Illustrative image (Photo: Geonoise Asia) Bangkok (VNA) – The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) may procure 3,200 electric buses to phase out fossil-fueled buses from its fleet in three years, said Deputy Permanent Secretary for Transport Sorapong Paitoonphong. The plan is part of BMTA’s revised business rehabilitation plan, which will be sent to the Thai Government for approval in about two months, he added. The development of electric vehicle industry is an important part of the Thai Government’s efforts to restructure the economy with focus on hi-tech industry, biological-circular-green economic model, health care and tourism. Last month, the Thai Government approved two tax incentives to promote the use of electric vehicles and help Thailand become a major manufacturer of electric vehicles in the world./. VNA … [Read more...] about Thailand plans to use entirely electric buses in Bangkok in three years
Major projects for electrical engineering
Japanese firm buys 35.1 per cent stake in Viet Nam’s power company
TTC Phong Dien solar power plant invested by GEC. — Photo geccom.vn JERA Inc., a power generation company of Japan, has signed a deal to buy a 35.1 per cent stake at Viet Nam’s Gia Lai Electricity Joint Stock Company (GEC) to tap the Southeast Asian nation's growing demand for electricity and further its own decarbonisation efforts, Nikkei Asia reported. JERA, a joint venture between Tokyo Electric Power and Chubu Electric Power, will invest 15 billion JPY (US$112 million) in the Vietnamese renewable energy company. The purchase comes as JERA aims to increase its renewables generation capacity to 5,000 MW by 2025. The stake in GEC will add 190 MW, bringing the company's total renewables capacity to 1,900 MW. JERA will also consider jointly developing solar and onshore wind projects with GEC. JERA has already participated in renewable energy projects across Asia, including India and Thailand. It has operated a gas-fired power plant in Viet Nam since 2005. GEC owns hydro, … [Read more...] about Japanese firm buys 35.1 per cent stake in Viet Nam’s power company
EU, Indonesia hold first joint naval exercise
Indonesian Navy corvette (Photo:indonesiaexpat.biz) Brussels (VNA) – The European Union and Indonesia held their first joint naval exercise in the Arabian Sea on August 14-15. The exercise involved Indonesian Navy corvette KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda and EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation Atalanta frigate ITS Virginio Fasan. It was based on the scenario of an anti-piracy operation, including cross-deck helicopter landings, complex tactical evolutions at sea, boarding of suspicious vessels and fuel replenishment at sea. The EU project on Critical Maritime Routes in the Indo-Pacific (CRIMARIO) provided its Indo-Pacific Regional Information Sharing (IORIS) platform for communication between participants in the exercise. The EU and Indonesia have conducted a regular Security Policy Dialogue to strengthen cooperation on security issues. In November 2021, the sixth meeting of the dialogue discussed maritime security alongside the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, … [Read more...] about EU, Indonesia hold first joint naval exercise
Green standards top policies for fresh foreign ventures
The approval of Vietnam’s circular economy development plan, announced in June, aims to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15 per cent of GDP by 2030 (as compared to 2014). The commitment at COP26 by Vietnam to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 is considered the main call for investment into green technologies and friendly-environmental projects, as well as approval of plans such as the aforementioned circular economy one. These messages have sent a strong signal regarding the country’s direction towards low-carbon, green development, and a circular economy, and could be a new driving force for Vietnam’s sustainable socioeconomic development, helping to improve its competitiveness and foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country. While governments have committed to lowering CO2, companies are also following suit for the good of the planet, Photo: Shutterstock As a result, numerous groups have made decisions in terms of investment and other operations … [Read more...] about Green standards top policies for fresh foreign ventures