Decree 137: Vietnam’s regulation on sale and purchase of electricity with foreign countries

According to Article 22 of Decree No. 137/2013/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government, sale and purchase of electricity with foreign countries must be permitted by a competent state agency and recorded in the electricity-generating activity license. The authority competent to permit the sale and purchase of electricity with foreign countries includes:

- The Prime Minister who shall approve policies for the sale and purchase of electricity with foreign countries through the national power grid at a voltage of 220 kV or more. The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall consider proposals of the sale and purchase of electricity with foreign countries of electricity units, and submit them to the Prime Minister;

- The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall approve policies of the sale and purchase of electricity with foreign countries through the national power grid at voltage of less than 220 kV at the request of electricity units.

Besides, customers using electricity at border areas may only buy electricity directly with foreign countries at voltage of 0.4 kV and must meet fully the following conditions:

- Being Vietnamese citizens;

- Having scale of capacity of electricity use of less than 10 kW and not connecting into the national electrical system or power grid on the spot;

- All parts of power grid from boundaries to location of electricity user are invested and managed operation by the electricity purchaser;

- Ensuring the standards, technical regulations on electrical safety;

- Getting consent of the district-level People’s Committees.

Note: The provincial People’s Committees shall guide, manage, supervise, and examine the purchase of electricity with foreign countries.

View details at Decree No. 137/2013/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government, effective from December 10, 2013.

Ty Na

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