Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: No power shortage for production, business and consumption

On the evening of May 18, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a meeting of the Government Standing Committee with ministries and branches on immediate solutions to ensure electricity demand for production, business and consumption.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs a meeting on ensuring electricity supply for production, business and consumption. Photo: VNA

Also attending the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, leaders of ministries, branches and agencies. After listening to reports and opinions of relevant ministries and branches, concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that the total capacity of the national power system's power sources can completely meet the total demand, with no shortage in the long term. However, the power supply may be locally and short-term shortage from now until May 25, due to the severe heat causing high demand for electricity and the drought causing a decrease in water levels in hydroelectric reservoirs, while coal imports from Indonesia are slow, not meeting the requirements of thermal power plants.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs a meeting on ensuring electricity supply for production, business and consumption. Photo: VNA

The Prime Minister directed immediate solutions with the requirement that from now until May 25, there will be no shortage of electricity for production, business and consumption. Accordingly, the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group and the Dong Bac Corporation will provide enough coal for thermal power plants using domestic coal, providing as much as needed.

Power plants using imported coal implement measures such as borrowing, lending, buying back, and advancing coal from other plants; maximizing hydropower resources until the appropriate time. The National Oil and Gas Group ensures the supply of gas and oil for gas and oil-fired thermal power plants. Relevant ministries, branches, and agencies conduct negotiations at provisional prices with wind and solar power projects that have completed investment and construction and can immediately generate electricity to the national power system. The Prime Minister assigned Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha to continue directing the following tasks; relevant agencies such as the Ministry of Industry and Trade , the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises, etc. continue to carry out tasks under their authority; Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Dang Hoang An directly directs and guides the Vietnam Electricity Group to deploy solutions on operating the national power system, ensuring electricity supply, and preventing power shortages.

Pham Tiep (Vietnam News Agency)