Especially in the context of rapid and strong integration today, combined with the “flood” of foreign direct investment, the issue of optimizing energy use in the industrial sector is increasingly valued, attracting the attention of investors and businesses both domestically and internationally.

On July 18-19, 2024, VCCI will host a training workshop titled “Cooperation to Promote Energy Saving and Transition Solutions Towards Green and Sustainable Growth in Enterprises.”

The workshop aims to find solutions to support businesses in technology transition and accessing “green” financing sources to promote energy-efficient and effective usage. The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) will organize this workshop on July 18 and 19, 2024.

The event will feature representatives from various departments and sectors in Nghe An Province, research organizations, consulting firms, financial institutions, banks, and local businesses. The goal is to develop strategic directions and effective solutions to support enterprises in using energy efficiently and effectively, and to encourage green and sustainable development.

Mr. Hoang Quang Phong, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), delivered the opening remarks at the workshop.

In his opening speech, Mr. Hoang Quang Phong emphasized that on July 25, 2022, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 888/QD-TTg approving the Scheme on tasks and solutions to implement the outcomes of the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26). The Scheme aims to align Vietnam with the global trend of low-carbon development, mobilize resources, and innovate technology to transition growth models, restructure the economy, and contribute to global climate change mitigation efforts; it also targets achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Based on this decision, VCCI has been tasked with working with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to enhance connections with international business associations and countries to call for and attract financial and technological support for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Additionally, VCCI aims to mobilize associations and businesses to actively participate in this commitment.

Mr. Hoang Quang Phong also highlighted the current situation, noting that industries are rapidly industrializing and have significant potential for energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions. However, businesses face many challenges in implementing energy-saving solutions due to a lack of information on energy efficiency, financial constraints, technical limitations, and inadequate capacity for energy consumption audits and project development to access appropriate investment sources.

“The Energy Service Company (ESCO) business model is relatively new and not widely adopted by manufacturing enterprises in Vietnam. Therefore, VCCI is working hard with partners to implement effective solutions to support businesses, especially women-owned enterprises and those in the food processing and supporting industries, in using energy efficiently and developing in a green and sustainable direction,” shared Mr. Hoang Quang Phong – Vice Chairman of VCCI.

Mr. Le Duc Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Nghe An Province, spoke at the workshop.

During the workshop, Mr. Le Duc Anh mentioned that the Department has actively collaborated with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Nghe An Power Company, and other relevant agencies to implement integrated solutions to enhance climate change adaptation, greenhouse gas inventory, greenhouse gas emission reduction, and energy savings in production and business activities within the industrial sector.

“However, this is a relatively new area, and the related legal regulations are being gradually improved. Businesses are facing many difficulties and uncertainties in implementation. Therefore, the role of the series of activities organized by VCCI is very important, as it aims to actively equip and provide knowledge to the human resources of state management agencies and key energy-using enterprises in the province on climate change, energy saving and transition, and greenhouse gas inventory and reduction…” Mr. Le Duc Anh stated.

Dr. Trinh Quoc Dung from the Thermal Energy Department, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, discussed current legal policies on energy saving and efficiency, emission reduction, and greenhouse gas inventory. He particularly emphasized the legal requirements and compliance assessment for each specific sector.

At the workshop, Mr. Do The Duyet, an expert from Yuko Vietnam Co., Ltd., shared solutions for energy saving and greenhouse gas emission reduction through energy management measures and investments under the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) that the company is implementing. According to Mr. Duyet, the company's energy efficiency solutions process is divided into specific stages. The first step involves conducting an energy audit, followed by using the collected data to consider appropriate control methods for preliminary calculations, identifying energy saving potentials, and addressing existing issues.

“In the operational support phase, based on the report provided, we will decide the order of implementing energy-saving solutions and then verify and evaluate the results of these solutions,” Mr. Duyet stated.

Mr. Do The Duyet, an expert from Yuko Vietnam Co., Ltd., shared solutions for energy saving and greenhouse gas emission reduction through energy management measures and investments under the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM).

Additionally, Mr. Duyet introduced the JCM. Under this mechanism, the Japanese government partially funds the installation of energy-saving and renewable energy equipment in exchange for CO2 credits. For example, projects at EVN's power distribution stations nationwide and high-capacity Amorpheus transformers have been integrated into the power grid. In Phase 4 of the project, a total of 11,853 transformers have been installed, significantly contributing to energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reduction in Vietnam.

Mr. Hoang Minh Duc, Deputy Director of Southeast Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SEABANK), Nghe An Branch, stated that the bank will support the business community in green growth by providing access to preferential financial services.

In addition, the workshop also featured numerous comments from representatives of solution providers, financial support organizations, banks, and local businesses, aimed at proposing effective solutions to help enterprises use energy efficiently and develop in a green and sustainable manner. The delegates took a commemorative photo at the training workshop titled “Cooperation to Promote Energy Saving and Transition Solutions Towards Green and Sustainable Growth in Enterprises.”