On Wednesday 15th April, EuroCham hosted a webinar on “The Prime Minister’s Decision 13 – Final FIT for Renewable Energy in Vietnam?” This virtual event brought together around 80 EuroCham members to discuss the legal and practical implications of this new Decision for renewable energy investors and solar power projects in Vietnam as well as its benefits for business.
EuroCham Vice-Chairman Ywert Visser hosted the event, which also featured special guest speakers Giles Cooper, Partner at Duane Morris LLC; Federico Bestiani, Director of BEC Bestiani Engineering Company; and Gavin Smith, Vice-Chair of EuroCham’s Green Growth Sector Committee (GGSC).
Ywert Visser opened the event. He described how, while the renewable energy market in Vietnam has grown in recent years, some important challenges remain. He then handed over to Giles Cooper, Partner at Duane Morris LLC, who presented the legal background to Decision 13. He also introduced the specifics of this new legislation and outlined how it differs to the previous regulation in this area (Decision 11). Mr Cooper also shared an outlook on corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and the selected mechanisms in Vietnam.
Federico Bestiani of BEC Bestiani Engineering then spoke about rooftop solar power projects and the advantages of solar power for businesses. He described the differences between leasing and buying, the practical implications for businesses of each option, and some tips to reduce project time.
Gavin Smith, Vice-Chair of EuroCham’s GGSC, was our final speaker. He spoke about investing in solar power and the activities of EuroCham’s GGSC in advocating for the rights of foreign investors in this market. Mr Smith also discussed the outlook for power supply and demand during COVID-19 and towards 2025, and in particular the outlook for the solar sector which he forecast would see strong growth in the future.
Ywert Visser then chaired a Q&A session, in which all three special guest speakers answered questions from the audience on issues ranging from pilot projects to PPAs and from financing to land-use requirements.
During these times of COVID-19, EuroCham will continue to keep our members updated on new developments in the business environment here in Vietnam through webinars such as this one. However, due to technical restrictions, the number of guests is limited to 100. So, please follow us on social media and check our e-bulletin each week to be first-in-line to register for future webinars.
