment, private investment, public-private partnership, etc.) in energy projects. To promote the role of state-owned enterprises and strongly attract domestic and foreign private investment in energy development. To further negotiate and effectively use sources of assistance and support for capital arrangements from international partners for the energy transition process towards Vietnam’s net-zero emissions target.

- To adopt policies to prioritize the investment in sustainable energy infrastructure; to attach importance to building infrastructure facilities for energy import and export, and regional connectivity.

- To step by step increase internal financing capacity of energy groups, corporations and enterprises through such solutions as improving the operational efficiency and efficacy of energy enterprises, ensuring capital accumulation and ratio of own capital for development investment as required by domestic and international financial institutions; striving for the target that the main funding source for investment projects will be capital accumulated by enterprises.

2. Solutions regarding mechanisms and policies

a/ Energy market and prices

- To develop a synchronous energy market, ensuring connectivity among electricity, coal, petroleum, and renewable energy sub-sectors and with regional and global markets.

- To improve mechanisms, policies, and market-based instruments to promote the economical and efficient use of energy.

- To increase the capability of the apparatus performing the state management of the energy sector in order to timely remove of legal issues and obstacles.

- To improve the legal framework for the energy sector in conformity with development stages of the energy market (gas, coal, electricity), and policies to promote the development of renewable energy, ensuring consistency and avoiding overlap or inconsistency among regulations.

- To restructure the energy sector with a specific roadmap in conformity with the development stages of the energy market, clearly separating naturally monopolistic fields or steps from potentially competitive ones in the energy sector in order to ensure the transparency, efficiency of, and non-discrimination among participants in, the energy market.

- To develop the gas and coal markets in association with prioritizing and stabilizing the supply of gas and coal for electricity production for the purpose of ensuring national energy security.

- To gradually manage energy prices under the market mechanism, ensuring accurate reflection of lawful reasonable costs as well as transparency and publicity. The State shall only regulate the prices and charges of naturally monopolistic steps in the energy sector or of fields and areas in which no competition takes place.

b/ Economical and efficient use of energy

- To improve mechanisms, policies and market-based instruments to promote the economical and efficient use of energy. To promulgate mechanisms, policies and regulations on the energy service company business model (ESCO).

- To review, amend and supplement national standards and regulations in the energy sector in conformity with international regulations and standards, taking into account national standards and regulations related to recycling and utilization of waste from energy production processes. To step by step apply measures to encourage and force technology and equipment renewal in the energy sector and energy-intensive sectors and fields.

- To restructure energy-consuming sectors, especially foreign-invested areas, to reduce energy intensity. To adopt policies to encourage the development of industries that consume less energy and are socio-economic efficient.

- To review and adjust the arrangement of flexible energy consumers towards non-concentration, thus limiting excessive concentration in certain localities, in close combination with rearrangement of industrial and urban development space around the country and in each region and locality.

- To review and improve the National Energy Efficiency Program for the 2020-2030 period. To apply compulsory standards and regulations together with sanctions related to energy efficiency for sectors, industries, and products with high energy consumption. To adopt policies to encourage household consumers to use clean and renewable energy, especially in industry and transportation; to promote the development of electric vehicles in line with global trends.

3. Solutions regarding environment, science, and technology

a/ Environmental protection and climate change response

- To conduct research, and formulate appropriate carbon tax policies applicable to the use of fossil fuels. To adopt mechanisms and policies for implementation of CO₂ capture and utilization. To evaluate the effectiveness of using and recycling ash and slag waste as construction materials based on the demand-consumption ability balance.

- To improve the policy framework, formulate and supplement national standards and regulations on emissions and waste in the energy sector to approach standards of developed countries.

- To formulate and implement the Scheme on integration of the circular economy model into energy enterprise development strategies. To develop systems for management and treatment of wastes in energy production with advanced technologies suitable for the country’s conditions; to ensure energy enterprises’ capacity to treat their own wastes. To adopt policies and mechanisms to promote the development of the environmental industry linked with the energy sector.

- To strictly comply with Vietnam’s law on safety and environmental protection; to completely fulfil commitments in environmental impact assessment reports of all projects; to continuously improve working conditions and environment, and health protection for workers.

- To consolidate environmental management bodies of state management agencies and enterprises in the energy sector.

- To fully perform environmental monitoring and surveillance, measurement and management of environmental criteria; to regularly inspect the implementation of regulations on environmental protection by energy enterprises;

b/ Science and technology

- To establish mechanisms to link scientific and technological research and development and innovation force with enterprises and training institutions in the energy sector through science and technology programs; to integrate research and development activities into energy development strategies, master plans, and plans.

- To adopt mechanisms to encourage energy enterprises to increase investment in research and development; to establish innovation hubs of the energy sector.

