Gov’t urges test run of new power stations on supply shortage

The Government, fearing the economy will be facing a serious power shortfall, on Monday ordered the Ministry of Industry and Trade to urge the national utility EVN to test-run new power stations.

Directive 424/CT-TTg makes clear that Quang Ninh 1 and Haiphong 1 thermo-power stations and hydropower dams like Pleikrong’s generator 2 and Sesan 4′s generator 3 should be immediately test-run.

In the meantime, Ban Ve hydropower station and thermo-power plants that are under trial operation or in the process of being handed over to project owners should be hooked up to the national grid, according to the directive.

The directive underscores the urgency of the matter, saying the drought-induced fall in water levels at major hydropower dams since late last year has had a huge impact on electricity output.

Output of the country’s hydropower stations is forecast to fall short of a staggering one billion kilowatt hours, says the directive. So, this will have a seriously adverse effect on the economy.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) and Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) are urged to find ways to cope with the power shortage crisis.

Power output capacity from a diverse array of sources has in recent years picked up by 2,000 to 3,000 kilowatts a year, sending the total to over 18,400 kilowatts. But the protracted drought has caused hydropower reservoirs to be drying up, thus affecting power output.

The Government said in the directive that if the situation did not abate between now and the end of the dry season this year, the consequences would be greater. “This will leave a huge impact on water supply for agricultural production and power supply for society”.

The Government said it was time to take emergency measures to cope with the situation; otherwise, it would be impossible to address an 18% rise in power demand for this year to fuel economic growth.

The directive asks power generation companies to arrange generator repair plans in a way that ensures maximum power supply during the dry season. PVN should coordinate with EVN to prevent any plans to repair or maintain its gas platforms and gas-fueled power stations as seen in the dry season of last year.

Sufficient gas supply for power stations must be guaranteed as per contract terms in the coming months, says the directive, and this is the top priority.

The Government has also called for independent power producers, backup stations and power importers to increase supply to keep the economy from falling into the electricity crisis.

SGT

Tags: Vietnam energy, Vietnam power shortage