Vietnam Energy Information

Vietnam Energy Research

- Vietnam's Energy & Climate Policy Framework: Vietnam aims for 74-75% renewables in its power mix by 2050, with accelerated biofuel use and energy efficiency measures. The government is restructuring the energy sector, promoting nuclear power, and implementing an emissions trading scheme to meet climate goals.

- Vietnam's Energy Companies: Vietnam's energy sector is dominated by state-owned enterprises: EVN for electricity, PVN for oil and gas, and Vinacomin for coal. EVN controls about a third of the country's power generation capacity, while independent power producers (IPPs) own the majority. EVN also manages the national power transmission network and operates five regional distribution companies. PVN leads the oil and gas sector, with significant foreign involvement in exploration and refining. Vinacomin is the primary coal producer, supplying the power sector.

- Vietnam's Energy Supply & Demand: Vietnam's energy mix is dominated by coal (54% of electricity, 51% of total energy), with rapid growth in coal plants since 2020 increasing GHG emissions. Total energy consumption surged 9% annually from 2022-2024, reaching 126 Mtoe. Despite aims to halt coal plant development by 2030, coal's share in the power mix grew to 54% in 2024. Renewable capacities, particularly solar and wind, have expanded significantly, but emissions remain high, conflicting with Vietnam's carbon neutrality goal by 2050.

- Vietnam's Energy Use & Price by Sector: In 2024, Vietnam's energy consumption per capita was 27% below the Asian average, with oil and electricity each accounting for 35% of residential energy use, replacing biomass. Industrial demand surged, driven by coal and electricity, while transport relied solely on oil. Energy prices varied by sector, with electricity costs rising to address financial deficits.

- Vietnam's Issues & Prospects: Vietnam aims to double its power capacity to 183-236 GW by 2030, transitioning from coal and gas to renewables by 2050. Key projects include nuclear, LNG, and renewable energy hubs, with significant investments in solar, wind, and hydropower.

Vietnam Total Energy Production & Consumption

Total energy consumption increased rapidly over 2022-2024 (+9%/year), reaching 126 Mtoe in 2024. It remained rather stable between 2019-2022 at around 104 Mtoe, after rapid growth between 2015 and 2018 (+9%/year) thanks to the economic recovery.

Graph: Primary Consumption Trends by Energy Source

Source: Vietnam energy report

Interactive Chart Vietnam Total Energy Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Vietnam Oil Production & Consumption

Oil production has increased by 2.6%/year since 2020, reaching 10.5 Mt in 2024. Previously, it had decreased rapidly over 2015-2020 (-13%/year). The Ca Tam offshore oil field (with reserves of 4.3 Mt), in southern Vietnam, came into operation in 2019. The Ca Tam oil field is expected to remain in commercial production until 2032. The country started oil production in 1986 in the Bach Ho offshore field ("White Tiger"), production at which has been falling since 2001. A second important field, Dai Hung ("Big Bear"), started production in 1994.

Source: Vietnam energy report

Interactive Chart Vietnam Crude Oil Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Interactive Chart Vietnam Refined Oil Products Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Vietnam Natural Gas Production & Consumption

After a 7.4% increase in gas production in 2022 to 8.3 bcm, production fell in 2023 to 7.7 bcm and dropped again to 6.5 bcm in 2024 (-15.4%). It decreased sharply between 2019 and 2021 (-13%/year to 7.7 bcm). Previously, production had jumped from 1.6 bcm in 2000 to around 11 bcm since 2015 thanks to the commissioning of the Nam Con Son field in 2002.

Source: Vietnam energy report

Interactive Chart Vietnam Gas Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Vietnam Coal and Lignite Production & Consumption

Coal and lignite production has been declining since 2022 (5%/year), reaching 45 Mt in 2024. It had reached a peak of 50 Mt in 2022. Over 2015-2021, it ranged between 38 and 48 Mt.

Vietnam became a net coal importer in 2015 and its dependency on coal imports has increased dramatically since then, from 7 Mt in 2015 to 67 Mt in 2024. Vietnam is mainly importing coal from Indonesia, Australia, and Russia. Meanwhile, exports collapsed from 20 Mt in 2010 to 7.3 Mt in 2014 and to only 0.7 Mt in 2024, due to the Government channelling coal output to the domestic market.

Source: Vietnam energy report

Interactive Chart Vietnam Coal and Lignite Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Vietnam Renewable in % Electricity Production

The Master Plan for the development of energy for 2021-2030 aims for a share of renewables in the total primary energy between 15 and 20% by 2030 (80-85% by 2050).

Source: Vietnam energy report

Interactive Chart Vietnam Share of Renewables in Electricity Production (incl hydro)

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Vietnam GHG emissions and CO₂ emissions

In its revised NDC (2022), the country increased its unconditional GHG emissions reduction target from 9% to 15.8% by 2030 relative to a BAU scenario, while the conditional target with international support was raised from 27% to 43.5%. In the NDC, Vietnam reiterates its intention to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, which was enshrined in the country's National Climate Change Strategy to 2050 (2022). In addition, Vietnam will reduce its methane emissions by 30% in 2030 (compared to 2020 levels), in line with the Global Methane Pledge.

Source: Vietnam energy report

Interactive Chart Vietnam CO₂ emissions

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data