As scheduled, each year, the Project Steering Committee (PSC) organizes 2 meetings to review the actual implementation. At the meeting, the Project Steering Committee reported on the implementation progress of Component 1: Energy saving in small and medium sized enterprises.

From December 2013 to February 2014, a preliminary survey was conducted in about 1,000 businesses in the brick, ceramics, porcelain and food processing industries in order to pre-evaluate the potential of energy savings. The project has also established a financial mechanism to support SMEs in their investment and operation in energy efficiency program called Green Investment Fund (GIF) with a total fund of up to DKK35 million from the Government of Denmark.

With the same purpose, the project has conducted a survey in 200 energy equipment suppliers and services providers. Meanwhile, the Project conducted studies to make assessments on the policies to promote energy efficiency in 10 provinces and cities, including Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Vinh Long, Binh Duong and Dong Thap.

From the survey, project officers collated the information on energy saving technology and solutions applicable in these industries. The project finalized the report on potential of energy savings, and also energy efficiency measures identified in the fishery sector in Vietnam.

In addition to research activities, within the framework of the project, a study tour in Denmark for a MOIT delegation and a Workshop on Vietnam-Denmark Trade Cooperation in Vietnam fisheries were realized.

Most recently, the project has surveyed and worked with Kim Lan commune People’s Committee, Kim Lan ceramic association to support the owners of pottery and porcelain kilns, who need investment in energy saving technological transformation by accessing the financial mechanisms of the project.

At the meeting, the Project Steering Committee also reported on the plans for 2015, including: preliminary energy audits and applied financial mechanisms for SMEs in three industries: brickyard, ceramics and food processing. The project will also organize international workshops on policy evaluation, as well as the publication of research findings and policy recommendations for the 10 identified provinces. At the same time, training in capacity building will be organized for energy services providers and energy efficiency centers.

In the time to come, the project will develop and implement pilot projects in the brickyard, ceramics and food processing industries. Within that framework, the project will focus on building a suitable institutional model to support the development of brick kilns which use biomass fuels in the Mekong Delta region.

By Trong Tan