Prime Minister chairs meeting on ensuring electricity supply

(Chinhphu.vn) - A press release from the Government Office stated: On April 20, at the Government headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a meeting of the Government Standing Committee on ensuring electricity supply in 2024 and beyond, especially during the peak hot season of 2024.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: We must not allow electricity shortages for production, business, and consumption under any circumstances - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Also attending the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister and Head of the Government Office Tran Van Son, Chairman of the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises Nguyen Hoang Anh, and leaders of ministries, sectors, corporations, and general companies in the energy sector.

In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that production and business are on the path to recovery, and the weather is about to enter the peak of the hot season, leading to a high demand for electricity.

Recalling the localized power shortages in 2023, the Prime Minister emphasized that this year the focus must be on managing and strengthening power transmission capacity; intensifying review, inspection, and supervision, and avoiding a situation where action is only taken when the water reaches the feet.

Reports and opinions at the meeting assessed that over the past period, the Government, the Prime Minister, and the Deputy Prime Ministers in charge of the relevant fields have continuously directed a comprehensive and coordinated approach, requiring relevant ministries, agencies, and localities to implement specific tasks and solutions to ensure sufficient electricity supply; the Prime Minister has also personally inspected and supervised the implementation of many power generation and grid projects.

However, electricity consumption demand during the dry season (May to July) is projected to grow very strongly (up to 13%, much higher than the planned 9.6%), with the North alone expected to see a record increase of 17% compared to the same period in 2023.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in the context of unfavorable hydrological conditions in the first three months of the year, in order to achieve the goal of maximizing water conservation in hydropower reservoirs, thermal power sources, especially coal-fired power plants, have been highly mobilized to meet load demand; at the same time, electricity transmission from the South and Central regions to the North has been strengthened.

Despite higher-than-expected electricity demand, the national power system met actual electricity needs during the first three months of the year, especially during the New Year and Lunar New Year holidays. In the first quarter of 2024, cumulative electricity production reached 69.34 billion kWh, an increase of 11.77% compared to the same period in 2023; average daily electricity production reached 762 million kWh, an increase of 10.4% compared to the same period in 2023.

To ensure electricity supply in 2024, especially during the peak dry season, starting in November 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) and relevant ministries, agencies, and units, developed an electricity supply plan for 2024; developed electricity distribution plans; scenarios for balancing electricity production; balancing the capacity of power plants; implemented solutions for operating power plants; and promoted investment projects for the construction of power projects.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has issued decisions approving the electricity supply and power system operation plan for 2024; the coal supply schedule for power generation; the gas supply plan for power generation; and, in particular, a separate plan for electricity supply during the peak dry season months from April to July 2024.

In addition, closely monitor the supply of coal and gas for power generation; organize working groups to review the preparation for electricity supply during the dry season at power generation, transmission, and distribution units; and accelerate the progress of the 500 kV Quang Trach – Pho Noi transmission line project to ensure timely electricity supply during peak months.

Based on that, the Ministry of Industry and Trade affirms that electricity supply for 2024 will be basically guaranteed.

In the coming years, after the 500 kV Quang Trach – Pho Noi circuit 3 transmission line is put into operation with all the necessary technical conditions met, the Northern power system will be supplemented with increased power/energy from the Central and Southern regions.

However, with hydropower accounting for over 32% of the total, the supply and demand within the Northern region will often experience imbalances, especially in cases where hydrological conditions are affected by climate change or incidents occur at coal-fired power plants. Therefore, the early addition of new power sources, particularly base-feed power sources, to the Northern region is absolutely essential…

Also at the meeting, Vietnam Electricity Group, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, and Vietnam Coal and Mineral Group reported on the operational status of power plants and measures to ensure stable plant operation, especially avoiding scheduling maintenance and repairs during the dry, hot months. The corporations and general companies in the oil, gas, and coal sectors also committed to ensuring sufficient fuel supply for electricity production.

The Prime Minister emphasized that this year the focus must be on improving management and strengthening electricity transmission capacity - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

In his concluding remarks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that the increasing demand for electricity for production, business, and consumption is a welcome development, reflecting both socio-economic progress and contributing to economic growth.

Reports and opinions at the meeting showed that there is no basic shortage of electricity and fuel is available; however, appropriate, intelligent, smooth, and efficient management is needed with a comprehensive solution, diversifying power sources, urgently completing power transmission lines, and promptly resolving related legal obstacles, the Prime Minister emphasized.

