A project to export renewable power from Vietnam to Malaysia and Singapore has received conditional approval from Singapore's Energy Market Authority (EMA), a key early step for the three-country plan. The approval was handed over on the morning of 26 October 2026 at Marina Bay Sands, at the opening of Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) 2026, according to Báo Chính phủ. Vietnam's state energy group Petrovietnam takes part in the Vietnam-Malaysia-Singapore (VMS) project through its subsidiary PTSC.
Báo Chính phủ and VietnamPlus both describe it as one of the first important approval milestones for the scheme, giving the consortium a basis to complete technical studies, the commercial plan and the approvals still needed in all three countries.
The project at a glance
These figures are from the plan now under study:
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Power source | About 2 GW of offshore wind off southern Vietnam |
| Transmission | High-voltage subsea cable of nearly 800 km to Malaysia |
| In Malaysia | Part used locally, the rest combined with solar power |
| Export to Singapore | About 1.3 GW of renewable electricity |
| Supply period | From 2035, for about 30 years |
Who was there
Vietnamese Deputy Finance Minister Cao Anh Tuan, who led the delegation, witnessed the ceremony with Dr Tan See Leng, the Singapore minister in charge of energy and industry, and Datuk Amar Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof, Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation. VietnamPlus reported that Petrovietnam deputy general director Phan Tu Giang and PTSC general director Tran Ho Bac were also in the delegation.
Tuan met Gan Siow Huang, Singapore's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and for energy, trade and industry. He said Vietnam had issued two survey licences to PTSC for offshore wind research, and that the finance ministry, which represents the state as owner of Petrovietnam, supports the export project. He asked Singapore to keep working closely with the partners so the project stays on schedule.
How the project got here
- 2023: PTSC and Sembcorp begin the cooperation behind VMS.
- Survey phase: PTSC completes 12 months of continuous wind and ocean data collection off the former Vung Tau area and prepares equipment and vessels for a new site off Lam Dong.
- 26 October 2026: EMA grants conditional approval at SIEW 2026.
- 2035: planned start of power supply.
Why it matters for Vietnam
Both sources say the project fits the revised Power Development Plan VIII's goal of offshore wind for export, and is expected to draw foreign investment, raise local content in equipment and services, and create skilled jobs. Regionally, it is expected to support the ASEAN Power Grid.
What comes next
Conditional approval is not final approval. The consortium still has to finish technical studies, the commercial plan and approvals in Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore. Neither source details the conditions or a timetable for these steps beyond the 2035 supply target.