Energy

Laos Agrees to Delay Dam that Neighbours Say Threatens Mekong

Apr 26, 2011 (by Jonathan Manthorpe, Vietnamica.net) — Plans for the first dam across the lower Mekong River are putting Laos on a collision course with its neighbours and environmentalists who fear livelihoods, fish species and farmland could be destroyed, potentially sparking a food crisis. The four countries that share the lower stretches of the 4,900 km (3,044 mile) Mekong – Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia – met in the Lao capital Vientiane on Tuesday to debate and possibly decide the future of the 1.285-megawatt (MW) dam, the first of 11 planned in the lower Mekong that are expected...

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Green Buildings as Competitive Advantage

Apr 25, 2011 (Vietnamica.net | Boise State Radio) – We hear about green buildings and think, “right, good for the environment.”  But we should also be thinking, “green buildings, good for the pocket book – for builders, for landlords and for tenants.” What is a green building? A trend gaining ground in business is the idea of sustainability.  But what is it and why are companies pursing ideas to help them and their communities thrive in the future? Sustainability means building something now that will be good for people and the environment long into the future. When it comes...

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Monthly Data: Vietnam’s Crude Oil Exports and Petroleum Imports

On May 17, 2011, IPSARD will organize the “Vietnam Agricultural Outlook Conference 2011”, focusing on focusing on livestock, aquaculture and rice. http://ipsard.gov.vn/news/newsdetail.asp?targetID=5868

Apr. 24, 2011 (Vietnamica.net) – Vietnam’s crude oil exports have been decreasing since Sept. 2008 while petroleum imports have been increasing. Both oil exports and petroleum imports reached their highest values in Q3.2008. In three months, Vietnam bought US$3,508 million petroleum and sold US$3,394 million crude oil. During the period, Vietnamese Ministry of Finance changed fuel retail prices three times. (See  below).

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Laos’ Dam Project and the China-Vietnam Balance

Laos’ Dam Project and the China-Vietnam Balance

Apr. 23, 2011 (Vietnamica.net) – This report is republished with the express permission of STRATFOR and may not be republished by any other parties without STRATFOR’s consent. Laos reportedly has deferred its decision on whether to pursue a controversial dam on the Mekong River that has sparked strong opposition from its downstream neighbors, particularly Vietnam. Though Vietnam retains strong influence over Laos, and could use its investment and aid as a bargaining chip to influence the dam plan, it can do so only at the risk of expanding China’s growing influence in Laos.

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More EVN Debts Unveiled

Apr. 23, 2011 (Vietnamica.net) – Early Apr. 2010, the State-run giant PetroVietnam (PVN) announced the State-owned Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) – the largest and monopoly firm in power transmission – had a VND 5 trillion amount on arrear to PVN (US$239 million).

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Foreign Banks Lend Large Amounts to Vietnam Power Plants

Apr. 23, 2011 (Vietnamica.net) – Reuters reported on Apr 22 that the Vietnamese giant State-owned group PetroVietnam has signed its loan agreements to borrow US$904 million amount with a consortium of foreign banks.

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