In era of power cuts, even used electric generators are dear

The incessant power cuts have made merchants desperate to buy high capacity diesel-fuelled generators, but no Vietnamese firms manufacture them. Vietnam once exported generators, but now it must import used products, reports Saigon Tiep thi.

Si went shopping for a 30 kilowatt generator for his hotel in Nha Trang City. He spent a couple of weeks looking for one at shops in HCM City.

“Many shop owners disdained to answer my questions when I asked them to lower the price. Some even abused on me because I dared to ask,” he complained.

Vietnam must import used products

Finally, Si found a second hand generator for 103 million dong (about $5400). “A new generator that size would cost 180 million dong. Two years ago, I bought one like it for 120 million dong,” Si said.

Other buyers are not as lucky as Si. With the World Cup matches fast approaching, Vinh hunted for five days for 30 kW generator for use at his restaurant in HCM City’s Hoc Mon district. “I had to give up, he said. I couldn’t find a good, soundproofed generator. Good ones are selling for over 100 million dong, while cheaper machines didn’t have the quality I need. Finally I bought a diesel engine that I could link to a dynamo. The machine is cheaper, but it is too noisy,” he said.

Linh, owner of Tuan Linh Trading Company in Tan Binh District (also HCMC), said that his company is furiously repairing and renovating used generators. Over the last two months, his company has delivered nearly 10 machines of 30 to 70 kW capacity. “Our machines are used products, imports from Japan, the US and Italy,” Linh said.

Tuan Linh offers 30 kW generators for 90 million dong, a 37 kW generator for 120 million dong and 50 kW machines for 220 million dong

The Thanh Quan Shop in Tan Binh District is selling 30 kW Chinese generators for 128 million dong. “You have to put down a deposit if you want to buy one,” says the shop’s owner. “No bargaining. These things are very scarce.”

Why doesn’t Vietnam manufacture electric generators?

“Hotels, restaurants, offices, schools and hospitals all need electric generators, and the demand is increasingly high. It is really a pity that Vietnamese companies do not make them,” commented an expert.

A state company, Vinapro, once manufactured high capacity electric generators rated at 50 to 200 kW for export. For a variety of reasons, Vinapro has stopped making them.

Vinapro’s Vikyno subsidiary is making small (< 10 kW) petrol-fired electric generators. Seamaco makes high capacity products, but only to a client’s order, and has a one month backlog.

Private enterprises like Huu Toan in Binh Duong province and Quang Minh in Hanoi have been assembling generators for domestic consumption. Huu Toan Company makes very few parts itself, while it imports the engine from the UK, Germany, Japan and Italy. The company has done very well this year, selling 100 billion dong worth of generators in just five months

Tags: Vietnam electricity, Vietnam energy, Vietnam power shortage