The event aimed to concretise the initiative proposed by Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio at the World Economic Forum in January 2022.

With the participation of deputy PMs, ministers in charge of natural resources and the environment, and leaders from international and regional organisations, the meeting was considered an important step forward in promoting intergovernmental cooperation to develop and apply technology to reduce carbon emissions, ensuring energy security and sustainable development in Asia.

The signing of MoUs between the Yen Bai People's Committee (left), the Tuyen Quang People's Committee (right), and Erex Group

Along with the ministerial meeting, at the Public-Private Investment Forum AZEC, Yen Bai and Tuyen Quang provinces signed MoUs with Erex Group from Japan on the implementation of cooperative activities to develop biomass power and investment in projects using materials from the local forestry industry under the witness of Nishimura Yasutoshi, Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry for Japan.

Following the business trip, on the morning of March 4, Chairman of Yen Bai People's Committee Tran Huy Tuan and members of the delegation conducted a field survey at the Buzen Biomass Power Plant – one of the plants under Erex’s operation in Japan.

On this occasion, leaders of the two sides had more in-depth discussions on promoting the implementation of a biomass power project in Yen Bai province. The members of the delegation highly appreciated the scale, technology, and environmental safety of the plant.

The Yen Bai province delegation surveying the Buzen Biomass Power Plant operated by Erex Group in Japan

Established in 1999, Erex Group is a power company that uses biomass as the foundation for its operations across fuel procurement, fuel development, power generation, electricity trade, and retail.

The company currently owns and operates five big biomass power plants in Japan with a total capacity of 269MW.

Vietnam is the first country where Erex has considered investing in biomass power generation technology outside of Japan. Erex aims to produce 1,500MW of biomass power and cut 27,570 kilotonnes of CO₂ per year by 2035 while also generating a stable power source.

Erex plans to exploit unused biomass resources in Vietnam and develop new biofuels, which will contribute to improving farmers' incomes and create jobs related to power plant operations.

At the AZEC conference, besides signing the MoUs, Erex also participated as a guest speaker along with many other big Japanese enterprises to introduce technical solutions and highlight the ongoing efforts towards reducing carbon emissions.

Hitoshi Honna, president representing Erex Group, gave a speech on transforming energy in Southeast Asian countries.

Hitoshi Honna, president representing Erex Group at the AZEC conference

As the international environment surrounding energy issues keeps changing, and with the will that Asian countries have to simultaneously assure stable energy supplies and enact policies to respond to climate change, it is important to proceed with energy transitions that are appropriate to each country's circumstances.

With the vision of acting as a pioneer in the new era of electric power with renewable energy at its core, Erex Group is gradually expediting its expansion plans in Vietnam.

Since the beginning of 2022, the group has teamed up with a number of partners in Vietnam to carry out surveys in over 20 localities with the hope that by 2030, 14 biomass power plants with a total capacity surpassing 1,100MW will be built in 12 locations across the country.