Mekong Energy Insights

Episode 1 - Vietnam's Power Sector Overview

Southeast Asia's largest power market explained for developers, investors, and corporate buyers who need to understand how deals actually get done in Vietnam. Vietnam generated 308.73 billion kilowatt-hours in 2024—growing at 9.9% annually. The country built one of the world's fastest solar rollouts, going from 86 MW in 2018 to over 16,000 MW by 2020. Then new development nearly stopped. What happened? In this 90-minute deep dive, international energy lawyer Jacobus du Plessis breaks down Vietnam's power sector fundamentals with practitioner-level intelligence you won't find in industry reports. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Why coal still dominates at 47% of generation despite net-zero commitments The complete story of Vietnam's solar boom and the regulatory freeze that followed How EVN's market power shapes every deal—and why August 2024's NSMO separation matters The new Direct Power Purchase Agreement (DPPA) mechanism and what it means for corporate buyers Why transmission constraints are the real bottleneck limiting renewable growth Where the $135 billion in investment through 2030 will actually come from The competitive wholesale electricity market (VWEM) and why merchant revenue remains unbankable WHO THIS IS FOR: Power developers negotiating PPAs with EVN. Renewable investors evaluating project risk. Corporate energy buyers exploring direct purchase options. Infrastructure financiers structuring deals. Anyone who needs ground truth about Vietnam's power market. KEY STATISTICS: → 82,400 MW installed capacity → 99.7% rural electrification achieved → 10% annual demand growth requiring 8,000 MW of new capacity yearly → $135B investment needed by 2030 (90% from private sector) Next episode: Vietnam's transmission infrastructure—the bottleneck limiting the renewable transition.

Episode 0 - Podcast Series Introduction

Welcome to Mekong Energy Insights! In this series introduction, host Jacobus du Plessis unveils your comprehensive guide to Southeast Asia's dynamic power markets. Discover why Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar represent over $835 billion in investment opportunities through 2050. Learn what makes this podcast different: real-world intelligence from a practitioner who has spent seven years working on billions of dollars in power transactions across the region. From Myanmar's early transition period to major projects with Japanese trading houses and top-tier international law firms, this is expertise forged in the field. In this episode, you'll discover: - Why Southeast Asia is one of the last great frontiers for power sector development -The $800+ billion investment requirement driving regional transformation - How the information gap creates both challenges and opportunities - What to expect from Season One's comprehensive country deep dives Whether you're a developer, investor, financier, policy professional, or equipment supplier, this podcast delivers the actionable intelligence you need to navigate these complex, rapidly evolving markets. New episodes every Monday. Next week: Episode 1 - Vietnam's Power Sector Overview