World Bank lends $202 million to boost Vietnam energy supply

HANOI (Reuters) - The World Bank said on Tuesday it had signed a $202 million concessional credit agreement with Vietnam to help increase the supply of electricity to the national grid from renewable energy sources.

The loan was made by the International Development Association, the World Bank's concessional lending arm. The funds would also be used to help the country cope with climate change, the bank said in a statement.

Vietnam's power demand will rise this year by 13 percent but capacity will expand more slowly, state-owned utility group Vietnam Electricity has forecast.

(Reporting by Ho Binh Minh)