By 2015, all communes and 98.6 percent of rural households will have access to electricity.

The Prime Minister has approved a national electricity development plan for 2011-2020 with a vision to 2030. Accordingly, Vietnam will produce and import 194 -10 billion kWh of electricity by 2015, 330 - 362 billion kWh by 2030 and 695 - 834 billion kWh by 2030.

The plan prioritizes developing renewable energy such as wind and solar power to increase the proportion of electricity generated from these sources from 3.5 percent of the total electricity supply in 2010 to 4.5 percent in 2020 and 6 percent in 2030. The plan also focuses on hydroelectric power, aiming to raise its total capacity from the current 9,200MW to 17,400MW in 2020. The first nuclear power generator will be put into operation in 2020 and will generate around 70.5 billion kWh by 2030, accounting for 10.1 percent of the country's total electricity production.

Vietnam will need to invest around US$48.7 billion for the plan up to 2020 and US$123 billion for the entire 2011-2030 period.

(VOV)