Vietnam could face electricity shortages from 2027 as delays to power-generation and grid projects leave capacity additions struggling to keep pace with rising demand, according to the country's trade ministry, as reported by several media outlets.
Only 5% of power projects under the country's national growth plan have entered operation amid "very slow" progress in recent years, the ministry said, according to state media.
Most projects remain under development or are awaiting approval, with delays linked to investor selection, land procedures and grid preparation.
While electricity supply is expected to meet demand this year, delays to new projects and rising consumption could leave Vietnam with a power capacity shortfall of about 4,200 megawatts next year and an electricity deficit of roughly 2.9 billion kilowatt-hours, according to a ministry report.
This gap is expected to widen to 13,900 MW in capacity and 61.2 billion kWh of electricity by 2030, according to the Ministry.
The ministry also backed renewable energy projects that can be developed relatively quickly, including a proposal to accelerate solar installations. It called for about 2,800 MW of solar capacity to be installed at government offices, schools, hospitals and other public buildings by June 2027.