Vietnam will close domestic coal-fired power plants that have operated for over 40 years if they cannot be converted to cleaner fuels such as hydrogen or green ammonia, according to a newly approved national energy transition plan.

The plan, signed by Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son on March 23, was under the roadmap of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), a collaboration among wealthy countries aimed at helping developing countries transition from coal to cleaner energy.

It sets out a clear timeline for the gradual phase-out of coal power, with no new coal-fired plants to be built after 2030. Existing facilities operating over 40 years will be subject to closure if the are unable to switch to lower-emission fuels or meet national greenhouse gas reduction targets.

Vietnam has set ambitious decarbonization goals, with renewable energy accounting for about 47% of its total installed capacity by 2030. Coal capacity is expected to be capped at no more than 31 GW by then.

Over the longer term, share of renewable energy in primary supply is expected to reach between 80% and 85% by 2050, marking a fundamental transformation of Vietnam's energy system.

To support this transition, Vietnam plans to develop two major renewable energy industrial and service hubs in regions with strong natural potential, alongside investments in smart grid infrastructure, transmission systems, and technologies for producing green fuels.