The Ministry of Industry and Trade issues a warning about electricity supply.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade warns that prolonged heatwaves and the risk of a "super El Nino" could put significant pressure on the power system, amidst continuously rising consumption demand.

Due to the impact of prolonged heatwaves starting in early April, electricity consumption across the entire system has surged dramatically and continuously reached new peaks. Photo: Showmetech .

According to a report from the Ministry of Industry and Trade , the weather has been complex recently, with prolonged periods of intense heat across a wide area. Temperatures have consistently remained at record highs and show no signs of cooling down in the coming days.

The hot weather is putting pressure on the power system.

Forecast models from domestic and international meteorological and hydrological agencies indicate that 2026 is facing major climate anomalies, the most worrying of which is the "super El Niño" phenomenon, with about an 80% chance of officially establishing itself this coming July. This phenomenon will not only affect storms but also impact rainfall, droughts, monsoons, and global temperatures.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, extreme weather events are putting significant pressure on the national power system. Rising temperatures are causing a sharp increase in electricity demand, while prolonged droughts are reducing water levels in hydropower reservoirs, significantly impacting the power generation capacity of this major component of the system.

In fact, from the beginning of April, especially during the periods of May 13-15 and May 23-27, electricity consumption across the entire system surged and continuously reached new peaks.

According to statistics from the National Power System and Electricity Market Operation Company (NSMO), as of May 25th, the nationwide electricity load reached a record 57,120 MW, a 14% increase compared to the same period last year; electricity consumption reached 1.171 billion kWh, a 12% increase.

In the North alone, the load capacity reached 29,667 MW, an increase of 26% compared to the same period last year; electricity consumption reached 603 million kWh, an increase of 20%.

As of May 25th, the cumulative electricity demand of the national power system reached 133.14 billion kWh, an 8% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Of this, the North accounted for 61.9 billion kWh, the Central region 12.75 billion kWh, and the South 58 billion kWh, representing increases of 11%, 8%, and 6% respectively.

Furthermore, in 2026, Vietnam has set a target of achieving an average GDP growth rate of 10% or more per year. The Ministry of Industry and Trade stated that, according to empirical data in Vietnam, if the economy grows by more than 10%, the demand for electricity will increase correspondingly or even higher. This puts significant pressure on the national power grid.

In addition, global geopolitical instability, especially the US-Iran conflict since the end of February, has also increased the risk of energy crises and disruptions to fuel supply chains, particularly LNG for power generation, affecting the operation of the domestic power system.

Many solutions to ensure electricity supply.

To ensure the safe and stable operation of the national power grid, NSMO has coordinated with various units to implement numerous operational plans and scenarios to meet electricity demand during the hot season.

Regarding the power grid, NSMO coordinates repairs and maintenance to maintain the highest possible availability for the transmission and distribution system, especially for power supply projects in the North such as upgrading the capacity of the AT1 Hoa Binh transformer, putting into operation the AT1 T500 Pho Noi transformer and the AT7 T220 Ha Dong transformer....

For hydropower, reservoirs are operated flexibly, proactively accumulating water at small hydropower plants and rationally mobilizing it for power generation during peak evening hours. The National Hydropower Mechanism (NSMO) also coordinated the adjustment of power generation hours of small hydropower plants in the North to support the system during peak hours. To date, all 301/301 plants with a total capacity of 3,000 MW have adjusted their power generation schedules according to the new time frame.

For coal-fired power plants, NSMO mobilizes all available units to ensure redundancy; at the same time, it urges units to resolve incidents and increase available capacity to generate maximum output during peak evening hours.

Regarding gas turbines and oil-fired thermal power plants, NSMO closely coordinates with PV GAS to store gas and mobilize generating units according to gas supply capacity; at the same time, it flexibly switches between domestic gas, LNG, and diesel oil to maximize output during peak hours and reduce system costs.

Regarding load, to suit the characteristics of electricity usage in summer, NSMO proposes applying peak, off-peak, and new normal time frames in June 2026 to regulate electricity demand, especially during peak hours from 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM.

In addition to technical solutions, NSMO also recommends that people and businesses use electricity economically and efficiently, especially during the hours from 1 PM to 4 PM and from 8 PM to 11 PM on days with extreme heat.

Source: https://znews.vn/bo-cong-thuong-canh-bao-ve-nguon-cung-dien-post1654517.html