January 26, 2011

Study says Vietnam seafood processors waste energy

Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta seafood processors, which are leading the export sector, are believed to be using energy inefficiently, according to a new survey.

The survey was conducted in 11 shrimp and 10 tra fish processing factories in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta by International Finance Corporation (IFC), in co-operation with the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

The 21 plants surveyed in Can Tho City and An Giang, Dong Thap, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang and Hau Giang provinces, processed 41,000 tonnes of shrimp and 155,000 tonnes of Tra fish in 2009. They spent VND212 billion (US$11 million) on energy.

Viet pointed out that all the factories had already set up other management systems, such as International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HCCP), making a good foundation for the seafood processors to set up Energy Management Systems (EMS).

Viet advised managers to calculate the factories' energy demands precisely, turn off machines that aren't being used and reduce the use of refrigeration, steam and ice.

He said recycling all steam ice, and cold air from refrigeration would help enterprises save a lot of money.

He said old machines were power wasters and investing more in power efficient machinery would save up to 50% of energy costs in the long term.