IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is supporting Vietnam’s renewable energy sector by investing in Gia Lai Electricity Joint Stock Company (GEC), together with Armstrong S.E. Clean Energy Fund (Armstrong), a dedicated renewable energy private equity fund based in Singapore.
IFC and Armstrong will take a 16 and 20 per cent equity stake in GEC, respectively and for each investor the partnership with GEC will be their first investment in Vietnam’s power sector. As shareholders, they will help the company expand its hydropower portfolio and invest in other renewable energy segments such as wind and solar power. GEC is one of the largest private sector hydropower players in Vietnam with 84.4 MW of installed capacity across 15 run-of-the-river small-scale hydro power plants.
“Support by IFC and Armstrong as shareholders will not only enable us to expand our core business in hydropower but also help us become a leading renewable energy company and provide sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel-based power generation in Vietnam,” said Le An Khang, CEO of GEC. “Their investment is a vote of confidence in Vietnam’s hydropower sector potential and should help attract more international investors.”
Vietnam’s electricity consumption has outpaced twofold the country’s economic growth rate over the past few years. With an expanding renewable energy portfolio, GEC will contribute to the government’s goal of increasing Vietnam’s installed power capacity by 14 per cent per annum between 2015 and 2030.
“We believe GEC is well positioned to capture the strong growth potential in Vietnam’s renewable energy sector,” said Andrew Affleck, Managing Partner of Armstrong. “Armstrong’s aim is to share the knowledge and experience we have gained from developing and constructing multiple renewable projects in neighboring South East Asian markets to help GEC to continue to build a leading position in Vietnam.”
By developing sustainable hydropower and other renewable energy sources, GEC will help the country to meet its estimated 10 percent annual increase in power demand, diversify its energy mix and reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels.
“We believe IFC’s investment is an important step to encourage other investors to tap into the rich potential of Vietnam’s green energy sector, where participation by foreign investors is still modest,” said Hyun-Chan Cho, IFC Head for Infrastructure and Natural Resources for Asia Pacific. “IFC’s global industry knowledge will help transform GEC into a role model for other emerging renewable energy players in Vietnam by showcasing industry best practices, while at the same time expanding supply of reliable and clean energy.”
Hydroelectricity is the world’s largest source of renewable energy and accounts for one-fifth of the world’s electricity supply from all sources. Over the last decade, IFC has invested more than $1 billion in 75 hydropower projects in 25 countries across the world to promote hydropower’s responsible and sustainable development in developing countries.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Working with more than 2,000 businesses worldwide, we use our capital, expertise, and influence, to create opportunity where it’s needed most. In FY15, our long-term investments in developing countries rose to nearly $18 billion, helping the private sector play an essential role in the global effort to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visitwww.ifc.org.
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About Armstrong S.E. Clean Energy Fund Pte. Ltd (Armstrong)
Armstrong is a private equity fund based in Singapore, dedicated to the clean energy sector in South East Asia’s emerging markets. Armstrong is managed by a multidisciplinary management team benefiting from a combined experience of developing and investing in over 50 renewable energy projects globally. Armstrong now has 92MW of operating assets in addition to over 300MW of projects under development. Armstrong integrates strict environmental, social and governance compliance into its investment process to deliver tangible benefits and reduce risks for all of its stakeholders. For more information, visit www.armstrongam.com
About Gia Lai Electricity Joint Stock Company (GEC)GEC is a developer/operator of run-of-river small hydro power plants based in Pleiku, in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. GEC was originally established as a state-owned enterprise under the province of Gia Lai in 1989, and was equitized in 2009. GEC’s current hydro portfolio comprises 15 plants in Vietnam with combined capacity of 84.4 MW.
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