Reservoir shortage prompts electricity firm to buy power

Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) plans to purchase around 33 billion kWh from other power companies, pushing supply for the year up to 97 billion kWh for a 14.47 per cent increase over last year.

Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) plans to purchase around 33 billion kWh from other power companies.

EVN Deputy General Director Duong Quang Thanh said the national power utility purchases from other companies would exceed last year’s figure by 7 billion kWh.

While EVN expects electricity demand to increase in the coming dry season, water levels in the northern region’s reservoirs are lower than normal.

The shortage of water, estimated at 2.6 billion cubic metre, would lead to a loss of 327 kWh in electricity production, EVN said.

It is attempting to carry out several necessary works to ensure reasonable water levels during the dry season, including regulating water use in Hoa Binh, Thac Ba and Tuyen Quang reservoirs, forming gas and diesel generator groups, and tightening technical supervision to reduce accidents.

EVN also aims to convince big customers to save electricity by using solar heaters and reduce losses in certain regions, officials said.

Supply from several thermal power plants, according to EVN, is not safe since they have experienced accidents. EVN has had to restrict their supply to the national 500kV grid last year.

Last Friday, EVN officially proposed that the Government should increase power prices by the first of February, one month earlier than recommended by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Addressing a meeting held last Friday, to review EVN annual performance, Industry and Trade Minister Vu Huy Hoang said EVN had fulfilled its mandate to supply adequate electricity to residents nationwide, and those in five Central Highland provinces in particular.

It has successfully taken over rural power supply networks from local agricultural cooperatives, he said.

He hoped EVN would speed up implementation of ongoing projects and continue restructuring the power sector.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

Tags: Vietnam energy, vietnam power