 |
| Mr. Tran Viet Hoa - Director of Electricity Regulatory Authority, Ministry of Industry and Trade provided some information related to the electricity supply situation in 2023. (Source: Ministry of Industry and Trade) |
The North still has many difficulties
Sharing with the press, Mr. Tran Viet Hoa - Director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority (Ministry of Industry and Trade) said that due to the impact of the El NiNo phenomenon, severe heat waves have occurred in many localities across the country, increasing the demand for electricity for daily life of people combined with the very low water level in hydroelectric reservoirs, greatly affecting the electricity supply in the dry season of 2023.
The electricity supply to the South and Central regions has been ensured in recent times, because the Southern region has entered the rainy season, the load has decreased, and the water source to hydroelectric reservoirs has improved.
In the past time, under the close direction of the Government , although EVN, PVN, TKV and relevant ministries and agencies have made efforts to implement a number of urgent solutions, there have been factors that negatively affect the assurance of sufficient electricity supply in the coming time, especially in the North, characterized by hydropower accounting for a large proportion of 43.6%.
More specifically, Mr. Tran Viet Hoa said that as of June 6, 2023, most of the large hydroelectric reservoirs in the North have reached the dead water level, including: Lai Chau, Son La, Tuyen Quang, Ban Chat, Hua Na, Thac Ba. Only the two hydroelectric reservoirs Lai Chau and Son La have had to run down below the dead water level. Only Hoa Binh hydroelectric reservoir still has water in the lake and can maintain power generation until around June 12-13.
The total unmobilized capacity of the above mentioned hydropower sources in the North will be at 5,000 MW and can reach 7,000 MW when Hoa Binh hydropower reservoir reaches dead water level.
Thus, as of June 6, the available capacity of hydropower was 3,110 MW, only reaching 23.7% of installed capacity.
Regarding thermal power sources, with the efforts of relevant units, the supply of coal for thermal power plants has been ensured. Coal-fired thermal power plants have had enough fuel to operate at high mobilized capacity.
However, the leader of the Electricity Regulatory Authority said that due to hot weather and high temperatures, the units operated at maximum capacity for a long time, leading to equipment failures (mainly steam generator leaks, heater leaks, superheaters, coal crushers, feed pumps, etc.). In addition, many coal-fired thermal power units suffered long-term failures (1 unit in Vung Ang, 1 unit in Pha Lai, 1 unit in Cam Pha, 1 unit in Nghi Son 2). Typically, on June 1, the total capacity that could not be mobilized from coal-fired thermal power plants in the North that had failures and reduced capacity was up to 1,030 MW.
Thus, although the coal fuel source for power generation has been relatively guaranteed, as of June 6, the Northern coal thermal power source has only mobilized 11,934 MW, accounting for 76.6% of the installed capacity.
Regarding the power transmission capacity, Director Tran Viet Hoa said that from the Central region to the North via the 500kV North-Central line is always at a high limit (maximum limit from 2,500 MW to 2,700 MW), leading to potential risks of incidents. Thus, the total available capacity of the Northern power system (including imported electricity) that can be mobilized to meet the power load demand is only 17,500-17,900 MW (about 59.2% of installed capacity). This capacity includes about 2,500 to 2,700 MW transmitted from the South and Central regions to the North (500kV Nho Quan - Ha Tinh line section).
Meanwhile, the demand for electricity in the Northern region may reach 23,500-24,000 MW in the upcoming hot days. Thus, the Northern power system will be short of about 4,350 MW with an average daily output of about 30.9 million kWh (the highest day can reach 50.8 million kWh). The Northern power system faces the risk of power shortage at most hours of the day.
Many Asian countries also lack electricity.
Faced with that situation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has proposed a number of solutions, including requiring EVN to focus on effectively mobilizing all resources, in directing and implementing synchronous and effective solutions to ensure electricity supply, specifically: Maintaining the readiness of thermal power plants/units, speeding up the time to fix incidents as quickly as possible; Operating the power system reasonably, trying to increase the mobilization of thermal power to prevent the decline in hydropower water levels; pushing the water levels of large hydropower reservoirs above the dead water level as soon as possible; Proactively building flexible scenarios to respond to difficulties in electricity supply to minimize damage to people and businesses.
In addition, we will increase the mobilization of renewable energy plants and accelerate the progress of putting transitional renewable energy plants into operation. To date, we have mobilized 18 transitional renewable energy plants with a capacity of 1,115.62 MW (including pilot and commercial plants). At the same time, we will focus on effectively implementing solutions to increase electricity saving, especially in June 2023.
 |
| According to Mr. Tran Dinh Nhan - General Director of EVN, since mid-April until now, EVN has encountered many difficulties in ensuring electricity supply for customers. (Source: VNA) |
The Director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority added that, in fact, not only Vietnam, many Asian countries are also lacking electricity in the record heat. Typically, India, Thailand, Bangladesh, and even China are having to proactively cut off power in rotation or limit electricity supply for production to ensure supply.
In Yunnan, China (where hydropower accounts for 72% of total capacity), the hot and dry weather has led to a shortage of power and the need to allocate electricity to key energy-using industrial production facilities as well as to apply strict measures to control electricity consumption. It is forecasted that the temperature across Asia this year will reach unprecedented highs. Extreme weather will increase electricity demand, continuing to put great pressure on the electricity industry in many countries.
Providing more information about the electricity supply situation, Mr. Tran Dinh Nhan - General Director of Vietnam Electricity Group said: Since mid-April, EVN has encountered many difficulties in ensuring electricity supply for customers. Regarding this issue, EVN has reported and received close and timely instructions from the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Industry and Trade.
Under that direction, in recent times, TKV has made many efforts to ensure coal supply for power plants; PVN has also increased gas output for plants in the Southeast and Southwest regions, contributing to increasing the electricity output capacity of gas-fired power plants.
EVN has coordinated with provinces and cities across the country. Up to now, 63 localities have implemented the directive on saving electricity in their areas. Through the Power Corporations and Power Companies, EVN also coordinates with local authorities in reducing the power system to best suit the characteristics and situation of each locality.
“Thanks to these efforts, up to now, in the Southern and Central regions, we have completely ensured electricity supply, but the North still has many difficulties. EVN will try its best to ensure the safe operation of the national power system,” Mr. Tran Dinh Nhan emphasized, at the same time expressing his wish to receive sympathy and sharing from people and businesses in the current difficult context.
Source
Comment (0)