Hanoi, May 24 (Prensa Latina) Vietnam is today holding negotiations with Laos and China to increase electricity purchases due to the decline in available capacity and reserves, the National Electricity Group (EVN) expected.
This was announced by EVN CEO Tran Dinh Nhan at a press conference on the occasion of the start of the national electricity saving campaign ahead of the forthcoming start of summer, which is expected to be warmer than in previous years.
Power sources across the EVN system are facing shortages in their reserves, Dinh Nhan warned, noting that power loads in the northern region could be strained at peak times, so solutions must be sought to ensure the stability of power supply in the country.
The managing director explained that even the available capacity is sometimes less than the load demand, forcing the group to resort to diesel fuel and fuel thermal power plants or to work with coal, gas and oil suppliers to keep its plants running.
In addition, negotiations have been held with investors in wind and solar energy projects to purchase electricity for the national grid, he added.
In the middle of last week, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a government meeting to discuss possible solutions to ensure electricity supply for manufacturing, business and consumption.
Although Minh Chinh believes the total capacity of the national electricity grids can fully meet demand, he warned that a partial deficit could occur in the near term (until May 25) as demand surges due to the sweltering heat.
Other factors affecting this situation are the severe drought, which is causing the water in the dams to decrease, and the slow sourcing of coal from Indonesia.
rgh/mpm