This was a prerequisite for building plans of sustainable development and more proper distribution of electric energy, thus overcoming the chronic shortage of electricity and helping businesses build a clear orientation for power efficiency so that they could reduce production costs and improve competitiveness.

As part of activities of the International Exhibition Fair on "Environment and Energy Technology – ENTECH Hanoi 2011, the communication conference on solutions for energy saving in households attracted over 3000 propagators, officials of Women’s Union branches from all communes and districts in Ha Noi.

According to Mr Vu Huy Quang - PV Power CEO, PV Power plants are operating stably, securely and efficiently, and have high power output. Four units of PV Power have generated commercial electricity: Ca Mau 1 and 2, Nhon Trach 1, Nhon Trach 2 with the stable annual power output of about 12.5 billion kWh, accounting for 15% of total electricity production nationwide. Particularly in 2010, PV Power's total commercial electricity output reached 12.685 billion kWh.

According to Mr Nguyen Xuan Duong, General Director of Hung Yen Garment Joint Stock Company, in recent years, the company has significantly reduced electricity costs thanks to the use of energy saving lighting system and installation of energy saving devices for the sewing machine motors. Most recently, in 2009, the company invested nearly VND 200 million in installing Sewsaver device for 400W industrial sewing machines. Through one year of operation, 110 thousand kWh has been saved, over 85 tons of CO2 emissions has been reduced.

During the workshop, Da Nang Department of Science and Technology focused on disseminating Law on Energy Efficiency and informing about the projects and programs of energy saving which were being implemented. The Department also introduced project "Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Applications in ​​Da Nang City in the Period from 2011 to 2015".

The World Bank approved on earlier this week a new loan of US$330 million for Vietnam to support the mid-sized multipurpose Trung Son Hydropower Project (TSHPP) which will help meet growing domestic demand for electricity and bring flood control and irrigation benefits to rural and poor communities in Thanh Hoa Province.

Xuong Giang paper mill under Bac Giang Import Export Corporation-IMEXCO Bac Giang is the largest energy consumer in the province of Bac Giang. Responding to the energy saving program in recent years, the factory has continuously made improvements to reduce power consumption and protect the environment. However, according to experts of Hanoi Center Energy Conservation Center, energy saving potential in this business is still quite large.

100% of the barracks and households in Truong Sa District (The Spratly - Khanh Hoa Province) can now use electric energy for their work and life, with the continuous supply for 24 hours a day. The whole district is now under television and telephone coverages. It is special that all the electric energy used in this island district is produced from wind power and solar energy. So far, Truong Sa has been the first district in the country to use clean energy sources.

Deputy Prime Minister confirmed this would be an important legal basis for investors to implement projects exploiting potential renewable energy sources, especially a series of wind power projects in the South Central Province, on islands and in remote areas. He also signaled the views and encouragement on increasing the promotion of renewable energy exploitation and utilization to meet the demand of national energy balance and sustainable development at present.

Currently, each day, Ninh Hoa Sugar Joint Stock Company processes 3,000 tons of sugar cane without using grid power. The entire electricity needs are met by the thermal electric unit with the capacity of 6 MW, the fuel for boiler is bagasse. From Dec 2010, the company installed one more bagasse generator with the capacity of 3 MW.

Mr. Tran Dinh Lai, age 35, resident of An Xuan village (Quang An, Quang Dien, Thua Thien Hue) is the inventor of the pressing machines which turn husk into firewood – an invention which has earned him a living as well as created employment for a number of people.

Implementing the Power VI plan approved by the Government, the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) is striving to accelerate the construction and complete the whole Son La hydropower project (capacity of 2,400 MW) at the end of 2012. In the short term, in 2011, EVN has planned to power on unit 2 on Apr 30th; unit 3 on Aug 31st and unit 4 on Dec 31st.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has directed the MOIT to soon complete and submit to the Government the mechanism issuing regulations to support, facilitate and encourage wind power projects in Vietnam.

Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) Group announced that there will be additional 2 billion KWh to be supplied to national grid by Son La hydropower plant and Song Tranh 2 hydropower plant. On January 7, 2011, EVN will officially put into operation the first turbine of Son La hydropower plant after over five years of construction. At the same time, the group will also have the first turbine of Song Tranh 2 hydropower plant joined the national grid.

Unit 1 with the capacity of 400MW of Son La Hydropower Plant has been successfully connected to the National Electricity System at 12h45’on December 17th, 2010. Son La hydropower plant, with the installed capacity of 2400 MW, including six units, each unit with the capacity of 400MW, is the second ladder on Da River, after Lai Chau hydropower plant started on December 22th and above Hoa Binh hydropower plant.

Since unit 1 went into operation in October 2008, A Vuong hydropower plant (with the capacity of 210 MW) has produced nearly 1.8 billion kWh, equivalent to the revenue of about VND 1,150 billion. According to Mr Nguyen Tram, General Director of A Vuong Hydropower JSC, thanks to the advantage of using high water columns, the mobilization of the capacity of A Vuong hydropower plant and the generation of power based on the height of water columns will be very effective.

This is one of the three biofuel factories that PetroVietnam is planning to build, with the total capacity of 300,000 kilolitres per year. That plant is being built in Binh Phuoc province, with the total investment of about 10 billion yen (USD 122 million), of which Itochu holds the largest share of 40%. As planned, the plant will be put into operation in 2012, with the capacity of 100,000 kilolitres of bioethanol.

The Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation (EVN HCMC) said that in the past five years, they launched many campaigns to promote efficient use of electricity. As a result, the families of all EVN HCMC staff members have been committed to saving 10 percent of power consumption at home. In response to the appeal of the Ho Chi Minh City Women’s Union, 100,000 households have been committed to saving power.

Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology’s Building (estimated to have eight floors and two basements) has been approved by City People's Committee to be built in accordance with the green building model of Lotus standards to become a model for the city.

In the past five years, Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group has invested in 59 projects, including 56 petroleum projects (38 domestic projects and 18 projects in foreign countries). Particularly, the excavation of oil and gas has been implemented effectively at 15 domestic and foreign oil fields, and the mining output has reached 117.41 million tons. The Group has also implemented the work of development at 16 domestic and foreign mines.

After successes of peanut sowing machine and rubber latex harvesting machine, Le Thanh Binh always wants to have more inventions to contribute to the country’s development. Recently, he successfully produced a sea wave power electricity generator. This machine took part in the Vietnam Exhibition on Technologies and Equipment 2010 held in Quang Ninh Province.

On the morning of November 25th, as part of the 2nd Exhibition of Energy efficiency product of and renewable energy in Ho Chi Minh city, Ho Chi Minh City Energy Efficiency Center, in collaboration with the project Promoting energy conservation in small and medium enterprises (PECSME), held the Conference reviewing the execution of the project Promoting energy conservationin small and medium enterprises in the 2006-2010 period, in Southern region.

The 30th India International Trade Fair (IITF 2010) themed ‘Clean and Energy Efficient Technology, Products and Services’ was opened in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, on November 14. Vietnamese Ambassador to India Nguyen Thanh Tan cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Vietnam Pavilion at the fair.

PetroVietnam Gas Corporation (PV Gas), the biggest liquid gas supplier in Vietnam intends to sell 15-20 percent of its shares to foreign investors to earn US$600 million. Chitrapongse Kwangsukstith, the chairman of PTT International Company Limited, a member of PTT Corporation in Thailand, said that his company pays a special attention to buying share of PV Gas.

The year of 2010 is considered an important year in the development of Petro Vietnam in particular and of the entire petroleum industry in general.Besides ensuring the completion of the production plan of the year, the Company is also facing challenges in implementing targets in the final year of the five year plan 2006-2010 with volatile external conditions.

Dak Nong 500 kV substation, with the capacity of 900 MVA, was built in Nhan Co commune, Dak R'Lap district, Dak Nong, with the total investment of VND600 billion. The 220kV grid of Dong Nai 3 Hydropower Plant - 500kV substation of Dak Nong has the length of over 30km.