Future power shortages threaten HCM City

HCM City faces electricity shortages during the next three years because supply cannot meet rising demand, warns Electricity Vietnam (EVN).

EVN forecasts that 500 KV-220 KV power grids would continue to be increasingly overloaded between next year and 2013.

The overloading has already occured at transformer stations and power lines, such as the 500 KV Phu Lam transformer station and the 220 KV Thu Duc-Cat Lai and Nha Be – South Sai Gon transmission lines.

The Nhon Trach 1, Nhon Trach 2 and Phu My power stations have run at full capacity, says the report.

It warns the shortage will worsen from 2012 onwards as the south continues to need supplemental power from central Viet Nam.

EVN plans to construct new or upgrade 220 KV transformer power stations in the city and build 110 KV transformer stations to ease the overloading.

EVN will also increase the supply it draws from neighbouring provinces such as Binh Duong and Long An.

EVN plans to supply HCM City with 16.3 – 16.5 billion KWh of electricity next year with the stability of industrial production and supplies to residents given priority. – VNS

Tags: Vietnam electricity, Vietnam energy, Vietnam power shortage