Ensuring all 3 stages in the value chain
The world situation has many unpredictable fluctuations, especially armed conflicts and geopolitical competition that can disrupt the energy supply chain. Therefore, proactively diversifying energy sources and developing alternative energy sources, including biofuels, is a strategic requirement for each country. Developing biofuel is not only a solution to reduce dependence on fossil fuels but also to take advantage of Vietnam's agricultural advantages.
However, according to Dr. Giang Chan Tay - Director of Boi Ngoc Co., Ltd. (exploiting gasoline and oil in Vinh Long), for bio-gasoline to develop sustainably, it is necessary to build a transparent and reasonable price mechanism, ensuring that all 3 stages in the value chain, ethanol production, key enterprises and retail systems have clear economic motivation. In the initial transition phase, the complete replacement of mineral gasoline needs to be carried out cautiously and with a reasonable roadmap.
A flexible option that can be considered is to stipulate a number of days of the week, for example, 3 consecutive days prioritizing the sale of biofuel and rotating randomly throughout the week so that consumers do not wait until the day to fill up mineral gasoline as a habit, instead of immediately applying the simultaneous conversion across the entire market. When consumers gradually approach and form consumption habits, the market will automatically adjust in the direction of increasing the consumption rate of environmentally friendly fuels" - Dr. Giang Chan Tay suggested.
In the context of an increasingly unstable world, gasoline and oil are no longer simply a business item but have become an important factor of national economic security.
According to Dr. Giang Chan Tay, Vietnam needs to gradually build a more comprehensive energy strategy, with three main pillars: Completing a transparent market mechanism, building a strong national energy reserve system and promoting alternative fuel sources.
In uncertain times in the world, energy self-sufficiency not only helps stabilize the market but also helps the economy maintain growth momentum and social confidence" - Dr. Giang Chan Tay emphasized.
Reduce dependence on fossil fuels
On November 7, 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Circular No. 50/2025/TT-BCT stipulating the application of the blending ratio of biofuels with traditional fuels in Vietnam to replace the roadmap specified in Decision No. 53/2012/QD-TTg dated November 22, 2012 of the Prime Minister.
To implement the contents of Circular No. 50 in a synchronous and effective manner, on February 26, 2026, the Prime Minister issued Directive No. 07/CT-TTg on promoting the production, mixing, distribution and use of biofuels in Vietnam.
According to Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, promoting the use of E5 and E10 bio-gasoline not only helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional mineral gasoline, contributing to environmental protection, but also promotes the development of the biofuel industry, creating stable output for agricultural production, creating jobs and contributing to socio-economic development, especially in raw material areas. At the same time, it contributes to reducing dependence on fossil fuels, in the context that the world's energy supply is always potentially volatile due to armed conflicts and geopolitical competition.
E10, E15, E20 and higher biofuels have been widely used in many countries around the world such as the US, Brazil, Europe, China, Thailand, Philippines... for many years. Vietnam has distributed E5RON92 gasoline nationwide since 2018, and piloted the distribution of E10RON95 gasoline from August 1, 2025. Reality shows that no negative feedback from consumers on gasoline quality as well as the negative impacts of E5, E10 gasoline on operating performance and lifespan of gasoline engine details" - Deputy Minister Tan said.
