Companies throughout Vietnam have taken the first steps toward using power effectively while attaching energy conservation to their corporate strategies
Power Saving Part of Business Philosophy
By Van Nam
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| A solar power system in HCMC: the most effective solution to emergy saving can help conserve up to 10% of the power otherwise consumed |
Companies throughout Vietnam have taken the first steps toward using power effectively while attaching energy conservation to their corporate strategies
After the Law on Energy Conservation became effective as of 2011, enterprises across Vietnam have begun to put into practice the philosophy that technologies should be renovated to save power. In line with the new approach, energy saving is placed at the forefront of corporate development strategies.
Sources from the Ministry of Industry and Trade—the agency assigned by the Government to work as the coordinator for the energy saving campaign in Vietnam — said that the ministry has compiled a list of 1,180 companies nationwide which are subject to compulsory energy auditing this year.
The goal of the effort which puts energy consumption of companies falling into the above list is to cut 10% of the consumed energy volume. The list groups together enterprises in need of at least 3 million kWh a year each.
Compulsory energy auditing will first be conducted in industries like steel rolling, cement, mineral processing, textile and garment and chemicals. These “energy-guzzling” sectors are currently accounting for almost half the power generated across Vietnam.
According to the scheme masterminded by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the companies involved will have to compile periodical reports on energy auditing and assign a team responsible for energy management at their enterprises. Failing to abide by this regulation, violators will be subject to punishments stipulated by Decree 73/2011/ND-CP on administrative punishments for energy consumption.
A report from the Vietnam Electricity Group, or EVN, the country’s major player in power generation and distribution, showed that in 2011, Vietnam saved some 1.3 billion kWh, or 1.03% of the commercial electricity volume. The same rate of saving is to remain the same this year.
Experiences in Vietnam in recent years have indicated that the most effective solutions to energy saving can help conserve up to 10% of the power otherwise consumed.
In HCMC, among the State-owned conglomerates which have pioneered in energy conservation is the Saigon Industry Corporation or CNS for short. CNS’s affiliates—which comprise companies working in a wide range of industries, from mechanical engineering and machine manufacturing to chemicals and food processing—have renovated their technologies and equipment aiming at using energy in a more effective way to reduce power consumption.
Last year, CNS installed circuit breakers which automatically turn off air conditioners half an hour before offices and factories are closed. Other systems have also been installed to put electrical appliances and machines under better control to minimize the energy consumed.
Khanh Hoi Tobacco Factory, an affiliate of CNS, has made energy conservation one of its first priorities. At Khanh Hoi, effective use of power and energy conservation is an obligation for the entire staff, and all the departments have been committed to saving energy. As a result, Khanh Hoi Tobacco Factory was able to reduce some 770 tons of carbon dioxide discharged into the environment every year.