The AFD delegation also included Hugo Pierrel, Deputy Country Director of AFD Vietnam; Nguyen Thi Thanh An, Head of Energy Transition Finance at AFD Vietnam; and energy experts from AFD Vietnam.

Representing EVN were the heads of various specialized departments and leaders of the National Power Transmission Corporation.

Chairman of EVN Board of Directors Dang Hoang An (right) meets with French Development Agency delegation on morning of September 25, 2024.

During the meeting, Chairman Dang Hoang An expressed his gratitude to the French Development Agency for their support and collaboration with EVN over the years. EVN's leadership also discussed ways to expedite the arrangement of loans from AFD for ongoing power projects that EVN is implementing.

Currently, EVN is studying and establishing an energy transition roadmap to promote the development of clean energy sources, aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 as per the commitment of the Vietnamese Government. Consequently, in the next phase, EVN hopes to continue its strong relationship with AFD through non-government-guaranteed loans, technical support in energy transition, and the implementation of collaborative activities within the framework of the Energy Transition Program between European donors and EVN (ETEF).

On behalf of the French Development Agency, Hervé Conan, AFD's Country Director in Vietnam, highly appreciated the effective cooperation between EVN and AFD in the projects carried out so far and affirmed the long-standing, strong relationship between AFD and EVN. Regarding the ongoing projects, EVN has made significant preparations and maintained close coordination with AFD, particularly in advancing the financial prospects from AFD for the expansion of EVN's existing hydropower plants and transmission grid projects.

To further enhance cooperation opportunities in the future, AFD’s Country Director in Vietnam also confirmed AFD's readiness to provide the best financial resources, consulting expertise, and strong trust to support EVN in project implementation and energy transition as a whole.

Currently, AFD, as the leading agency, is coordinating with lending organizations such as the German Reconstruction Bank (KfW), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the European Investment Bank (EIB), Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), and Proparco to explore the possibility of providing direct loans without government guarantees to EVN for the implementation of the Bac Ai pumped storage hydropower plant project.

Translator: Hoàng Duy Khánh