In late 2018, in a report to Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung, EVN mentioned the possibility of electricity outage in 2019.

On July 15, EVN said the electricity consumption is at record high because of the prolonged hot spell in the north and central region. To ensure enough electricity for daily consumption, EVN has to mobilize electricity from oil-run electricity generation units at high costs.

According to the Southern Power Corporation (EVNSPC), the electricity output needed in May was 210,984,657 kwh per day, an increase of 12.19 percent compared with May 2018. The merchandise electricity output is expected to reach 74 billion kwh in 2019, an increase of 10 percent over the previous year.

The electricity used in industries and construction accounts for 59 percent, up by 12 percent.

Traditional electricity sources, generated from coal, gas and hydropower in the south, have been running at full capacity, but the output is still not high enough to satisfy the demand.

The southern region needs electricity transmitted from the north via 500 KV transmission line. In the long term, electricity shortage is likely to occur.

A report released at a recent meeting discussing power projects showed that the electricity shortage would reach 12 billion kwh by 2023. To deal with it, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) is considering buying more electricity from Laos and China.

Power plants have to cut 60 percent of capacity

While EVN repeatedly has warned about electricity shortage, many wind and solar power plants have to run at moderate level.

According to Ninh Thuan provincial Director of Industry and Trade Department Dang Van Thanh, the 37.6 MW Mui Dinh Wind Power Plant now runs at 40 percent of designed capacity.

The province has attracted 19 wind power projects with the total capacity of 1,043.61 MW and has licensed 11 projects with total capacity of 630 MW. By June 30, three projects had been put into commercial operation (117 MW).

Regarding solar power projects, Ninh Thuan has approved 31 projects with the total capacity of 1,817 MW capitalized at VND50 trillion. As of June 30, of 15 operational projects (1,063 MW), nine projects had to cut capacity by up to 60 percent to ensure the stability of the transmission line.

Also according to Thanh, the existing transmission line in the province is enough for only 800 MW while the existing wind and solar electricity capacity is already 1,180 MW. 

Minh Trang

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