Power supply for production and domestic consumption in 2020 would be ensured, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

A worker at Muong Nhe District Electricity in the northern mountainous Dien Bien
province shows local residents in Hua Sin 1 Village how to change a light bulb
(Photo: VNA) 

The MoIT said power output next year would reach more than 261 billion kWh, increasing 9.1 percent compared to 2019.

Despite these assurances, Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam, said power supply next year would face difficulties due to unfavourable factors including weather conditions and delays to power projects.

The total power output of hydropower plants in the first months of next year was forecast to be 4.55 billion kWh below average.

Power supply, especially during the dry season, will likely be affected because hydropower plants have to supply water for agricultural production, domestic use and salinity reduction.

In January and February, hydropower reservoirs on the Red River will release more than 4 billion cu.m of water for the winter-spring harvest in the northern delta.

Renewable energy will supply about 10.8 billion kWh, equivalent to 4.16 percent of power demand.

Nearly 2,000MW of wind and solar power fields are yet to be put into operation.
Due to the expected shortage of hydroelectricity, about 3.1 billion kWh of diesel-generated power will be used.

“Diesel-generated power will be used in case water levels in reservoirs fall, overloading the power transmission network, or in case of prolonged incidents at coal power plants and wind turbine farms,” Tuan said.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong said only four out of 19 Build-Operate-Transfer electricity projects have been put into operation, and delays had affected power supply to the whole country.

The ministry has submitted a series of solutions to the Government to accelerate progress at these projects and asked Vietnam Electricity (EVN), Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited and relevant agencies to ensure coal, oil and gas supplies.

The MoIT has also asked EVN and other units to accelerate investment and construction at key power transmission projects including the Vung Ang-Doc Soi-Pleiku 2 power line.

To cope with prolonged droughts, the MoIT will work with the Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, and Agriculture and Rural Development to save water, invest in irrigation systems and store water to lower dependence on hydropower reservoirs.