Setting aside Gas, Coal for Power Production

Ensuring the sufficient supply of electricity in particular and energy in general in the period from 2011 to 2015 is the responsibility of three State-owned economic groups, namely the Electricity of Vietnam Group (EVN), the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), and the Vietnam National Coal, Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin), said Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai. For the time being, the three groups must set aside a maximum amount of gas and coal for power production in 2012 and subsequent years, he said at a meeting with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to review activities in 2011, tasks for 2012 and major objectives in the 2011 - 2015 period.

 

Mr Pham Le Thanh, General Director of EVN, said: To guarantee power production in 2012, since late 2011, EVN has directed its affiliated hydropower plants to store waters to keep on production in dry months in 2012. The group will continue repairing thermal power turbines for necessary operation during dry seasons in 2012, especially power complexes in southern Vietnam. In 2012, EVN will bring into operation new power generators with a total capacity of 2,200 MW. The group anticipates power supply to rise 11.72 percent in 2012 to 121.7 billion kWh (produced by EVN and purchased from other sources). In the six dry months in 2012, the output will reach some 58 billion kWh.

 

Given the scenario that Vietnam’s GDP expands 6.5 - 7 percent a year in the 2011 - 2015 period, EVN has worked out two power growth plans: 13 percent (low plan) and 15 percent (high plan). With respect to the 13 percent growth plan, the commercial electricity output is forecast to reach 178 billion kWh in 2015. EVN will basically ensure enough power sources for the country’s socioeconomic development during this period. In five years from 2011 to 2015, EVN will put into operation 40 turbines of 20 power projects with a total capacity of about 11,594 MW. Besides, the group will start 14 power projects with a total capacity of 12,400 MW to meet power demand from 2016 to 2020. EVN's total capital demand for construction investment in this stage is VND514 trillion, of which EVN can arrange some VND298 trillion and fall short of VND216 trillion.

 

To ensure power supply, EVN has proposed the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Government to direct concerned parties to provide enough gas for electricity generation in 2012 and the next stage, consider applying market-based power price mechanism, provide enough funds for power projects, and clear investment sites for power projects.

 

According to Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, ensuring the sufficient supply of electricity in particular and energy in general in the period from 2011 to 2015 is the responsibility of three State-owned economic groups, namely EVN, PetroVietnam and Vinacomin. PetroVietnam must give highest priority to gas supply for power generation in 2012 and subsequent years. The Deputy Prime Minister asked the three State-owned groups to concertedly coordinate in fuel supply and pricing negotiations. As regards nuclear power, he ordered concerned ministries, branches and localities to actively prepare necessary resources and legal framework from now to 2015 for the construction of two nuclear power projects - Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2.

 

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai said the elastic ratio of electricity growth to GDP stays at 1.62 percent for the first time in 2011, compared with 2.1 percent in previous years.