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Nov 28, 2018 / 19:25

Vietnam should reduce coal power for sustainable growth: EU, WB

The country must take bold measures in power generation to adopt a good growth path without ruining its environment, Ambassador Bruno Angelet said.

Vietnam needs to choose proper electricity sources which help ensure both national power security and sustainable growth, according to Ambassador Bruno Angelet, head of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Vietnam. 
 
EU Ambassador to Vietnam Bruno Angelet at the meeting. Photo: Daibieunhandan.vn
EU Ambassador to Vietnam Bruno Angelet at the meeting. Photo: Daibieunhandan.vn
The country must take bold measures in power generation to adopt a good growth path without ruining its environment, the ambassador said at the 2nd High Level Meeting of the Vietnam Energy Partnership Group (VEPG) held in Hanoi on November 26. 

The point of view reckoning coal-fired power cheap is totally wrong and unacceptable in many countries because of many other kinds of cost required after the construction of thermal power plants, namely infrastructure for coal transport, health damage, and impacts on the environment, the ambassador noted. 

Experienced from the EU showed that reducing the ratio of thermal power and increasing renewable energy are good ways to support the economic growth. 

Vietnam, therefore, must change its mind in choosing kinds of power sources, the ambassador said, adding that not only developing countries can pursue renewable technologies. 
World Bank Country Director for Vietnam Ousmane Dione at the event (first left). Photo: Chinhphu
World Bank Country Director for Vietnam Ousmane Dione at the event (first left). Photo: Chinhphu.vn
Echoing Bruno Angelet, Ousmane Dione, country director of the World Bank in Vietnam, said that coal-fired power remains much to say and Vietnam must seriously think about it. Vietnam should consider what is better for the long-term development and wonder how its nation could be if it is surrounded by fly ash, the executive warned. 

Ousmane recommended that Vietnam should make policies on energy saving, speed up renewables projects, and restructure the power sector.

The VEPG prioritizes five aspects namely renewable energy, energy efficiency, power sector restructure, electricity access, and building database. The group has made 40 important recommendations on policy making for the development of the power sector.   

Vietnam currently runs 21 fossil fuel power plants with total capacity of 14,310 MW discharging about 16 million tons of fly ash and 33.6 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) annually.