Speaking to the press, Mr. Phuong Hoang Kim, Director of the Department of Energy Saving and Sustainable Development (Ministry of Industry and Trade), emphasized: To relieve the tension in electricity supply in the North, one of the effective solutions is to reduce the use of electrical equipment and thoroughly save electricity, especially during peak hot weather.

Reporter (PV):   It is not only when there is a power shortage that the propaganda about saving electricity is promoted. But in the current context, what is the significance of saving energy in general and using energy saving sources in particular, sir?

Mr. Phuong Hoang Kim: In 2023, the El Nino phenomenon will cause high temperatures and reduced rainfall. Water levels in many hydroelectric reservoirs across the country are low or below the dead water level, making electricity supply difficult this summer.

Mr. Phuong Hoang Kim.

Using energy sources economically and efficiently, including electricity, is becoming an urgent issue, an important solution to help reduce the pressure on electricity supply, contributing to ensuring electricity for daily life and production. This is also a direct solution to reduce the electricity bill that each business and citizen must pay. Therefore, saving electricity requires the cooperation of the business community and each citizen.

PV: How do you evaluate the current potential for electricity saving in our country, especially in key enterprises?

Mr. Phuong Hoang Kim: Currently, Vietnam's energy saving potential is still very large. Surveys by the National Program on Energy Efficiency and Conservation for the 2019-2030 period (VNEEP3) show that Vietnam's industrial sectors account for over 50% of the country's total energy consumption, with energy saving potential of up to 30-35%. Although most businesses are well aware of the laws and regulations on energy efficiency and conservation, many businesses have not yet implemented them or have implemented them in a perfunctory manner.

Currently, the country has 3,068 key energy-using establishments, with an average electricity consumption of 80 billion kWh/year. If these enterprises practice to save at least 2% of electricity consumption/year, the country will save an average of about 1.6 billion kWh per year, equivalent to a savings of more than 3,200 billion VND in electricity bills.

However, to maximize the potential for energy saving, it is necessary to not only focus on key energy-using establishments but also implement communication solutions to all establishments using electricity from 1 million kWh/year or more. Specifically, establishments using electricity from 1 million kWh/year or more must save at least 2% of electricity consumption per unit of product each year. People's Committees of provinces and cities need to effectively implement plans for economical and efficient energy use in their localities for establishments using electricity from 1 million kWh/year or more.

PV: What specific solutions has the Ministry of Industry and Trade had to make electricity saving practical and effective?

Mr. Phuong Hoang Kim: Electricity saving is always considered by the Ministry of Industry and Trade as one of the important solutions contributing to ensuring adequate electricity supply for the economy and people's lives.

The Prime Minister also issued Directive No. 20/CT-TTg on enhancing electricity saving in the 2023-2025 period and the following years. Accordingly, the Prime Minister requested that in the 2023-2025 period and the following years, the whole country must strive to save at least 2% of total electricity consumption annually, reducing electricity loss in the entire power system to below 6% by 2025... The Prime Minister directed and strengthened the implementation of synchronous electricity saving in agencies, offices, households, public lighting, commercial and service establishments, and manufacturing enterprises.

Rooftop solar power system at the factory in Hung Yen of An Mi Tools Company Limited. Photo: KIEN VAN

To save electricity effectively, from the beginning of the dry season of 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has coordinated with ministries, branches, local authorities, electricity customers, especially large electricity customers to thoroughly grasp and strengthen electricity saving activities. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has launched a nationwide electricity saving campaign in 2023. The program has received commitments from 63 provinces and cities, electricity companies and especially key energy consuming enterprises.

In addition to continuing to maintain and promote electricity saving propaganda activities as implemented over the past years, the Ministry of Industry and Trade recommends to competent authorities to develop and implement financial mechanisms, creating conditions for businesses to access preferential financial mechanisms, to invest in energy saving technology solutions, replace old production lines and machinery with modern, efficient machinery systems, and use higher technology.

Within the framework of international cooperation projects, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is promoting investment support for energy-saving solutions in the industrial sector. Through the resources of the National Program on economical and efficient use of energy, it provides technical support to production units in monitoring energy consumption during the production process; organizes specialized training courses on technology management solutions in energy saving, helping businesses to apply initiatives and solutions to improve energy efficiency.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade continues to develop policies to promote the transformation of the market for high-efficiency energy-consuming vehicles and equipment, eliminating low-efficiency and outdated equipment through an energy efficiency control program for large energy-consuming vehicles on the market. In addition, the work of inspecting, checking and supervising units that consume a lot of energy will continue to be focused on to ensure compliance with regulations on economical and efficient use of energy as well as regulations on electricity saving.

PV : Thank you very much!

KHANH AN (written)