This year's Earth Hour campaign was officially approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade launched on March 25 with a series of communication activities including as short film contest, collecting fingerprints as a commitment to saving energy and mitigating against climate change, organizing a Green Movement, and encouraging cycling to respond to Earth Hour.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade on February 25 announced that the 2013 Earth Hour Campaign will be from 8.30pm to 9.30pm on March 23.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Vietnam Journalists' Association launched a press contest on November 12 in Hanoi to improve people's understanding of energy efficiency and conservation in 2012.

"Viet Nam has huge potentials for green and renewable energy, including solar, wind, biomass and hydropower to replace traditional ones," said Nguyen Duc Cuong, head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT)'s Energy Institute's Renewable Energy and Clean Development Mechanisms Centre.

As one of the Ministry of Industry and Trade award-winners in an energy efficient building contest, the Fortuna Hotel in Hanoi is held up as an effective example of energy conversation.

Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) Energy Saving Office consultant Nguyen Kinh Luan said that the application of energy management systems would help enterprises reduce energy costs, protect the environment and secure national energy security when addressing a workshop on the ISO 50001 Energy Management System.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will promote the consumption of biofuel by providing more information on the economic and environmental advantages of the vegetable–derived petrol alternative.

mplementing national target program on energy efficiency and conservation in 2012 approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, on 21 September 2012, Danang Department of Industry and Trade in collaboration with Energy Efficiency Office, Ministry of Industry and Trade organized a conference on energy efficiency.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) announced a Prime Ministerial decision on September 24 in Hanoi appointing Mr Hoang Quoc Vuong to be the EVN Member Council Chairman.

In 2011, the province has saved 7.9 million kWh, the Ministry of Industry and Trade awarded certificate the province of merit.

On the sidelines of the second international exhibition for Renewable and Decentralised Energy Solutions (ENEREXPRO 2012), the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Department of Science and Technology Phan Cong Hop talked to Vietnam Economic News’ Lan Phuong about solutions to develop renewable energy projects.

With support from the National Program on Energy Efficiency and Conservation and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), Viettronics Thuduc Limited Company (VTD), member unit of Vietnam Electronics and Informatics Corporation (VEIC), has developed and put into trial operation the first high-tech LED producing facility in Vietnam in Saigon hi-tech park.

EVNSPC has directed Power Companies to coordinate with the localities to propagate the Law on Energy Efficiency and Conservation; strictly implement requirements, directives, resolutions and instructions of the Government, Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Electricity of Vietnam on saving power.

Vietnam Electricity Group has assigned Power Corporations to direct power companies to perform power supply in April 2011 under the motto of no power reduction. Besides, EVN has required Power Corporations to continue to closely monitor the daily load situation, report to the Group to assess the situation of power supply in April and report to the Ministry of Industry and Trade on power supply plans in May and June 2011.

On December 15th, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) held a ceremony reviewing the energy efficiency program in the 2006-2010 period and the implementation of Directive No. 19/2005/CT-TTg on energy conservation in production and consumption . After 5 years of nationwide deployment, with the coordination between the MOIT and the People's Committees of provinces and cities under the Central Government, the program has obtained encouraging achievements.

On November 19th, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, with the assistance of German Government through the Organization of German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the German Energy Agency, put into use the grid connected solar system on the rooftop of the headquarters. The system will save approximately VND 12 million per year for electricity. Using electricity from renewable energy sources is considered the radical solution for the increasing energy demand in Vietnam.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the contests have attracted more than 100 buildings, 77 among which meet demands of organization board. Thirty three buildings of those have given domestic prizes and five won the prizes at ASEAN level. In the past, most of buildings were in the south. This year, many of buildings including schools and hospitals are located in the north.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has instructed the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) to promote its activities that it has undertaken to ensure power plants have an adequate amount of coal to run their facilities. Vinacomin should set up a team to work with the steering committee on importing coal for the thermoelectric projects, draft plans for importing coal and should monitor transport networks, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Le Duong Quang.

In Vinh Truong hamlet, Phuoc Dinh commune, Thuan Nam district, Ninh Thuan, representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade have announced Decision 3849/QD-BCT dated July 20th 2010 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade approving the Construction location scheme of Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant established by the Institute of Energy in November 2008 for the investors and the provincial People's Committee of Ninh Thuan to prepare premises and infrastructure.

In the middle of November 2010, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will host the Business forum for sustainable development with the theme: "Promoting and strengthening the participation of related parties in the process of implementing sustainable development. "