VietNamNet Bridge – Outdated low-efficient thermoelectric generators would be removed from the national power system if the regulation currently drafted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade got nod from the Government.

There are many coal-fired thermoelectric generators with capacity of below 50 MW and low efficiency of around 30% across the country, said Cu Huy Quang, a senior official of the Energy Conservation Center under the ministry.

Decree 73/2011/ND-CP imposes penalties of up to VND100 million for those failing to get rid of outdated low-efficient generators.

In many other nations, especially China, thermo-power generators with capacity of less than 200 MW are stipulated to be removed from the systems. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, 200 MW is considered a high capacity, while the common ones are 50-MW generators, said Quang at a workshop on efficient energy use held in HCMC on Monday.

The new regulation will prevent import of obsolete thermoelectric generators thrown away by other countries, he said.

The ministry will submit the draft regulation to the Government in late this year.

However, Tran Viet Ngai, chairman of the Vietnam Energy Association, expressed a different view.

Although outdated thermoelectric generators apply low technology and consume fuels inefficiently, most of them have passed the depreciation period and are now producing low-price power, so they should not be got rid of, he told the Daily.

For example, coal-fired thermo-power plants Uong Bi and Pha Lai have been operating for over 40 years, already passing the depreciation period, and are now running very efficiently, he said.

Speaking to the Daily on the sidelines of the workshop on Monday, Cu Huy Quang said the ministries of industry-trade, finance and planning-investment in April would jointly issue a circular on assistance for enterprises in technological innovation for efficient energy use.

The new circular will replace Circular 142 released by the ministries of industry-trade and finance in 2007, giving guidelines for the national program on energy saving and efficiency.

Circular 142 specifies a maximum non-refundable aid for technological innovation of VND5 billion. The new circular will raise the maximum aid to VND10 billion.

Private firms will also receive the aid instead of State-owned enterprises only. Moreover, the new circular will raise the support for energy audit from VND50 million to VND100 million per enterprise.

Source: SGT