On September 18, at the workshop "Consulting the Fund for Promoting Energy Saving and Efficiency" organized by the Department of Innovation, Green Transformation and Industry Promotion (Ministry of Industry and Trade) in coordination with the Vietnam - European Union Sustainable Energy Transition Technical Assistance Project.
Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Dang Hai Dung - Deputy Director of the Department of Energy - Oil and Gas, Ministry of Industry and Trade said that the National Program on Energy Saving and Efficiency (VNEEP) is being widely implemented, contributing to raising awareness and promoting businesses to apply energy-saving solutions.
According to Mr. Dung, energy saving not only contributes to ensuring energy security but also helps businesses reduce costs, improve productivity and competitiveness.
2026 marks an important turning point when Law No. 77/2025/QH15 and Decree No. 30/2026/ND-CP take effect. Directive No. 09/CT-TTg requires the implementation of energy saving and electricity saving solutions and completion of dossiers for establishing the Fund.
Mr. Dung said that the potential for energy saving in industry, construction, trade and many other fields is still large. Many businesses have improved production lines, replaced low-efficiency equipment, optimized systems and invested in new technologies. However, capital and access to finance are still bottlenecks.
Many projects have clear economic efficiency but require large initial investment capital, while businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, face difficulties in capital mobilization. This is the gap between energy saving potential and investment capacity.
In that context, the design and construction of the Fund is of great significance. The Fund not only provides support capital but is also a tool to mobilize and connect resources of the State, the private sector, financial institutions and development partners.
In addition to capital support, the Fund can connect technical and international resources to support energy auditing businesses, project preparation, human resource training and technology transfer, from identifying potential to deploying investment.
For the Fund to operate effectively, it is necessary to improve the organizational model, capital sources, management mechanisms, financial tools and procedures for businesses to access resources conveniently and transparently.
Ms. Tran Thuy Duong - Program Director, Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam said that the EU and Vietnam have a long-term partnership in sustainable development, in which energy transition is the pillar. The EU is committed to supporting Vietnam in building a clean, efficient and sustainable energy system, in line with the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
Through the Global Gateway Strategy, the EU cooperates with Vietnam to mobilize public and private investment resources and promote sustainable energy solutions. JETP is a key initiative to support a fair energy transition process.
Through the Vietnam - EU Sustainable Energy Transition Program, the EU provides 142 million euros of non-refundable aid to support Vietnam in transitioning to a clean energy system. The program focuses on energy efficiency, renewable energy and Vietnam's Energy Information System.
Ms. Duong emphasized that domestic and international experience shows that simple finance is not enough. Effective support mechanisms need to combine financial tools with technical support, project preparation, measurement and verification of energy saving levels, along with transparent governance mechanisms.
According to Ms. Duong, public resources can contribute to reducing risks, creating conditions for banks and private investors to participate. When Vietnam moves to operate the Fund, it is necessary to consider governance mechanisms, financial instruments, supervision, and evaluation.
