Vietnam set to face power shortage

Thứ tư, 8/12/2010 | 10:02 GMT+7
A top Electricity of Vietnam executive warned Monday that there could be a severe power shortfall during the dry season that starts this month.

Speaking at a regular EVN meeting in Hanoi, Duong Quang Thanh, the monopoly state-owned firm’s deputy director, said the shortage could be 800 million-1.4 billion kWh in the worst case.

But if there is more rainfall and there is enough water, the shortfall would be just 139 million – 400 million KWH.

Vietnam relies mainly on hydroelectric power while rainfall this year was only 60-70 percent of normal.

But EVN will ensure that all electricity plants, like Cam Pha, Son Dong, Quang Ninh 1, and Hai Phong 1, will operate at full capacity, Thanh assured.

“They will generate around 6 billion kWh.”

Minister of Commerce Vu Huy Hoang has called on EVN to ensure adequate power supply “at all costs” until Tet, the Lunar New Year, next February.

Source: Vietnam News