Vietnam's government is weighing the addition of more coal-fired power plants to its national energy mix, citing instability in LNG supply caused by the ongoing conflict involving Iran. The Southeast Asian manufacturing hub had targeted 22.5 gigawatts of LNG-fired capacity by 2030 but has achieved only around 7.3 per cent of that goal, hampered by regulatory delays, weak investor interest, and now Middle East supply concerns. Coal already dominates Vietnam's grid, accounting for 54.5 per cent of electricity output in the first half of this year, and any revised national power plan would increase its share further — a potential setback for the country's stated commitment to expanding renewables and cleaner gas-fired generation.