Vietnam to Lack 62.8 Bln kWh of Power in 2015

Power demand of Vietnam is estimated to increase by 17 per cent per year, putting the country at risk of lacking between 6.8 billion kWh and 62.8 billion kWh in 2015, Duong Quang Thanh, deputy director of the state-owned Electricity of Vietnam Group (EVN) said at a recent conference.

 

The conference was held in Hanoi November 21 to review Vietnam's energy sector after two years of Trade Organization (WTO) admission.

 

According the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), Vietnam will have to double capacity of the national power system in the next five years in order to meet this growing demand.

 

The power shortfall is forecast to be more severe at between 115 billion kWh and 226.2 billion kWh in 2020, Thanh attributed.

 

To partly ease the shortage, Vietnam will continue boosting electricity purchase from its neighbors of China, Laos, and Cambodia by 2015.

 

The country will also import 22.4 million tons of coal in 2015, and between 45-89 million tons of coal and gas by 2020, as well as develop wind, solar, nuclear, and biological power sources.

 

Vietnam is in need of at least 2,000 MW of power and over US$3 billion of investment for power projects annually from now until 2015, the MoIT noted.

 

The country is forecast to lack 8.6 billion kWh of power in 2008 and the figure will peak at 10.3 billion kWh in 2009 but will considerably fall to around 7.2 billion kWh in 2010.

(Vietnamnet)