- To further implement key national science and technology programs on research, application, and development of energy technologies for the 2021-2030 period, with the focus being research and manufacturing of energy equipment and application of new energy, renewable energy, smart energy, and energy efficiency.

- To intensify technology research, application and transfer; to build a contingent of top scientists and technologists of high qualifications; to intensify measures to combine scientific research with training and application in a closer manner.

- To promote scientific research and international cooperation in environmental protection and climate change response in order to step by step apply new technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce costs in environmental protection.

- To promote research on new energies, such as nuclear energy, wave energy, geothermal energy, green hydrogen, green ammonia, etc.; to formulate strategies for other new energies.

4. Human resource development

- To formulate policies for comprehensive human resource development and training programs for key steps of the energy sector. To intensify the training of technicians and operators to meet domestic human resource demand and then strive for labor export. To effectively use human resources trained in nuclear energy in couple with advanced training.

- To formulate master plans on development and plans on training of human resources in key breakthrough technologies of the energy sector.

- To work out satisfactory treatment mechanisms to attract high-quality human resources in the energy sector.

- To adopt appropriate satisfactory treatment policies to attract domestic and overseas experts, scientists and high-quality human resources to work in the energy sector; to form science and technology groups strong enough to perform important tasks in the energy sector.

- To intensify cooperation and collaboration with reputable domestic and international training institutions to server human resource development.

- To take advantage of investment projects to be trained in and acquire new and modern technologies.

- To attach importance to vocational training so as to form a contingent of skilled technicians and operators fully capable of mastering and expertly handling modern technical equipment and technologies.

5. International cooperation

- To conduct energy diplomacy, adhering to the principle of flexibility, effectiveness, equality, and mutual benefit. To strengthen international relations in all sub-sectors and fields of the energy sector in line with the integration trend, taking advantage of opportunities brought about by trade agreements and good political-diplomatic relations for energy development.

- To strengthen international cooperation; to take the initiative in building strategic partnerships in order to realize energy import targets in the long term and invest in overseas energy resources.

- To actively engage in the energy cooperation in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) and Southeast Asia (ASEAN); to connect electricity grids, and improve mechanisms for electricity trading with China, Laos, and Cambodia. To further study the connection of gas systems in the region for realization when conditions permit.

- To actively and effectively implement the JETP, taking full advantage of the support of international partners in technology transfer, administration, human resource training, and financial provision and considering the JETP as an important solution for the energy transition process in Vietnam.

- To strengthen international cooperation and integration, encourage and attract all domestic economic sectors and foreign investors to participate in the energy sector.

- To expand international cooperation on scientific research and technological development, diversify cooperation methods to take advantage of technologies transferred and funds provided by foreign partners, and build domestic supply chains for energy equipment.

6. Organization and supervision of the implementation of the National Energy Master Plan

- To formulate the plan on the implementation of the National Energy Master Plan immediately after the master plan is approved, and annually update such plan according to the actual situation, then report it to the Prime Minister for consideration and approval.

- To inspect and supervise the implementation of the National Energy Master Plan in accordance with law.

- The sequence for investment in development projects/schemes must comply with relevant laws (the laws on investment, construction, oil and gas, minerals, environmental protection, etc.); development projects/schemes may be implemented before and/or during the planning period to ensure that they are put into production/operation on schedule as specified in the National Energy Master Plan.

- To build the energy database, covering data on the master plan and data on the implementation thereof, which shall serve as a basis for supervising the implementation of the master plan. To regularly review the national and local energy supply-demand and progress of implementation of energy projects in order to propose necessary adjustments thereto, ensuring the energy supply-demand of the economy.

- To establish the National Steering Committee for Energy Development to monitor and urge the implementation of the National Energy Master Plan, and promptly solve arising problems.

- To formulate and apply regulations on discipline and compliance in the implementation of the National Energy Master Plan applicable to project owners, ministries, sectors, the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises and localities. To formulate regulations on sanctions to handle and revoke delayed projects.

Article 2. Organization of implementation

1. The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall:

- Take responsibility for the accuracy of data, documents, diagrams, maps, and databases in the National Energy Master Plan’s dossier, and ensure their consistency with the contents of this Decision.

- Publicize the National Energy Master Plan according to regulations and implement this Decision in association with performance of socio-economic development tasks in accordance with the law; formulate a plan on the implementation of  the National Energy Master Plan based on the criteria and facts specified in this Decision so as to fulfil the objectives and tasks set forth in the National Energy Master Plan; organize the evaluation of the implementation of the National Energy Master Plan in accordance with the Planning Law. Complete and submit the plan on implementation of the National Energy Master Plan to the Prime Minister in 2023.

