Vietnam urged to use more renewable energy

Viet Nam should enhance clean and renewable energy resources as well as promoting energy saving, said Le Tuan Phong, deputy director of the General Directorate of Energy under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Statistics from the agency showed that average energy demand in Viet Nam increased by 11 per cent a year. The country is expected to import 17 million tonnes of coals by 2020, accounting for 31 per cent of total coal demand for electricity. Phong told the ‘Viet Nam Energy Forum 2016: Challenges for Sustainable Development’ held in Ha Noi last week that with big demand, the country has faced challenges to ensure power. “Viet Nam should review its energy development strategy to prioritise clean energies and use them effectively to ensure economic growth,” he added. Tran Dinh Thien, director of the Central Institute for Economic Development said Viet Nam pays a high price for its big energy consumption in economic development.