Vietnam may still face electricity shortage through 2020 as its electricity sector with modest capacity is trying to meet the demand of the fast-growing economy, Do Huu Hao, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade said on the sideline of the first Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) forum on energy security opened April 11 in Hanoi.
Hao gave four explanations for the situation, including huge foreign direct investment (FDI) of over US$20 billion demanding doubled power output, soon drought narrowing water sources of hydroelectricity generation, sluggish power projects, and unwanted breakdowns of some main power plants.
In addition, high power leakage rate and the absence of standby power volume also worsen the power shortage situation in Vietnam, he attributed.
Current soaring material input is hindering investors from investing in power projects for loss-making worry, he said.
Vietnam should accept power price hike in accordance to market rate change so as to ensure sufficient power supply he noted.
Hao hoped that the power supply in Vietnam will be more stable after 2015 when the country’s biggest hydropower plant Son La that has a capacity of 2,400 MW comes into operation.
The official suggested five solutions, including speeding up construction of underway projects, building a stable and scientific power transmission system, cutting power leakage rate to less than 8 per cent-9 per cent, boosting energy saving, and reorganizing structure of state-owned Electricity Group (EVN) to fortify coordination among power generators so as to set aside between 500 MW and 1,000 MW for standby purpose.
Recently, EVN announced that blackouts will ravage Vietnam, especially in the northern region, through the end of May this year due to technical breakdowns at some power plants and low water levels at major hydroelectric dams. (Vietnam Economic Times, VietNamNet, VnExpress)
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