Gov't calls for promoting energy savings, energy transition amid global energy supply disruptions

In his Directive No. 09/CT-TTg dated March 19, Pham said energy saving is a solution of top importance to reduce energy supply risks, production costs and improve the efficiency and competitiveness of the economy while contributing to firmly ensuring national energy security and sustainable development.

He tasked ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, Government-attached bodies and Chairpersons of local-level People's Committees to timely integrate energy saving into development strategies, projects and plans, and legal documents.

Ministries, agencies, and localities needs to take drastic measures to promote energy saving, considering this as a major solution to ease energy supply pressure amid rapid changes in the global energy market; promote transition to electric vehicles (EVs); encourage biofuel consumption; and apply digital technology in energy governance.

Authorities need to step up the development of EV charging stations; mull over mechanisms and policies to encourage manufacturing and use of EVs; gradually transform public transport vehicles into EVs; and encourage the research, development, and use of hydrogen, ammonia and low-carbon energies in such sectors as heavy industry and transport.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade was tasked to closely monitor the global energy market; improve mechanisms, policies and technical standards for energy saving; strengthen inspection of energy consumption.

The Ministry of Construction shall be responsible for improving construction standards and norms to promote efficient energy consumption; encourage urban development projects to integrate charging infrastructure for EVs; coordinate with localities in developing transport system for EVs in urban areas.

The Ministry of Finance shall coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to advise the Government on the establishment of energy saving fund, completing this task in 2026; mull over the adoption of mechanisms to encourage production and use of EVs, completing this task by June this year.

The Ministry of Science and Technology shall bolster the research, development and transfer of technologies for energy savings.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shall coordinate with ministries, agencies, and localities in designing and improving regulations for management, collection, and recycling of EV battery, completing this task in the third quarter this year.

Local-level People's Committees shall promptly develop and implement plans for energy savings; adopt mechanisms and policies to encourage enterprises to invest in building charging stations for EVs in accordance with the realities of each locality, completing this task by September this year.

Enterprises shall have to develop and deploy solutions for energy savings; invest in innovating technologies./.