Forester 1989 planning in the face of power

Ca Mau (VNA) - More than 44,500 ha of forest in the Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau is at high risk of catching fire due to a prolonged hot spell and drought , according to the forest ranger division under the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Over 7,230 ha is at the extreme fire danger level - the fifth and highest, while 17,650 ha is at the fourth level, of high danger, the division said on April 8. Hot and dry weather has caused water levels to drop in canals, and as a result there will be a shortage of water resources for fire prevention and fighting during this year’s dry season, it added. A majority of forests facing high and extreme fire danger are in the U Minh Ha National Park and the communes of Nguyen Phich, Khanh An, Khanh Lam and Khanh Thuan in U Minh district, and on Hon Khoai Island. Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Quan has requested that the local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development strengthen forest fire prevention measures and speed up the installation of AI-powered security cameras in forests. By the end of this dry season, or early June, the forest ranger division will deploy personnel on all day-and-night watches of forests, in order to promptly deal with any emergencies./. VNA …

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GE's latest 9HA.02 turbine is accelerating the shift to LNG After a wave of investment in solar and wind power over the past two years, Vietnam is now witnessing strong interest in the field of electricity generated with the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG). A report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) published in January stated that Vietnam has quickly become one of the most promising LNG import markets in Asia, and many domestic and international investors have expressed their desire to pursue projects in the country. They are encouraged by changes in government management that no longer sees coal-fired thermal power as the centre of the power system, as well as the rapid growth of renewable energy in the nation’s power structure. As such, investors have actively portrayed LNG as a cleaner source to replace coal and argue that gas-fired power units will be one of the main power sources required to feed public demand and supplement unstable renewable sources. The IEEFA report also stated, “Vietnam’s electricity industry has never seen a wave of investors expressing so much interest as they do now, that – with the accompanying diplomatic pressure – remains unprecedented in the country’s history.” Interest in LNG power may also be related to Resolution No.55/NQ-BCT on the orientation of Vietnam’s National Power Development Plan (PDP8), which emphasises the rapid development of LNG thermal power plants. However, at the same time, experts advise that priority must be given to developing LNG import and distribution infrastructures. According to the nation’s target until 2030, Vietnam must import 8 billion cubic metres of LNG per year, while the current rate is zero. The focus on LNG power generation is also attributed to its advantages, such as ensuring a stable power supply and minimising the impacts on the environment. “The third draft of the PDP8 for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2045, is proposing to …

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Green growth strategy receives helping hand Clean energy is one of the focal points that the international community is encouraging Vietnam to implement in its National Green Growth Strategy for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, and representatives of embassies and international organisations at the consultative conference organised by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) last week discussed opinions for this strategy. Emphasing the importance of clean energy in the green growth process, British Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward said, “This consultation is useful because Vietnam will be recovering faster from the pandemic than most countries and there’s a lot of supply chain relocation into Vietnam happening, which also means a lot of opportunities to do things differently. So, we very much welcome the national green growth strategy.” Energy is a sector requiring great attention as it is also the major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. “Vietnam has a very large potential in wind and solar, and the country could be much quicker in establishing a stable supply in time. I think there should be a particular focus in the strategy on attracting public investment into the grid’s resilience for renewable energy,” Ward said. “Some international investors have expressed their interest to invest in the green energy sector,” he added. “So, green finance is a sector that Vietnam can develop with green bonds and investment funds, while simultaneously setting standards that will change the calculations of the banking system,” he added. Ambassador of Spain to Vietnam María del Pilar Méndez Jiménez said, “I would encourage Vietnam very much to develop green energy because we are aware of how important energy, solar wind and water are. There are also Spanish companies that are willing to cooperate with Vietnam in this regard.” The Politburo’s Resolution No.55-NQ/TW dated October 2, 2020 on the orientation of Vietnam’s National Energy …

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