Minister of Industry and Trade: Increase fuel reserve for power system

On June 24, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien chaired a meeting on electricity supply for the last 6 months of 2025 and developed a plan for electricity supply in 2026.

Minister of Industry and Trade chaired the meeting - Photo: C.DUNG

Reporting the situation, Mr. Pham Nguyen Hung - Director of the Electricity Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) - said that in the first 6 months of 2025, the total electricity output of the entire national system (including rooftop solar power) is estimated at 156.4 billion kWh, 3.04% higher than the same period in 2024, reaching 45% of the approved plan for 2025 (347.5 billion kWh).

Electricity demand growth is not high, still reserve electricity from oil and LNG

The reason is that the national temperature is lower than the same period last year, and the load demand does not increase. In which, the largest consumption capacity of the national power system reached 51,672 MW recorded on June 2, 5.7% higher than the same period in 2024, but the electricity supply has met the demand.

However, Mr. Hung said that to ensure electricity supply, the national power system still needs to mobilize oil-fired thermal power sources and LNG sources to meet load demand, especially during peak evening hours in the Southern region when solar power is not generated.

Mr. Phan Xuan Thuy - Deputy General Director of Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Group (TKV) - said that the amount of coal supplied to thermal power plants reached about 22.37 million tons, equivalent to 52.3% of the yearly plan and 54.8% of the progress according to the signed contract.

TKV is focusing on meeting peak demand during the dry season and maintaining minimum inventory for thermal power plants at a safe level, about 3.5 million tons.

Along with that, ensure the supply of 19.23 million tons of coal in the last 6 months of 2025, meeting the annual demand of 40-41.6 million tons, with inventory to meet emergency situations.

In conclusion, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien said that although electricity supply in the first 6 months of the year was guaranteed, units should not be subjective, but need to be highly vigilant in all power supply situations, not to let there be a shortage of electricity to serve socio -economic development and people's lives in any situation.

Building an electricity operation plan for 2026 - Photo: C.DUNG

It is necessary to ensure the progress and quality of power source and grid projects, in accordance with planning and schedule. Actively operate and maintain the entire system, absolutely do not let incidents occur due to subjective causes, proactively control and prevent objective causes to the maximum extent. Ensure adequate fuel supply for power generation, especially coal and gas.

Operate hydropower reservoirs rationally and effectively to optimize output, strengthen weather and hydrological monitoring and coordinate reservoir operations. Prepare regular response scenarios. Review, develop and update unusual changing situations.

Urge and promote the construction and operation progress of key power projects. Promote propaganda on safe, economical and efficient use of electricity.

Special attention should be paid to propaganda and mobilizing customers to regulate their load and avoid using electricity during peak hours to reduce pressure on the national power system, especially during the long hot season.

Regarding the implementation in 2026, Mr. Dien assigned the Electricity Department to coordinate with the National Electricity System and Market Operation Company Limited (NSMO) to urgently develop a plan for electricity supply and operation of the national electricity system. The principle of developing the plan is to absolutely ensure electricity supply in all situations. Do not let supply-demand imbalance occur.

Comply with legal regulations, ensuring optimization of electricity purchase costs for the entire system. Thermal power plant investors are responsible for providing complete, accurate and timely information on input technical parameters, fuel arrangement capacity, maintenance and repair plans, unit operating status, etc.

EVN forecasts growth in electricity load demand; assesses the composition of commercial electricity; assesses the impact from the increase of distributed power sources, especially self-produced and self-consumed rooftop solar power.

Actively coordinate with local power companies to maintain, repair and upgrade the basic power grid system; ensure the ability to absorb rooftop solar power...

Proactively develop a production plan and provide sufficient coal resources to meet the system's needs, study the mechanism for flexibly adjusting the fuel supply plan, and increase fuel reserve levels to be ready to respond when the power system needs high mobilization.

NGOC AN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bo-truong-cong-thuong-nang-muc-du-phong-nhien-lieu-cho-he-thong-dien-2025062419314404.htm