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. "

According to a report by the Energy Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, by August 2010, the Rural Energy Project II (EPII) and Amended Rural Energy Project II had been carried out in 1,566 communes in 25 provinces and cities, 366 communes more than expected.

On September 8, 2010, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Energy Conservation Office organized a ceremony to present an energy label titled Vietnam Energy Star and hand over energy efficiency certifications to three compact lamp manufacturers: Dien Quang, Philips Vietnam and Rang Dong.

In earlier September, in Dong Thap, representatives of the Center for Industrial Promotion & Consultancy Development reported and discussed the results of energy audit for businesses in the province. This is the program following the national energy policy which has been supported by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in some Southern provinces and cities (called ANEP 2).

In the morning of 14 September 2010, at the head office of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), the Office of Energy Efficiency, in collaboration with Vietnam Standards and Quality Institute, organized the workshop “Introduction of Energy Efficiency Labeling for electric fans”.

On 9th September 2010, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) held the Conference on science and technology activities in 2006-2010 period. Deputy Minister Do Huu Hao attended and chaired the meeting.

On 8th September, at the head office of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, leaders of the Ministry granted the certificate of energy-saving products which are energy labeled for the group of compact light products of three dominant manufacturers of Vietnam, including Dien Quang Lamp Joint Stock Company, Philips Electronic (Vietnam) Co Ltd and Rang Dong Joint Stock Company.

Intimex Thanh Chuong Tapioca Factory, under Nghe An Intimex branch, was put into operation in 2004. The factory has increased the capacity twice: from 60 to 120 tons per day and from 120 to 180 tons per day. Its coal consumption and the rate of raw cassava over cassava products used to be much higher compared to other factories in Vietnam which have similar scale. Consumption of the company in 2008: 3.7 million kWh of electricity per year; 2.8 million kilograms of coal; 27,000 kilograms of diesel oil. After joining the Component of Cleaner Production in industry of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, leaders of the company has made several concrete measures in energy efficiency.

Engaging in the program of cleaner production and energy efficiency in industry of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, annually, the company saves billions of dong thanks to technical improvements, energy saving and environmental protection by a series of measures: internal management, lighting system improvement, and equipment replacement.

Deputy Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to build a biofuel distribution and consumption network in Vietnam, and build and issue Regulations on the use and distribution of Biofuel.

Under the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai at Announcement number 343/TB-VPCP dated December 4th 2009 on building an energy saving advocacy program to every province, bringing the program to every ward, commune, block, making energy efficiency an emulation target, a standard in the cultural family evaluation, the Hanoi People’s Committee, in coordination with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, organized the pilot campaign for the 2010 Energy Saving and Efficiency for Households in Hanoi, with the theme “Energy efficiency in every household is saving for you and for future generations”.