Consumers are being left in the dark

Electricity shortages are set to bite during the next two months. Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), the country’s sole power distributor, warned that more power cuts would happen from May because of hydropower plants running short of water and the slow development of power projects.

Major hydropower plants in the north including Tuyen Quang, Hoa Binh and Thac Ba are reported to have minimal water reserves. Tuyen Quang plant, the third biggest hydropower plant in northern region after Son La and Hoa Binh, can run only one out of three generation units.

The 1,920 megawatt Hoa Binh plant is operating on two out of eight generation units. The plant’s water reserves stand at around 105 metres, 12 per cent lower than the reservoir’s capacity.

Water shortages are predicted to continue until late May when heavy rains come, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

EVN’s deputy general director Dau Duc Khoi said the country might lack about 600 kilowatt hours (kWh) of power during April-June. “It will be a challenge for the power industry to ensure supply in the next two months as hydropower plants have to slowdown their operation and release water to surrounding fields,” Khoi said.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) predicted that power demand would grow between 14-15 per cent this year. Demand in dry season is anticipated to growth higher.

In March , power generators produced 7.83 million kWh, 21.4 per cent higher than last year’s corresponding period. The output is projected to record higher level during April-June, the peak time of dry season because of increasing demand.

The MoIT said dry conditions and the slow construction of power projects meant authorities faced a perfect storm with regards to power shortages. Some 14 power projects, with an accumulative capacity of 3,335MW, are scheduled to come online this year. However, many projects are not ready for operation because of capital shortages, slow disbursement of loans, a lack of technology and contractors’ poor capability.

The MoIT calculated there was Power shortage 450MW planned for the first quarter falling short of schedule. The Gia Lai-based 360MW Se San 4 hydropower plant, invested by EVN, was unable to put its third unit into operation in January, 2010 as planned. The first two units came online late last year.

The 329MW Ban Ve hydropower plant in central Nghe An province was also unable to realise its operational plan in this year’s first quarter because incomplete construction. The project’s investor, EVN, is working to bring it online by mid May.

Other major projects including the 220MW Son Dong coal-fired plant in Bac Giang, the Cua Dat hydropower plant in Thanh Hoa, and the Song Tranh 2 hydropower plant in Quang Nam also failed to meet deadlines this year.

EVN has predicted that power demand will reach about 26.4 billion kWh in April-June period. Demand will possibly peak at 297 million kWh per day in June, compared to the average 285 million per day in April and May.

VIR

Tags: Vietnam electricity, Vietnam energy, Vietnam power shortage