The Ministry of Industry and Trade in Vietnam has released Circular 70/2026/TT-BCT, establishing updated economic and technical standards for energy audits under the country’s existing energy efficiency regulations. This directive enters into force on December 16, 2026, and governs assessments funded through state budget allocations. The circular also promulgates the techno-economic norms for conducting energy audits, providing detailed technical and financial benchmarks that must be followed during assessments.
The new circular builds on recent legislative revisions, including Law No. 77/2025/QH15, which modified the 2010 energy use law, and Decree No. 30/2026/ND-CP, which provides operational guidelines for compliance. It also incorporates provisions from Circular 47/2018/TT-BCT, which previously addressed economic and technical norms for public non-commercial services, while expanding these standards specifically to energy audits. Additionally, the circular aligns with Decree No. 32/2019/ND-CP, which outlines procedures for state-funded task assignments and bidding in public service provision.
The updated standards define requirements for both technical evaluations and financial assessments in energy audits. These audits examine how organizations consume energy and pinpoint opportunities for reductions. The circular’s provisions apply specifically to audits financed by state funds, including those required by the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy. The norms include standardized methodologies for measuring energy efficiency, ensuring consistency across assessments funded through recurrent state budget sources as defined in Decision No. 573/QD-TTg.
Existing contracts or approved budget estimates finalized before the circular’s effective date remain subject to earlier regulations, unless all parties agree to adjustments. This exception applies only where the total expenditure does not exceed the originally allocated funding. The new rules do not affect obligations already established under active contracts. The transition provisions ensure continuity in state-funded energy audit projects while allowing flexibility for adjustments where mutually agreed upon.
Government bodies under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, along with relevant agencies, must now adhere to these revised standards. Its implementation is guided by Circular 64/2026/TT-BCT, which outlines procedures for energy audit planning, reporting, and the application of energy management models.
