The International Energy Agency (IEA) is willing to help Vietnam develop renewable energy sources, said Brett Jacobs, Southeast Asia Programs Manager under the IEA’s Directorate of Global Energy Dialogue. Jacobs made the statement at a talk with Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Huu Hao on June 11, the Cong thuong online newspaper reported. He suggested Vietnam should boost renewable energy sources with priorities given to less-emission technologies in the next years, emphasizing the importance of safety in building the national first nuclear power plant. The Southeast Asian country has a huge potential for harnessing 1,800 MW wind energy, 150 MW of biogas, 800 MW of biomass, 350 MW energy created from rubbish, 340 MW of geological energy, and 4,000 MW of hydropower; however, renewable energy currently accounts for just 1% of the country’s total power capacity. The nation plans to raise the proportion of renewable energy sources to 3% of the national total commercial power supply through 2010, to 5% by 2020, and 11% by 2050.
