On March 4, 2025, the Vietnamese government issued Decree No. 61/2025/NĐ-CP, establishing new conditions for organizations seeking licenses to operate within the electricity sector, particularly focusing on the retail and wholesale aspects of electricity. These regulations mark significant shifts aimed at improving operational standards and the overall efficiency of the electricity market.
To obtain an electricity operation license for retail electricity, organizations must adhere to several stringent conditions set forth by the decree. Firstly, the organization must be legally established under Vietnamese law, which encompasses businesses of all economic sectors operating according to the Enterprise Law, cooperatives under the Cooperative Law, and other relevant organizations.
Importantly, organizations seeking this license must present a detailed electricity retail operation plan. To fulfill the human resource requirements, there must be at least one retail electricity business manager holding a university degree or higher, specializing in fields such as technology, electrical engineering, economics, or finance, with at least three years of experience working within the electricity trading sector.
The decree also emphasizes the encouragement of renewable energy projects, as evidenced by the recent issuance of Decree No. 58/2025/NĐ-CP, which provides guidance on developing renewable and new energy projects. According to this decree, new energy projects are entitled to various preferential policies, including exemptions from specific fees during the construction phase of up to three years from the commencement date, followed by fee reductions for the subsequent years.
To qualify for these incentives, new energy initiatives must successfully produce energy from 100% green hydrogen or green ammonia, or from combinations of these sources, and must connect to the national electricity system. This initiative aims to stimulate investment and innovation within Vietnam’s electricity generation framework, focusing on sustainability and resilience.
From the perspective of national food security and agricultural policy, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính highlighted the need for balance between demand and supply of rice due to fluctuates within both domestic and international markets. On March 4, concurrent with the new decrees on electricity, the Prime Minister signed Directive No. 21/CĐ-TTg aimed at ensuring adequate rice supply for the country. Within this directive, he has instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to improve production quality and innovate agricultural practices.
This includes developing high-quality rice varieties and enhancing resistance against climatic changes, which are of increasing concern due to the effects of climate change. The government is pushing forward modern agricultural practices, including advanced technologies and quality enhancement to create distinct brands of rice, emphasizing sustainable and environmentally friendly production.
Overall, March 2025 marks the beginning of significant regulatory transformations aimed at refining Vietnam's electricity operations and food security policies, aligning with global trends toward sustainability and improvement of service delivery across sectors. These steps are seen as proactive measures necessary for enhancing market stability and meeting future economic challenges.