Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Duc
Reporter: What inspired EVNSPC to launch the initiative "Electricity saving oxygen generators for shrimp farming", sir?
Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Duc: Due to a sharp increase in the shrimp farming demand of people in the Mekong Delta during recent years, a threat of power shortages posed on shrimp farmers due to unplanned shrimp farming has become quite certain. At the same time, existing oxygen generators for shrimp farming were too old and obsolete. Therefore, EVNSPC has researched and looked for feasible solutions to save electricity to support shrimp farmers. Via field surveys, we found a lot of electricity saving potentials in the field of shrimp farming, which should be studied and elaborated to introduce practical solutions.
In 2016, EVNSPC was officially permitted by EVN to pilot the program "Electricity saving support for shrimp farmers in the Mekong Delta and some Southern provinces in the period 2016 -2018 period and piloting in Soc Trang province”. This was an important milestone for EVNSPC to finalize its initiative which required low initial investment costs but brought practical benefits to shrimp farmers by saving electricity, reducing electricity costs, thereby lowering production costs and ultimately increasing profits for shrimp farmers.
Reporter: Could you tell me concrete effects of this project?
Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Duc: In 2017, EVNSPC piloted this model in 161 shrimp households in Soc Trang province covering a total area of 210 ha. The results showed that shrimp farmers saved over 1.45 million kWh per crop, equivalent to a saving of VND 2.5 billion, and simultaneously reduced 38.7% of electricity consumption against the use of old equipment. On average, each shrimp farmer can save 4% of the total cost of shrimp farming.
For the electricity industry, this power saving solution lessened the pressure on power supply as shrimp farmers improved their self-awareness and sense of electricity saving. By this result, EVNSPC can evaluate and quantify the effect of communication of electricity saving in shrimp farming.
Reporter: From this success, does EVNSPC have a roadmap for generalization of this model, sir?
Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Duc: Following the successful pilot in Soc Trang province, EVNSPC anticipates to duplicate the model in shrimp farming households in the Mekong Delta and some Southern provinces. Specifically, in 2018, EVNSPC will communicate and disseminate solutions to shrimp farmers in Bac Lieu and Ca Mau provinces (with partial financial support from EVNSPC). From 2019 onwards, it is expected that EVNSPC will communicate, introduce, and direct the application of solutions for shrimp farmers nationwide.
The initiative of the Corporation has won the first prize, creating more confidence for shrimp farming households to boldly put this model into application, deploy faster and more effectively.
Reporter: Thank you!
| The Community Initiative Competition is biennially co-organized by the Editorial Committee of Communist Review, the Ministry of Science and Technology and Vietnam Electricity. |