As part of the EU-Vietnam sustainable cooperation TV features on Vietnamese TV’s Good Morning Vietnam covered the Team Europe Initiative with Vietnam Electricity (EVN) to enhance the power grid for renewable energy across the broader heart of the Central Highlands – an area blessed with an abundance of natural resources and cascading waterfalls.

The project is an example of the EU’s contribution towards energy transition in Vietnam. The Ialy Hydropower Plant in Gia Lai province is being expanded with EUR 242 million (VND 6.4 trillion) in investment by the EU and AFD. The support is targeted at extending the facility’s capacity to over 360 MW annually by the project’s end in December 2024.

The report stresses the importance of the project as demand for electricity increases. Electricity consumption in Vietnam has seen 6-7% yearly increases since 2016, and this trend is expected to continue until 2030.

As expressed by Executive Board Member Mr. Do Trung Tahn, AFD Director Mr Herve Conan and EU Ambassador to Vietnam H.E. Giorgio Aliberti, the project can be an enabler to Vietnam’s progress on the SDGs through reduced carbon emissions. EU assistance through projects such as these contribute to the green energy transition and the building of a circular economy, according to Amb Aliberti.

The EUD and VTV co-produced series of reports showcase the EU partnership with Vietnam in the area of sustainability. Five other features have showcased EU-funded projects across Vietnam such as Rethinking Plastics, the DEEP C eco-industrial park in Dien Bien, and others.

The latest report on the Ialy Hydropower Plant Extension project is available to watch on demand Vtv.vn.