ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and The Energy Conservation Center, Japan (ECCJ) jointly organised the seminar-workshop on energy efficient technologies in Steel Industry on 29 January 2016, in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. The Seminar Workshop was hosted by Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) of Vietnam as part of the activities of ASEAN-Japan Energy Efficiency Partnership (AJEEP) Scheme 2.  AJEEP Scheme 2 in Vietnam provides a platform for capacity building in business development for energy efficiency & conservation (EE&C).  The capacity building is expected to enable private companies to participate in improving EE&C, by applying efficient technologies and products under a well-established EE&C legal framework and energy management system.

The Seminar-Workshop was attended by over forty participants from private, industry, academics and government sectors.  The topics of the Seminar-Workshop are as follows:

1. Information sharing on AJEEP Scheme 2 project in iron & steel industry in Vietnam from 2015 to 2016.
2. Information sharing and active discussions on policies, programmes, initiatives, best practices and new technologies on EE&C in iron & steel industry in Vietnam and Japan.
3. Introduction and distribution of Technology Customized List for Vietnam in iron & steel industry.
4. Uppdate on Japan Industry Furnace Manufacture Association (JIFMA) for Vietnam.
5. Discussion on further step to promote EE&C in iron & steel Industry.

Previously, on 25-28 January 2016, the AJEEP Scheme 2 in Vietnam also conducted an energy audit and measurement in Bien Hoa Steel Company, Dong Nai. The energy audit team consisted of 3 ECCJ experts, 5 MOIT officers, 1 ACE staff, 2 managers of Vietnam Steel, 14 electrical engineers and 16 engineers of the steel manufacturer in Vietnam. Some key approaches during the energy audit are:

1. Confirmation of energy and operation data provided by Bien Hoa Steel on Electric Arc Furnace (EAF);
2. Site survey on EAF to observe the operation and to collect the data to be analysed for recommendations;
3. Presentation of the outcomes and recommendation on the energy audit to the top management and staff of the steel manufacturer with a focus on the furnace facility.

This activity certainly supports the promotion of EE&C in iron and steel factory in the light of ASEAN rapid economic growth and steel demand. Construction has been the major driver of steel consumption.  Steel consumption was 44 million tons in 2006 and increased to 63 million tons in 2011.  ASEAN is a significant net importer of steel products as the region is not self-sufficient in the supply of semi-finished steel and high-end steel products. In terms of future prospects for the ASEAN steel industry, it is noted that crude steel consumption in ASEAN-5 (ASEAN’s five largest economies: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) usually grows faster than their GDP.  It is expected that the high GDP growth will be the main driver of steel consumption. (RJPS)