Energy and renewable energy

Ko, now 39, launched himself into a career in the renewables industry about 15 years ago, working on green projects in a dozen countries before returning home to the capital Kuala Lumpur. There he teamed up with two school-friends in 2012 to co-found Plus Xnergy, a company that helps homes, businesses and buildings to develop their own solar power systems or source clean energy supplies from elsewhere. The entrepreneur - who has worked with the likes of furniture retailer IKEA, logistics giant DHL and entertainment conglomerate Sony and has developed six solar farms across Malaysia - said awareness about renewable energy among his country folk is the highest he has known. Nonetheless, Ko and other energy experts warned that Malaysia is trailing its Southeast Asian neighbors on clean energy expansion, as a lack of financial incentives and investment, coupled with red-tape, hold back the big projects needed for the country to meet its ambitious climate goals. "Malaysia is … [Read more...] about Malaysia faces ‘inconvenient truth’ on clean energy goals

A petrol station in HCM City (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to take measures to ensure the supply of all key commodities, especially fuel, and to stabilise the country's distribution channels for the economy after the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. Vietnam Electricity (EVN) was told to speed up the construction and implementation of major power projects, including renewable energy, to ensure enough power for the country's crucial industries. In addition, priority should be given to connecting isolated and remote communes to the national power and telecommunication networks. MoIT, the ministry in charge of Vietnam's power sector, was told to quickly finish and submit the country's Power Planning VIII to the central government for review. The PM said the country's top priority in the short term is to focus on boosting exports, especially agriculture products to China and neighbouring … [Read more...] about MoIT proposes adjusting fuel prices every Thursday

UK Minister of International Trade Greg Hands visited Vietnam on Wednesday to explore trade cooperation opportunities between the two countries. His visit came amidst the UK’s pursuit of full membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in 2023. Vietnam is the first stop on the minister’s three-day trip to three Southeast Asian countries, all of which are founding members of the partnership. During an exclusive interview with Tuoi Tre News , Hands emphasized what the UK can offer the CPTPP, as well as discussed the UK’s strong strategic partnership with Vietnam. In a speech at Lancaster House on January 23, UK Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch outlined five priorities for trade. What are your priorities as the Minister of State for Trade Policy? My personal priorities are, first, to get the UK into the CPTPP. Vietnam will play a crucial role in that progress. My second priority is to do a free trade agreement with India this … [Read more...] about UK joining CPTPP a fundamental change to the bloc: minister

Vietnam should focus on accelerating urbanization and the development of a network of national smart cities with links with their peers worldwide. Vietnam’s policies on developing smart cities and promoting digital transformation have played a very significant role in the country's socio-economic development, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee's Economic Commission Nguyen Duc Hien said at the Vietnam Sustainable Urban Development Forum 2022 held in Hanoi this week. With the theme “Sustainable urban development towards green, smart cities, adaptation to climate change, prevention, and control of natural disasters and epidemics,” the forum is one of the largest which are held annually on urban sustainable development in Vietnam. An overview of the forum. Photo: Nguyen Ngan The vice chairman noted that developing smart cities in Vietnam have only focused on the application of smart-city services, while issues related to smart urban planning and … [Read more...] about Vietnam eyes smart cities and sustainable urban development