Resolution 253: Removing Policy Bottlenecks, Creating Competitive Advantages

With breakthrough mechanisms, Resolution 253 removes institutional bottlenecks in energy development, attracts high-quality investment, and creates competitive advantages for the economy.

Based on the spirit of Resolution 70-NQ/TW of the Politburo on ensuring national energy security by 2030, with a vision to 2045, the 15th National Assembly passed Resolution No. 253/2025/QH15 on December 11, 2025. This Resolution, regulating mechanisms and policies for national energy development for the 2026-2030 period, will take effect from March 1, 2026. With breakthrough policies, the Resolution is expected to create profound impacts on the country’s socio-economic development.

In an exchange with Industry and Trade Newspaper, Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Cuong – Member of the National Assembly’s Economic and Financial Committee and Member of the Prime Minister’s Policy Advisory Council – analyzed the new points, opportunities, and implementation requirements of the Resolution.

Outstanding Policies

Reporter: In your opinion, what are the most outstanding policies of Resolution 253 regarding energy development for the 2026–2030 period? How do you assess the Resolution’s role in reinforcing energy security and creating a foundation for long-term economic growth?

Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Cuong: Resolution 253/2025/QH15 has introduced many superior and breakthrough policy mechanisms for energy development in the coming period.

First, the mechanism for energy planning adjustment. Unlike the traditional approach which depends strictly on the general regulations of the Law on Planning, the Resolution allows for energy planning adjustments based directly on the practical requirements of socio-economic development and energy demand. Simultaneously, the authority to adjust planning is expanded compared to current regulations, creating flexible room to react promptly to market fluctuations and consumption demand.

Second, the reduction and simplification of administrative procedures in energy investment. The Resolution stipulates that not all projects are required to undergo investment policy approval procedures. For projects already included in the planning and having specific investment schemes, they can be considered as having their investment policy approved. This significantly shortens project preparation time and accelerates actual implementation progress.

Third, the investor selection mechanism is expanded and more flexible. Assigning or selecting investors does not necessarily have to go through bidding or auction procedures in all cases. This approach helps avoid prolonged implementation times and, more importantly, ensures the selection of capable investors suitable for the development priority orientation of each type of energy.

Fourth, promoting electricity market liberalization. A very notable point of Resolution 253 is opening up the Direct Power Purchase Agreement (DPPA) mechanism between producers and large electricity consumers, creating more space for the market to operate according to supply and demand signals. Additionally, the Resolution allows the private sector and enterprises to participate in developing Small Modular Reactor (SMR) nuclear power systems, thereby gradually introducing this new energy source into the system with a higher level of safety and accessibility.

It can be said that the Resolution has created a favorable policy framework to attract diverse resources from all economic sectors to invest in the energy field. Simultaneously, the Resolution contributes to shortening project implementation time, increasing dynamism and flexibility in power grid development, and especially diversifying energy supply sources.

In the context of Vietnam entering a new development phase linked with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Industry, the demand for energy will be immense and requires high stability. Therefore, Resolution 253 is the important basis for reinforcing national energy security and creating a solid foundation for sustainable long-term economic growth.

Direct Benefits for Enterprises

Reporter: The Resolution is also assessed as paving the way for a competitive electricity market. How do you view the opportunities for the private sector?

Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Cuong: Clearly, this Resolution has opened up very wide opportunities for many economic sectors to participate in the electricity market. The Resolution does not distinguish between the state sector or the private sector but places the focus on the capacity and conditions for participation of investors and enterprises.

Accordingly, eligible enterprises can participate directly in electricity exchange and trading activities under market mechanisms. This is an important step in the process of forming a competitive electricity market, helping participating entities be more proactive in the production, distribution, and consumption of electricity.

The Resolution allows the private sector to participate in developing many components of the power system, including transmission and distribution systems serving direct power purchase activities. This creates conditions to form local power supply models, meeting the needs of specific customer groups and consumption areas, especially large customers.

