Can Tho city is the gateway of the Mekong River down stream. With the advantage of agriculture and aquaculture, Can Tho remains a centre of businesses in the food processing sector.

There are about 50 seafood processing enterprises and more than 30 food processing enterprises. Of these, more than 20 enterprises are key energy consumers.

Mr. Duong Nghia Hiep, Director of the Can Tho Energy Conservation Center, reveals that those enterprises account for 70% of total energy consumption of the entire city. However, the energy use in many of those businesses is not really economical nor efficient .

The first reason could be attributed to the deteriorated, obsolete energy consuming technology currently being in use. In addition, many business owners are not really interested in energy efficiency, partially due to the lack of investment in technology and also the limited technical qualifications of the staff.

Mr. Duong Nghia Hiep,  Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Industry and Trade cum Director of the Can Tho Energy Conservation Center

Mr. Duong Nghia Hiep says, many companies have been working with Can Tho ECC in energy audits and to get advice for technological innovation and new equipment installation to achieve more efficient use of energy. The findings from energy audit show that the enterprises have reduced their energy consumption ranging in 15 -25% .

In 2014, Can Tho Energy Conservation Center in collaboration with Can Tho University conducted several studies on energy saving. In the Can Tho city, the Center conducted energy audits for 8 enterprises, including four seafood processing companies, 3 food processing companies and 1 beverage company. In addition, ECC Tho also provided consultation supports and energy audits for 8 aquatic products enterprises, sugar production plants, and ice production facilities in provinces of Ca Mau and Hau Giang.

The enterprises could install the inverter to the motor to reduce energy consumption

Also in 2014, Can Tho ECC in collaboration with the provinces of Vinh Long, and An Giang held two regional workshops in order to propagate the Law on Energy Conservation and Efficiency, energy labeling, and application of new technology in production. The workshops were the opportunity for training, retraining of technical staff from the enterprises with an overview of the operation of machines, as well as energy management activities.

Talking about the 2015 annual plan, Mr. Duong Nghia Hiep says that Can Tho ECC will continue to implement the National Target Program on Energy Conservation and Efficiency. In 2015, Can Tho ECC aims at the provision of consultation service and energy audits for 8 enterprises. At the same time, the center will continue to coordinate with the Industrial Extension Center, the other provincial Energy Conservation Centers in Long An, Ca Mau, Kien Giang and An Giang province to perform the energy audits in enterprises located in those  provinces.

Do Trong Tan