Regional leaders are facing a trilemma of balancing sustainable development, security and competitiveness
Published Tue, Oct 13, 2026 · 02:09 PM
VIETNAM’s push for double-digit economic growth is turning the energy transition into an increasingly delicate policy challenge: how quickly governments can expand cleaner power and absorb transition costs without undermining household incomes, energy security or industrial competitiveness.
The problem is particularly acute in fast-growing South-east Asian economies, where rising electricity demand means governments have less room to tolerate shortages or sharp increases in energy costs.
“What really makes Vietnam specific is its very fast growth,” Jens Arnold, head of the country studies division at OECD’s economics department, told The Business Times.