Vietnam tries saving energy with Japanese products

Mitsubishi Corp. will conduct a feasibility study to help address global warming by popularizing energy-saving Japanese home appliances in Vietnam.

According to the Vietnam News Agency, Mitsubishi will be working in cooperation with five electric appliance makers, including Panasonic Corp. and Sharp Corp. to verify how much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced through the end of March 2011.

In Vietnam, electricity shortages have become a serious problem as rapid industrialization has seen demand for power increase by about 16 percent per year.

The project aims to suppress growth in the country’s energy consumption by promoting the use of products from Japan, including energy-efficient air conditioners, refrigerators and light bulbs.

The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry is supporting projects that allow Japanese companies to count their reductions of greenhouse gas emissions in emerging nations as part of their emission quotas in Japan.
The ministry designated Mitsubishi’s plan as one of these greenhouse reduction projects Wednesday.

Fourteen other projects selected by the ministry include a Tokyo Electric Power Co. proposal under which that company will examine how much greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced if it wins a contract associated with a nuclear power station in Vietnam.

The ministry selected 15 other projects in August.