Strategies for Improving Thermal and Electric Energy Efficiency in the Vietnamese Cement Industry

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Date
2020-05
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Abstract
Cement production is one of the main engines for economic growth in Vietnam. Over the past few years, Vietnam has emerged from being an importer of cement to one of the top ten cement producers in the world. In 2018, the country exported 30 million tons of cement to earn over USD 1 billion. Vietnam is striving to become the leading producer with ambitious plans for capacity expansion. Despite positive contributions to the economy, Vietnam’s cement industry is highly energy-intensive and the major contributor to the rise in GHG emissions. There is currently a lack of consensus by the Ministry of Construction (MOC) on best practices to promote and incentivize investments in energy efficiency projects. This research paper aims to conduct a holistic assessment of Vietnam’s cement value chain and provide recommendations based on international best practices to overcome investment barriers in thermal and electric efficiency projects. The results indicate that the MOC must enforce stringent regulations to control production overcapacity, reduce input costs, address poor chain governance, and improve inefficient thermal production technologies and processes. Current actions by the MOC and international donors such as the World Bank (WB), Green Climate Fund (GCF), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Nordic Development Bank are concentrated on improving market awareness. The MOC must focus more on programs and policies that increase the opportunity costs of not investing in EE solutions to trigger EE investments.
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energy efficiency, Vietnam, sustainability, cement industry
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