- Promote research on new energies, such as nuclear energy, wave energy, geothermal energy, green hydrogen, green ammonia, etc.; to formulate strategies for other new energies.

- Create and improve necessary conditions for development of competitive energy market.

- Assume the prime responsibility for studying and proposing amendments to legal documents and authorization and decentralization mechanisms and submit them to the Prime Minister for decision to ensure the progress of implementation of energy projects.

2. Other ministries, sectors and the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises shall fulfill their functions, tasks and powers to ensure the progress of implementation of projects of the National Energy Master Plan; propose mechanisms, policies, and solutions to remove obstacles to effectively implement the National Energy Master Plan’s objectives, ensuring  consistency and synchronization with the Strategy for socio-economic development for the 2021-2030 period and socio-economic development plan of each sector and locality.

3. Provincial-level People’s Committees shall organize the selection of project owners for energy projects and allocate land for the development of energy facilities in accordance with law, with the priority given to land allocation for energy projects under the National Energy Master Plan; assume the prime responsibility for, and closely coordinate with project owners in, conducting ground clearance, compensation, population relocation and resettlement for energy projects under regulations.

4. The Vietnam Electricity shall:

- Play a leading role in ensuring stable and safe electricity supply for socio-economic development. Invest in electricity source projects and electricity grid projects in a synchronous manner according to its assigned tasks.

- Regularly review and assess the electricity supply-demand balance and operational status of the national and regional electricity systems, and report them to competent authorities.

- Thoroughly take solutions to innovate corporate governance, improve production and business efficiency, increase productivity, reduce electricity losses, costs and production costs.

5. The Vietnam Oil and Gas Group shall:

- Take the initiative in formulating and adjusting its development strategies and plans in conformity with the approved National Energy Master Plan; intensify capital mobilization from domestic and foreign organizations for implementation of investment projects, particularly key oil and gas projects.

- Coordinate with contractor consortiums to formulate optimal exploitation plans for oil and gas resources from the fields of Lot B and Blue Whale, etc. as well as planned infrastructure projects in the oil and gas sector, including LNG import terminal projects.

- Intensify prospecting; exploration and exploitation of domestic oil and gas resources for supply to industrial sectors.

- To promote investments in energy projects according to its assigned tasks.

6. The Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited and Dong Bac Corporation shall:

- Take the initiative in formulating and adjusting their development strategies and plans in conformity with the National Energy Master Plan.

-  Further assume the primary responsibility for implementation of the National Energy Master Plan regarding the coal sub-sector and for sustainable development of the coal sub-sector; efficiently perform their role as the main suppliers of domestically produced coal for household consumers; take the initiative in selecting and determining the appropriate time for the preparation and investment work under regulations to ensure that exploration schemes, coal mine projects, and infrastructure projects under their management are put into production/operation on schedule as specified in the National Energy Master Plan.

- Extract, process, and supply coal in accordance with the approved orientations on development of the coal sub-sector; ensure sufficient supply of coal to household consumers under signed coal purchase and sale/supply contracts, particularly sufficient supply of coal for electricity production under long-term, medium-term and short-term coal purchase and sale/supply contracts signed with thermal power plant project owners.

- Continuously update with the developments of domestic and world coal markets; actively and proactively seek reputable coal suppliers in the world who possess long-term stable coal sources so as to diversify coal import sources.

- Coordinate with domestic and foreign capable investors to study the investment in constructing coal transshipment terminals.

- Actively and proactively seek and coordinate with, domestic and foreign organizations and individuals that have adequate capability and appropriate technologies in studying to select technologies and appropriate exploration methods so as to implement themes/schemes/projects on trial exploitation of Red River coal basin, then formulate an efficient industrial exploitation plan. Coordinate with domestic and overseas enterprises and organizations in studying the use of coal for non-energy purposes, coal gasification, etc.

- Study and apply science and technology to turn coal into clean energy and other products (for use in metallurgy or coal gasification to produce appropriate gas products for the energy and industrial sectors, etc.) to diversify coal-based products.

- Promote investments in energy projects according to their assigned tasks.

7. The Vietnam National Petroleum Group and other energy enterprises shall:

- Take the initiative in formulating and adjusting their development strategies, master plans and plans in conformity with the overall development of the energy sector; formulate plans to enhance capital mobilization from both domestic and foreign financial institutions.

- Organize the implementation of the tasks and solutions specified in the National Energy Master Plan according to the competence and functions specified in their charters and relevant regulations.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 4. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees; chairpersons of Members’ Councils and directors general of the Vietnam Electricity, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, Vietnam National Petroleum Group, Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited, Dong Bac Corporation and related agencies shall implement this Decision.-

For the Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
TRAN HONG HA

* The appendices to this Decision are not translated.