Coal and gas-fired power, and hydropower plants, especially Vinh Tan 2, Duyen Hai 1 and Duyen Hai 3, will run at full tilt. In case of emergency, EVN will have to mobilize diesel-run power stations to ensure electricity supply.

Besides, EVN will speed up construction of other thermal power projects such as Vinh Tan 4, Vinh Tan 4 expansion, Duyen Hai 3, Duyen Hai 3 expansion, and complete the expansion of Thac Mo hydropower project in July 2017.

According to EVN, these are the key projects that can help ease an electricity shortage in the south in the coming time.

In the north, EVN will focus on Thai Binh 1 thermal power plant, and Trung Son hydropower plant and start work on Quang Trach 1 thermal power project in December 2017.

Among those, Thai Binh 1 thermal power plant is one of the key projects under EVN with total investment capital of more than VND26,000 billion (about US$1.15 billion). The project will have an annual capacity of 3.6 billion kWh and is scheduled for commissioning in mid-2018.

The El Nino weather phenomenon has impacted on electricity production since the end of 2014 and is forecast to extend to the dry season this year, affecting agriculture and hydropower generation which accounts for a large part of Vietnam’s total electricity output.

Vietnam currently has 70 large and medium sized hydropower plants with a total capacity of more than 14,000 MW. Particularly from 2015, given the impact of El Nino, the volume of water in hydropower reservoirs has dipped, sending hydropower output in 2015 falling by 4.5 billion kWh to 55.3 billion kWh compared to 2014.

Source:  thesaigontimes.vn