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

Apologies from the electricity industry to people and businesses

Tran Viet Hoa, Director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority, said that by June 6, 6, most of the large hydropower reservoirs in the North had reached dead water levels, including Lai Chau, Son La, Tuyen Quang, Ban Chat, Hua Na, Thac Ba. Particularly, the two hydropower reservoirs Lai Chau and Son La have fallen below the dead water level.

Only Hoa Binh hydropower reservoir has water in the lake and can maintain power generation until June 12 and 13. The total unmobilized capacity of the above-mentioned Northern hydropower sources will be at 6 MW and possibly up to 5.000 MW when the Hoa Binh hydropower reservoir returns to dead water level.

Thus, as of June 6, 6, the available capacity of hydroelectricity is 2023 MW, only reaching 3.110% of installed capacity.

In the past time, with the efforts of relevant units, the supply of coal for thermal power plants has been ensured. Coal-fired power plants have enough fuel to operate with high mobilized capacity. However, due to the hot weather and high temperature, the units operated at maximum capacity for a long time, leading to equipment problems (mainly leaking steam pipes, heaters, superheaters, coal mills, supply pumps, etc.). In addition, many coal-fired power plants suffered from long-term problems. Typically, on June 1, the total capacity not mobilized from coal-fired power plants in the North suffered a breakdown and reduced capacity up to 6 MW.

Sudden power outage on June 3, people in an apartment block in Bac Tu Liem district (Hanoi) went down to the lobby to plug in the generator to keep warm. Photo: Vnexpress

Thus, although the coal fuel source for power generation has been provided relatively secure, but as of June 6, 6, the Northern coal-fired thermal power source has only mobilized 2023 MW, accounting for 11.934% of the installed capacity.

The ability to transmit electricity from the Central region to the North via the North-Central 500 kV line is always at a high limit (maximum limit of 2.500 - 2.700 MW) leading to potential risk of breakdown.

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 from 2.500 - 2.700 MW of transmission from the South and Central to the North. Meanwhile, the demand for electricity in the Northern region may reach 23.500 - 24.000 MW in the coming hot days.

“Thus, the Northern power system will be short of about 4.350 MW with an average daily output of 30,9 million kWh (the highest day can reach 50,8 million kWh). The Northern electricity system faces the risk of lack of capacity at most hours of the day. Currently, many countries such as India, Bangladesh, and even China are also facing rotating power cuts," said Tran Viet Hoa. 

Director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority Tran Viet Hoa expressed his wish that customers, people and businesses share difficulties with the electricity industry in the past time, and join hands to overcome the stressful situation of electricity supply at this time.

“For any reason, the lack of electricity to supply for socio-economic development is the unjustifiable responsibility of the state management agency, the electricity industry. On behalf of the state management agencies as well as the electricity industry, I would like to apologize to the people and businesses. I hope people and businesses share with the difficulties of the power industry and join hands to overcome the stressful period of power supply in 2023," said Mr. Tran Viet Hoa.

There is order of priority for power supply

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 consumption demand can reach over 20.000 MW. The amount of power saved at the peak time is about 30% of the used capacity. This is the peak capacity. As for the average power output during the whole day, the reduction for the whole day is at 6 - 10% depending on whether the day is cool or hot. For example, yesterday when it was cool, the output reduced by about 6%.

  The Ministry of Industry and Trade informed about the situation of electricity supply on the afternoon of 7-6. 

To handle this situation, the National Load Dispatch Center (A0) shall base on Circular 34 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade guiding to allocate that used capacity to the Northern Power Corporation and the Hanoi Electricity Corporation. These two units, based on the guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will allocate that capacity to each province and city. After having the allocated capacity, the local electricity will develop plans and priority order for customers. According to such principle, the power companies will report to and approve the People's Committees of provinces and cities on plans to reduce electricity.

Specifically referring to the order of priority for power supply, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dung, Head of Business Department (EVN), said that the order of priority for important electricity users was approved by the People's Committees of provinces and cities, prioritizing important political and social activities and other events in the area. Next, depending on the locality, priority is given to customers based on local realities such as residential customers, producing essential goods such as: Food, clean water, labor-intensive production facilities, etc. All these plans are reported to the People's Committee of the province and city and the Department of Industry and Trade to monitor the implementation.

The North is in trouble from now until the country returns

Mr. Tran Dinh Nhan, General Director of Vietnam Electricity, shared that from mid-April until now, EVN has faced difficulties in ensuring electricity supply for customers. EVN reported and was closely and promptly directed by the Government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Under that direction, over the past time, Coal - Minerals Group has ensured coal supply for EVN's coal-fired power plant as well as other enterprises. Oil and Gas Group also increased the volume of gas supply to gas power plants, thereby helping to increase the output of gas power plants.

“Up to now, 63 provinces and cities have implemented directives on saving electricity. EVN has coordinated through the Northern Electricity Corporation, the Hanoi Electricity Corporation and the local electricity to reduce in case of lack of power to suit the situation of each locality. Up to now, electricity supply in the Central and the South has been ensured, especially in the North, it is still difficult from now until the country returns and EVN will try its best to ensure and maintain the national electricity system to operate safely. At this time, when the demand for consumption continues to increase, the power source is not enough, so some times we have reduced electricity, "said Mr. Tran Dinh Nhan.  

THAO NGUYEN - VO DUNG