With the goal of ensuring no electricity shortages for production, business, and consumption under any circumstances, especially due to subjective reasons stemming from operational management, the Prime Minister requested that ministries, localities, businesses, and relevant entities, based on their functions, duties, and powers, develop response plans for all situations, including the worst-case scenario; demonstrate the highest level of responsibility, maintain composure and calmness in the face of difficulties and challenges; accurately forecast and assess the situation and response capabilities, review data to ensure accuracy; and propose flexible, reasonable, timely, and effective tasks and solutions.

To prevent people and businesses from worrying about electricity, the Prime Minister emphasized and clearly outlined the tasks and solutions for each stage in ensuring electricity supply, including: power sources, power transmission, power distribution, power consumption, and electricity prices.

Regarding power sources, it is necessary to calculate and ensure electricity supply for all regions, paying attention to peak months in the North (May, June, July, especially with the projected load increase in June of approximately 2,500 MW). Diversify power sources, review all available sources, and promote large-scale power generation.

To ensure fuel (coal, water, oil, gas) for electricity production, coal-fired power plants purchase as much domestically produced coal as possible, minimizing imports (this both promotes domestic production and business, creates livelihoods and jobs for people, saves foreign currency in the current context, and prevents corruption). Coal corporations and general companies are maximizing their mining operations.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in coordination with relevant agencies, directs the managing units of hydropower reservoirs to strengthen inspection, calculation, and planning of specific water withdrawals from hydropower reservoirs to serve agricultural production. Priority should be given to maximizing reserve water for power generation during peak periods, and strengthening measures for water conservation.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade develops monthly electricity supply plans; directs the operation of power plants to ensure overall balance, overall benefits, and to guarantee the minimum capacity of power plants.

Regarding mechanisms and policies for electricity trading, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and related agencies are urgently finalizing and submitting to competent authorities for promulgation mechanisms and policies for direct electricity trading between power generation units and large electricity consumers; mechanisms to encourage the development of rooftop solar power installed in residential houses, offices, and industrial zones for self-production and self-consumption; mechanisms and policies for the development of gas-fired and offshore wind power; and policies for waste-to-energy and biomass power…

Regarding power transmission, the Prime Minister requested that the 500 kV circuit 3 be completed immediately, with each stage reviewed to ensure progress and definitively completed before June 30th; he also requested that provincial leaders strengthen inspection, supervision, and encouragement of officials and workers on the construction site to work through holidays and weekends.

The Prime Minister gave specific instructions on several issues related to the construction of poles, power lines, and transmission corridors of the 500 kV circuit 3 power line, especially reviewing and increasing the use of domestic products and promoting domestic production.

In addition, efforts are being made to complete transmission projects serving electricity imports from Laos by May 2024, such as the Dak Ooc switching station and the 200 kV Nam Sum – Nong Cong transmission line…

Local authorities are quickly clearing the land to ensure the right-of-way for power transmission lines.

The Prime Minister requested rational electricity distribution, paying particular attention to peak periods of hot weather; and the efficient and economical use of electricity.

Regarding electricity prices, the Prime Minister requested that agencies and units implement them according to regulations and authority, with a suitable roadmap, avoiding abrupt changes; the electricity sector should promote cost savings, strengthen the application of digital transformation, increase competitiveness, and reduce compliance costs for people and businesses. Electricity prices must be appropriate, have healthy competition, and be regulated by the State.

Media outlets should allocate appropriate time to enhance propaganda and guidance on the efficient and economical use of electricity, as well as on policies and methods for calculating electricity bills; and continue to be transparent and publicly disclose data and information related to the electricity sector to create social consensus.

Ministries and agencies are strengthening inspection and prevention of corruption in the electricity sector in general, and electricity production and consumption in particular. The Prime Minister also requested power plants to focus on production; and power projects to increase the use of domestic products.

The Prime Minister instructed the Government Office to incorporate the opinions expressed at the meeting, finalize and issue the meeting's concluding notice for timely and effective implementation; to compile and categorize the proposals and recommendations from the meeting for submission to the Prime Minister for assignment to relevant ministries and agencies for handling, and for the Deputy Prime Ministers to directly oversee./.

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