PM urges efforts to ensure power supply

“Power shortage could cause chaos for a country,” he said, suggesting the construction of more thermal and hydro power, and renewable energy plants, as well as major electricity facilities, and purchase electricity of foreign countries.

At a working session with representatives of the ministries, agencies, the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) and the National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), the Government leader urged the two groups to seek solutions to power shortage in the southern region in 2018 and 2019.

Vietnam, especially the southern region, may face serious power demand in 2018 and have to use diesel to generate electricity, the PM warned, noting that the demand will continue to rise in the time ahead so as to keep the economic growth at 6.5-7 percent annually.

“The Government will decide on a number of policies and mechanisms on power supply based on the proposals made by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the groups,” he said.

In the first half of this year, the EVN produced and bought 84.75 billion kWh of electricity, a year-on-year rise of 10.75 percent. As much as 28.3 percent of electricity came from hydropower plants, 29.36 percent from gas-fuelled turbine plants, and 39.87 percent from coal-fuelled thermal power plants.

Commercial power output reached 76.44 billion kWh, a yearly increase of 11.73 percent.