PDP8: Vietnam inches closer to commissioning its last new coal plant, but key coal phase out and participation questions remain

Vietnam's PDP8 aims to peak coal capacity at 30 GW by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050, but the briefing argues that all coal projects not yet in construction must be cancelled to align with the JETP agreement. While Vietnam is leading global coal project cancellations in 2023, concerns remain regarding the use of experimental fuels for plant conversion and the government's crackdown on civil society leaders essential for a just transition.

• Vietnam's proposed coal capacity has decreased by 92% since 2015. The official Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8), approved in May 2023, projects that coal will account for 20% of domestic energy generation in 2030, down from one-third currently.
• To align with the December 2022 Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) agreement, Vietnam must cancel all coal-fired power stations not yet in construction. This includes 4 GW of capacity from the An Khánh - Băc Giang, Na Dương II, Sông Hâu II, and Nam Đình I plants.
• Vietnam's operating coal capacity was 25.9 GW as of May 2023 and is expected to peak at 30,127 MW by 2030 before declining toward zero by 2050. The briefing argues that the existing fleet should be retired by 2040 at the latest to align with the UN's "Acceleration Agenda".
• The briefing criticizes PDP8's suggestion to convert coal plants to biomass and ammonia, stating these fuels are not carbon-free and increase the risk of stranded assets and technological infeasibility.
• Vietnam is currently a global leader in coal project cancellations. Between January and May 2023, Vietnam's 9.6 GW drop in proposed capacity represented nearly half of the 20 to 25 GW of cancellations seen in countries outside of China during the first quarter of 2023.
• A just transition is hindered by the Vietnamese government's crackdown on civil society. While Nguy Thi Khanh was released in May 2023, other leaders like Hoang Thi Minh Hong were arrested, and Mai Phan Loi, Dang Dinh Bach, and Bach Hung Duong remain imprisoned.

APA

Global Energy Monitor (2023). PDP8: Vietnam inches closer to commissioning its last new coal plant, but key coal phase out and participation questions remain. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-PDP8-Vietnam-June2023_11.pdf

Chicago

Global Energy Monitor. PDP8: Vietnam inches closer to commissioning its last new coal plant, but key coal phase out and participation questions remain. 2023. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-PDP8-Vietnam-June2023_11.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Energy Monitor |title=PDP8: Vietnam inches closer to commissioning its last new coal plant, but key coal phase out and participation questions remain |date=June 2023 |url=https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-PDP8-Vietnam-June2023_11.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalenergymonitor2023pdp8, author = {{Global Energy Monitor}}, title = {{PDP8: Vietnam inches closer to commissioning its last new coal plant, but key coal phase out and participation questions remain}}, institution = {Global Energy Monitor}, year = {2023}, month = jun, url = {https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-PDP8-Vietnam-June2023_11.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }