Vietnam, Russia Eye Deeper Energy Cooperation, Focus on Hydropower Modernization

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM Government News Kim Anh The direction was discussed at a meeting in Ha Noi on July 16 between Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc and Sergey Machekhin, Deputy General Director of Russia's RusHydro. Deputy Prime Minister Pham said Viet Nam's electricity demand is expected to continue growing in line with the country's rapid socio-economic development, making energy security a strategic priority. Alongside accelerating renewable energy development, Viet Nam is paying greater attention to upgrading existing power infrastructure, particularly hydropower plants constructed with the support of the former Soviet Union and later Russia. He noted that these facilities are not only important energy assets but also enduring symbols of the traditional friendship and long-standing cooperation between Viet Nam and Russia. The Deputy Prime Minister urged the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Viet Nam Electricity (EVN) to work closely with RusHydro to identify practical cooperation projects, including technological upgrades, improvements in plant operation and management, and measures to enhance the long-term safety, efficiency and reliability of hydropower facilities. He reaffirmed the Vietnamese Government's commitment to creating favorable conditions for enterprises from both countries to expand cooperation in research, engineering and project implementation. In reply, Machekhin described the energy sector as a key pillar of the Viet Nam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He said RusHydro, one of Russia's leading renewable power producers, possesses extensive expertise in hydropower as well as wind, solar and geothermal energy, electricity transmission and power system management. The company is prepared to share technologies and operational experience with Vietnamese partners, particularly in maintaining, upgrading and optimizing hydropower plants to improve their performance and reliability, he said. Beyond hydropower, RusHydro also expressed interest in cooperating with Viet Nam in emerging fields such as energy storage systems, which are expected to play an increasingly important role as renewable energy accounts for a larger share of the country's electricity mix. Both sides agreed that bilateral cooperation is entering a new phase, expanding beyond the construction and maintenance of hydropower projects toward technological innovation, infrastructure modernization and next-generation clean energy solutions. As Viet Nam advances its energy transition while pursuing high economic growth, stronger cooperation with international partners is expected to help build a more resilient, flexible and sustainable power system./.