HO CHI MINH CITY — Ho Chi Minh City is accelerating plans to establish a multi-pole national energy and industrial hub, an ambitious infrastructure initiative aimed at fortifying regional power security, supporting high-tech manufacturing, and driving double-digit economic expansion across Vietnam’s Southern Key Economic Zone.

During a consultative seminar organized by the HCM City Department of Industry and Trade on Friday, July 31, government officials, energy experts, and corporate executives gathered to refine the draft master plan. The project comes at a critical juncture as rapidly expanding industrial demand places unprecedented pressure on the southern metropolis's power architecture.

Surging Energy Demand Triggers Infrastructure Push

HCM City’s current peak power capacity stands at approximately 9,600 megawatts (MW). However, rapid industrial modernization and the influx of foreign direct investment in high-technology sectors are testing existing grid limits.

According to Bùi Tá Hoàng Vũ, Director of the HCM City Department of Industry and Trade, five major capital projects are currently earmarked for investment in the city. Demonstrating the magnitude of modern industrial energy needs, a single prospective strategic investor recently requested a dedicated allocation of 2,000 MW—equivalent to nearly 20 percent of the city’s entire current peak load.

"This rapid rise in power demand places immense pressure on our transmission and generation infrastructure," said Deputy Director Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngọc. "Establishing this national hub is crucial for guaranteeing long-term energy security. It will build modern energy capabilities, support our green transition goals, and unlock new growth momentum required to sustain our double-digit economic targets."

Rather than starting from scratch, the city intends to capitalize on its expanded spatial footprint, combining world-class deep-sea port terminals, mature logistics corridors, and advanced technical capabilities into a unified regional network.

A Tri-Pole Industrial and Energy Ecosystem

The proposed master plan rejects the traditional single-site industrial model in favor of a decentralized, multi-pole ecosystem. By linking specialized zones, the hub will establish end-to-end value chains spanning clean energy generation, equipment manufacturing, and heavy petrochemical production.

The draft outline details three primary operational nodes:

Long Sơn Pole: Positioned as a center for petrochemical refining and specialty chemical production, focusing on high-grade advanced materials, industrial feedstocks, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies.
Phú Mỹ–Cái Mép–Thị Vải Pole: Designated as the region’s primary gas-to-power and clean fuel hub, managing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) import terminals, gas-fired power plants, deep-water port operations, and specialized energy logistics.
Rạch Dừa–Sao Mai–Bến Đình Pole: Focused on heavy marine manufacturing and offshore wind engineering, providing technical services, fabrication yards, and maintenance hubs for offshore renewable platforms as well as traditional oil and gas infrastructure.
To ensure long-term viability, these physical poles will be integrated into a broader "soft infrastructure" framework. They will collaborate with academic research institutes for technological innovation and leverage the emerging Vietnam International Financial Centre in HCM City to attract global green bonds and climate finance.

Lê Việt Cường, Deputy Director of the Institute of Energy, emphasized the need for cross-provincial cohesion. "HCM City must act as the core of the national clean energy value chain. The strategy must deliver a fully synchronized ecosystem that aligns physical logistics, data networks, green finance, and specialized human resources," Cường noted.

Unlocking Clean Energy Manufacturing Potential

Industry leaders highlighted the economic potential of domesticating renewable energy equipment supply chains, drawing comparisons to successful international energy clusters such as Cuxhaven in Germany and Shandong in China.

Trần Hồ Bắc, General Director of PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation (PTSC), cited his firm’s recent success in fabricating 33 massive offshore wind turbine foundations for export to Taiwan. The single contract generated over $400 million in revenue and employed more than 3,000 high-skilled workers.

PTSC estimates that once fully operational, the national energy hub could contribute upwards of $2 billion annually to the regional economy while generating tens of thousands of specialized engineering and technical jobs.

Roadmap to 2045

The Department of Industry and Trade outlined a clear three-stage implementation schedule for the megaproject:

Phase 1 (2026–2030): Enact regulatory frameworks, complete spatial zoning, digitize energy infrastructure data, and break ground on core shared infrastructure.
Phase 2 (2031–2035): Expand industrial sub-zones, scale up localized supply chains for offshore wind components, and significantly increase domestic content ratios in energy manufacturing.
Phase 3 (2036–2045): Achieve full operational maturity, establishing an internationally competitive, fully integrated national energy and industrial center.
The Department of Industry and Trade is compiling feedback from the seminar to finalize the draft before submitting it to the central government for final approval.

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