On the afternoon of June 7, the Ministry of Industry and Trade held a meeting to inform about the electricity supply situation, in the context of many localities in the North having lost power in recent days.

Apology from the electricity industry to the people and businesses

Mr. Tran Viet Hoa, Director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority, said that as of June 6, 2023, most of the major 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 gone below the dead water level.

Only Hoa Binh hydroelectric reservoir still has water in it and can maintain power generation until June 12 and 13. The total unmobilized capacity of the above mentioned northern hydroelectric sources will be at 5,000 MW and can reach 7,000 MW when Hoa Binh hydroelectric reservoir reaches dead water level.

Thus, as of June 6, 2023, the available capacity of hydropower is 3,110 MW, only reaching 23.7% of installed capacity.

In recent times, with the efforts of relevant units, the supply of coal to thermal power plants has been ensured. Coal-fired thermal power plants have had enough fuel to operate at high capacity. However, due to hot weather and high temperatures, the units have been operating 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 have suffered long-term failures. 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.

Sudden power outage on June 3, residents of an apartment building in Bac Tu Liem district (Hanoi) went down to the lobby to plug in generators to cool down. Photo: Vnexpress

Thus, although the coal fuel source for power generation has been relatively guaranteed, as of June 6, 2023, the Northern coal thermal power source has only mobilized 11,934 MW, accounting for 76.6% of the installed capacity.

The ability to transmit electricity from the Central region to the North via the 500 kV North-Central line is always at a high limit (maximum limit from 2,500 - 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 electricity load demand is only 17,500 - 17,900 MW (about 59.2% of the installed capacity). This capacity includes 2,500 - 2,700 MW transmitted from the South and Central regions to the North. 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 output that cannot meet the average daily demand of 30.9 million kWh (the highest day can reach 50.8 million kWh). The Northern power system faces the risk of a lack of capacity at most hours of the day. Currently, many countries such as India, Bangladesh, and even China are also facing rotating power outages," said Mr. Tran Viet Hoa.

Director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority Tran Viet Hoa expressed his hope that customers, people, and businesses would share the difficulties with the electricity industry in recent times, and join hands to overcome the current tense situation of electricity supply.

"For whatever reason, the lack of electricity to supply socio-economic development is an untenable responsibility of the state management agency and the electricity industry. On behalf of the state management agency as well as the electricity industry, I would like to apologize to the people and businesses. I hope that people and businesses will share the difficulties of the electricity industry and join hands to overcome the stressful period of electricity supply in 2023," said Mr. Tran Viet Hoa.

There is a priority order of power supply.

Responding to the press, Mr. Ngo Son Hai, Deputy General Director of EVN, said that currently the available capacity of the system is only 17,000 MW, on hot days, the demand for consumption can reach over 20,000 MW. The amount of capacity reduced at the peak time is about 30% of the capacity used. This is the capacity at the peak time. As for the average electricity output for the whole day, the reduction for the whole day is at the level of 6 - 10% depending on whether the day is cool or hot. For example, yesterday was cool, so the output was reduced by about 6%.

Ministry of Industry and Trade informs about electricity supply situation on the afternoon of June 7.

To handle this situation, the National Power System Control Center (A0) based on Circular 34 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade guides to allocate that capacity to the Northern Power Corporation and Hanoi Power Corporation. These two units, based on the guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will allocate that capacity to each provincial and municipal power company. After having the allocated capacity, local power companies will develop plans and prioritize customers. According to this principle, power companies will report and approve the power reduction plan to the People's Committees of provinces and cities.

Specifically mentioning the priority order of electricity supply, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dung, Head of Business Department (EVN) said that the priority order for important electricity customers is approved by the People's Committees of provinces and cities, giving priority to important political and social activities and other events in the area. Next, depending on each locality, priority is given to customers based on local realities such as residential customers, production of essential goods such as: Food, clean water, production facilities using a lot of labor... All of these plans are reported by the units to the People's Committees of provinces and cities and the Department of Industry and Trade to monitor implementation.

The North will have difficulties from now until the water returns.

Mr. Tran Dinh Nhan, General Director of Vietnam Electricity Group, shared that since mid-April, EVN has encountered difficulties in ensuring electricity supply to customers. EVN has reported and received close and timely instructions from the Government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Under that direction, the Coal and Minerals Group has ensured coal supply for EVN's coal-fired thermal power plants as well as other enterprises. The Oil and Gas Group has also increased gas supply output for gas-fired power plants, thereby helping to increase the output of gas-fired power plants.

“Up to now, 63 provinces and cities have implemented instructions on electricity saving. EVN has coordinated through the Northern Power Corporation, Hanoi Power Corporation and local power companies to carry out power reduction in case of power shortage to suit the situation of each locality. Up to now, the Central and Southern regions have ensured power supply, but the North is currently facing difficulties from now until the water returns and EVN will try its best to ensure the national power system operates safely. At this time, when the demand for consumption continues to increase, the power source is not enough to meet the demand, so at some points we have reduced power," said Mr. Tran Dinh Nhan.  

THE GRASSLAND - VU DUNG