The solar-powered streetlights of the “Light Up the Countryside” community initiative funded by SABECO. (Photo courtesy of the firm) This year, the El Nino phenomenon has returned,causing drought in many localities in the north of Vietnam. Many areasacross the country reported record-high temperatures and hydroelectricreservoirs dried up, posing a real risk of local power shortages.
The El Nino phenomenon is expected to last from the second half ofthe summer of 2023 and maintain until 2024 with a probability of about 70-80%.A lack of electricity for daily life could become an ongoing issue.
This situation has put great pressure on the national electricitygrid. The use of green and sustainable energy solutions will be the long-termkey to solving the problem of power shortage for daily life and production. Atthe same time, the exploitation and application of renewable energy is also animportant aspect of the National Strategy on Green Growth in the 2021-2030period promulgated by the Government.
Huynh Thi Lan Huong, Deputy Director of the Institute ofMeteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change, said: “Towards a net zero emissionroute, renewable energy including solar power, wind power and other sourcesmust be developed.”
Renewable energy applied in the community
Mitigating climate change impacts is a goal that requires the cooperationof many parties. In particular, the organisation of programmes that raisepeople's awareness about the use of renewable energy plays a key role inrealising the common goal of the country.
In 2022, in cooperation with the Committee of the Ho Chi Minh CommunistYouth Union, the Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation (SABECO) officiallyannounced the “Light Up the Countryside” community initiative toinstall 34 kilometres of solar-powered streetlights in 34 rural areas across 34provinces. The project improves the lives of more than 210,000 households.
It is expected that by the end of 2023, all 63 provinces andcities across the country will have at least one kilometre of solar streetlights, helping spread the application of renewable energy and raising awarenessof a green lifestyle. The project also aims to support the National Strategy onGreen Growth in the 2021-30 period, with a vision to 2050, and nationalprogramme targets for building new rural areas for the period of 2021-2025.
The “Light Up the Countryside” will partly solve theissue of electricity shortages in the peak season in many localities.Looking at the solar-powered streetlights surrounding his small hamlet, Huynh VanHai, a resident of Tan Kieu commune in Thap Muoi district of Dong Thap province,could not hide his excitement.
“Now we always have electricity as we use solar-poweredstreetlights," he said. "Thanks to these lights, the road is nolonger dark at night, and travelling safer.”
Join hands to realise green growth
In order to achieve the goal of green growth and bring netemissions to zero, the Government has taken stronger measures for businessessuch as changing the Law on Environmental Protection,increasing environmental protection tax, and most recentlyissuing Extended Manufacturer Liability (EPR) regulations thatrequire businesses to be responsible for the life cycle of each product.
As a pioneer in ESG activities, SABECO has implemented solutionsin production and business to join hands in the goal of bringing netemissions to zero. Many changes have been introduced such as sustainablepackaging, recycling beer kegs after use, installing rooftop solar systems at17 of 26 production plants to reduce CO2 by 18,000 tonnes per year,and water recovery and reuse.
The sustainable development efforts have been carried out bySABECO from within the business to the community, as part of the company's commitmentto sustainable development revolving around four pillars of 'Country, Culture,and Conservation and Consumption' to elevate the Vietnamese brand, andbring the best to the Vietnamese people and community./.
VNA
