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This is the rice field in Vietnam. Xinhua
The third forum of the Environment and Energy Cooperation Program (EEP) in the sub-Mekong region was convened in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on Tuesday and co-chaired by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT) and the Embassy of Finland in Vietnam.
Addressing the forum, themed "Policies and Mechanism to support development of renewable energy in the sub-Mekong countries," Finnish Ambassador to Vietnam Kimmo Lohdevirta said that with Finland's policy to support development of green energy, the EEP has been implemented in 25 countries, contributing to the promotion of energy services and reduction of green house emission.
EEP Mekong, implemented by countries in the sub-Mekong region including Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, aims to promote renewable energy, change the waste into energy, and invest effectively in renewable energy projects with donors' funding sources. This is done for the development of advanced technologies, enhancement of capability, and support to pilot projects and exchange of information and experience.
During 2012-2016, Finish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the North European Development Fund pledged to grant 7.9 million euros (10.1 million U.S. dollars) for green energy and anti-land and water pollution projects, said Ambassador Kimmo Lohdevirta.
According to MIT deputy minister Le Duong Quang, Vietnam is facing with the increasing exhaustion of fossil energy and risks from climate change, so to set forth policies for development of green energy is very important.
Due to the lack of support for renewable energy production ( excluding wind energy and small-scale power), as the end of 2011, Vietnam's renewable energy accounted for only 3.5 percent of the total power output, said Le Duong Quang, adding that EEP Mekong's third forum is an opportunity to update information about policies, initiatives and measures to reach the goal of developing renewable energy in four countries in the sub-Mekong region in general, and in Vietnam in particular.
MIT suggested Vietnam establish a renewable energy fund used to development of this potential power source. However, due to the higher cost for production of green energy than traditional ones, the country needs both technical and financial support from the developed countries and international agencies as well.
