This is now the end of the dry season and also the beginning of the sunny and stormy season. The situation of power generation in June is considered highly difficult, especially the power supply for the North because there has not any new generations to be operated or the progress rate of new projects is slow. In more details, Ca Mau Power Company No.2 (720 MW) has not carried out the running test, Nhon Trach Power Company No.1 (450 MW) of PetroVietnam has just tested some 150 MW single cycles and Uong Bi Power Company Extension (300 MW) has not been put into operation and is expected to get over in the next 2 months. Besides, a series of power plants temporarily stop operating to be repaired and upgraded. Ba Ria Power Company pauses from 10th to 14th in June because Cuu Long gas resource ceases the supply for the repair of the centered technological frame or Ca Mau Power Company stops operating from 15th to 27th in June to serve the contractor Siemens and connect pipes. At the same time, the water level in reservoirs is in low level, which leads to the decrease of feasible capacity of power plants. Hoa Binh Hydropower Company has the current feasible capacity of 1,400 MW, just 70% of the standard capacity. The water level in Tuyen Quang, Tri An and Italy reservoirs is also near the dead water level, so they can not perform as with the designed capacity.
Under the circumstance, EVN has mobilized all the available power generations, even the high price ones to help new power plants successfully implement experiments and operate. However, with the current power demand of about 240 million kWh/day, which is a 14% year-on-year increase and maybe higher in hot sunny days, the capacity in the morning peak hour (10.30 a.m.) can go up to roughly 13,000 MW, increasing 2,000 MW compared to that of May 2008. Therefore, the restriction of 1,500 – 2,000 MW in peak hours is inevitable, as said by EVN. In order to minimize the restriction of power, there is no way but to continuously economize. Saving power in accordance with the Instruction of the Prime Minister is the most effective way to keep the power system operate safely, ensuring stable power supply for the socio-economic development and population’s consumption.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has required EVN to closely examine the hydrographical situation and reasonably operate power generations to lessen the power shortage. At the same time, EVN needs to supply concrete guidance for investors and project management boards to keep up with the progress rate, particularly Ca Mau 2, Nhon Trach 1 and strengthen examining and handing over shifts to timely solve problems. Hence, projects will be put into operation with the progress rate as planned.