“Power shortages could cause chaos for a country,” he said, suggesting that more thermal and hydro power and renewable energy plants, as well as major electricity facilities, be constructed, and that electricity also be purchased from foreign countries.
At a working session with representatives from ministries, agencies, the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) and the National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), the Government leader urged the two groups to seek solutions to projected power shortages in the Southern Region in 2018 and 2019.
Vietnam, especially its Southern Region, was expected to experience a serious increase in demand for power by 2018 and may have to use diesel to generate electricity, the PM warned, noting that demand would continue to rise in the time ahead, keeping economic growth at 6.5-7% annually.
“The Government will decide on a number of policies and mechanisms on the power supply based on the proposals made by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the groups,” he said.
In the first half of this year, the EVN produced and bought 84.75 billion kWh of electricity, a year-on-year rise of 10.75%. As much as 28.3% of electricity came from hydropower plants, 29.36% from gas-fuelled turbine plants and 39.87% from coal-fuelled thermal power plants.
Commercial power output reached 76.44 billion kWh, a yearly increase of 11.73%.
