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.

Compressed natural gas technology first appeared in Vietnam with the introduction of CNG natural gas plant in Phu My I Industrial Zone, Tan Thanh district, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, which began operation in late August 2008. In Nay 2010, to limit environmental pollution and reduce climate change, for the clean and green environment, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group of issued Resolution No. 2958/NQ-DKVN approving the conversion and use of CNG fuel for cars of all members of the group in the areas of HCM city and Ba Ria-Vung Tau (about 600 vehicles).

Since the plants were put into operation, the total output has been 18 billion kWh and the total revenue has been nearly VND22,000 billion. In 2010, Ca Mau 1 and Ca Mau 2 power plants - Ca Mau Petrovietnam Power Company - plans to produce 7.6 billion kWh, and up to November 10th, the total output has exceeded 4% of the plan, accounting for 13% of electricity output of the whole country, the revenue has reached VND10,512 billion.

As one of few four star hotels at international standards in Hanoi, Fortuna Hotel, which is located in a bustling street with many office buildings, has become ideal accommodations for many domestic and foreign customers. Apart from modern and luxurious architect and professional services, Fortuna Hotel attracts a variety of customers thanks to the motto of doing business combined with protecting the environment and conserving energy.

In June 2009, funded by the National program on energy efficiency and conservation, the Department of Industry and Trade of Lam Dong selected Da Lat Garment Joint Stock Company as one of the two enterprises to implement energy audit. Through surveys and measurement, the advisory group has identified some opportunities to save energy and made some suggestions to help this business implement each step in the process of reducing energy cost.

According to the project of “Promoting Energy Efficiency in Small and Medium Enterprises” implemented by the Ministry of Science and Technology under supervision of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and assistance of the Global Environment Fund (GEF), the Dong Thap Province Center for Industry Promotion and Development Consultancy has carried out an energy audit program at the Ba Tang Ice Company (in Long Thanh Hamlet, Phu Thanh A Commune, Tam Nong District, Dong Thap Province).