Especially, the Resolution has opened the door for the private sector to participate in investing in Small Modular Reactor (SMR) nuclear power projects with appropriate scale and compliance with international safety standards. This is a new point of strategic significance, helping diversify electricity supply and increase access to advanced energy technologies.

Besides, the private sector also has more opportunities to invest in and develop energy types such as solar power, wind power, gas power, and participate in building and operating power transmission grids within a local scope or linking between power supply units.

The Problem of Improving Implementation Capacity

Reporter: With the orientation to strongly develop renewable energy, offshore wind power, SMRs, and energy storage systems, how do you perceive the energy transition process under the spirit of the Resolution creating new competitive advantages for the Vietnamese economy, especially in attracting investment and forming new energy industries?

Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Cuong: We all see that Vietnam is defining an economic development strategy linked to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, AI development, and digital economy. This process requires huge energy demand, and more importantly, the energy source must be stable, sustainable, and of high quality.

Meanwhile, Vietnam has committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. This poses an urgent requirement to shift strongly from traditional fossil fuel sources to clean energy and renewable energy. This is both a pressure and a huge opportunity for the economy.

If the energy transition orientation according to the Resolution is implemented well, Vietnam will create an important competitive advantage in attracting investment, especially high-quality investment flows. Because currently, many international investors, when deciding on production locations, set very strict requirements regarding the energy source used, where Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards are becoming mandatory conditions.

Strongly developing renewable energy sources, SMRs, and energy storage systems will help Vietnam meet international ESG standards in electricity supply for production. This not only helps the nation comply with international commitments but also enables domestic enterprises to use clean electricity, thereby meeting the requirements of large export markets.

From a long-term perspective, the energy transition process will also open up space for the formation and development of new industries. From manufacturing renewable energy equipment, energy storage technology, and technical services for offshore wind power to fields related to SMRs, all can become new economic sectors with high added value.

When Vietnamese enterprises have access to and use clean, stable energy sources, they will have conditions to participate deeper in the global supply chain, especially green supply chains. This is the foundational competitive advantage for Vietnam’s economy to develop sustainably in the coming period.

Reporter: The Resolution has paved the way, but the final effectiveness depends heavily on the implementation stage. In your opinion, what is the key factor for Resolution 253 to truly come to life? From the spirit of the Resolution, what message do you want to send to localities and the business community to join hands in realizing the goal of ensuring energy security and sustainable development?

Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Cuong: The Resolution has opened a new approach, thereby increasing rights and responsibilities for executing agencies while reducing dependence on cumbersome administrative procedures. However, for the Resolution to be truly effective, the key factor lies in the spirit of execution.

In my opinion, the most important thing is that management agencies and units assigned to implement must promote autonomy in decision-making, decisiveness, and daring to take responsibility. The Resolution has granted authority quite clearly, but if executing agencies do not dare to use all that authority, then mechanisms and policies, no matter how progressive, will be difficult to come to life. Only when executing agencies boldly apply fully the mechanisms that the Resolution has granted can energy development projects, programs, and plans be deployed quickly and effectively.

For the business community, the opportunity the Resolution opens is immense. Enterprises from many economic sectors have conditions to participate in energy investment. However, along with cutting administrative procedures, the Resolution sets very high requirements for standards and regulations. This requires enterprises to improve professionalism, governance capacity, and technical capacity to prove they are eligible and capable of deploying energy projects safely, stably, and sustainably. When enterprises create trust for management agencies, decision-making will be faster, and projects will be deployed more favorably.

For local governments, the Resolution grants very large authority, from adjusting plans and deciding investment policies to choosing energy network development options. This poses high requirements for proactivity, decisiveness, and the spirit of “dare to think, dare to do, dare to take responsibility” of local authorities. Localities that are dynamic, creative, and decisive in organization and implementation will better utilize advantages, attract investors, and successfully implement the goals set by the Resolution.

Reporter: Thank you, Sir!