On October 01, 2015 in Hanoi, Vietnam Energy Association held the first tenure of Entire country representatives Conference (term 2015-2020) to establish the Medium and Small Hydropower Association - Green Energy.

At the conference, Mr. Tran Viet Ngai, Chairman of the Vietnam Energy Association, said that the establishment of Small and Medium Hydropower Association - Green Energy would mark a new development, new breakthrough in the energy sector in Vietnam and contribute to socio-economic development of the country.

The Medium and Small Hydropower Association -Green Energy will propose to the Party and the Government to review the planning of small and medium hydropower system on rivers and streams in the country; the planning of green energy development such as wind power, solar power, geothermal power, tidal power; and the possible mechanisms and policies, especially the electricity pricing mechanism, to encourage investment of domestic and foreign investors in these projects.

The Association will also coordinate with the Vietnam Energy Association to work with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the local authorities to determine the feasible Projects for investment with new construction, to generate additional electricity for power supply in the grid; to help enterprises bid and participate in electricity wholesale in the competitive markets.

In addition, the Association will work with the power trading companies, Centre of National Electricity Modulation and Electricity Regulatory Department (MOIT) to make full use maximum capacity of the power plants, to increase power output system, raising the revenue and reinvested profits both, as well as the obligation of payment to the State budget.

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Nguyen Tien Vy, Director of the Department of Planning (Ministry of Industry and Trade), said the establishment of the Medium and Small Hydropower Association will facilitate the organizations and businesses operating in the field of green energy to have the opportunities for their recommendations, proposals to be heard by the State governance agencies to react in favor of the electricity sector development.

"The Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue to coordinate with the Vietnam Energy Association and the Medium and Small Hydropower Association - Green Energy in the development of policies and strategic planning in order to create the best foundation for the development of clean electricity, and development of trades, economy and society". Said Mr. Vy.

According to the Vietnam Energy Association, over the years, there have been hundreds of small and medium hydropower projects, and some other projects for wind power, solar power built to create billions of kWh of electricity for the national grid. However, these projects have not yet been fully operated for additional clean energy in the country's power supply.

Under the circumstances, the Medium and Small Hydropower Association - Green Energy, a professional specialist society under the Vietnam Energy Association, active in the field of small and medium hydropower, green power with its nation-wide operation is founded. It will facilitate the technology transfer, removal of difficulties and problems; at the same time bridging the enterprises to the governance agencies.

Trong Tan