The total output of electricity for the rest of the year is scheduled to be 3 – 10 per cent higher than expected, meeting the country’s power demand, according to the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Viet Nam (ERAV).

Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) said many hydropower plants began operating during the first half of this year, including the An Khe – Kanac, Sesan 4a and Dong Nai 3 plants.

New thermo-electric plants, including Cam Pha, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong and Son Dong, have also been put into operation.

The turbine 2 of the Son La hydropower plant, with a capacity of 400 MW, has joined the national grid, and turbine 1 and 2 of the Son La hydropower plant are operating safely, supplying about 2 billion kWh for the grid.

On average, the turbine 1 and 2 can generate up to 20 million kWh into the national grid every day.

During the first half of the year, total electricity output reached around 52.4 billion kWh, an increase of 10.42 per cent over the same period last year.

The electricity output has been increasing monthly compared to the same period last year.

Specifically, the power output of January was 8.66 billion kWh, an increase of 11.9 per cent over the same period last year; in February, 7.21 billion kWh, a rise of 13.7 per cent; in March, 8.96 billion kWh, an increase of 5.7 per cent; in April, 8.84 billion kWh, a jump of 10 per cent; in May, 9.41 billion kWh, an increase of 9.3 per cent; and in June, 9.3 billion kWh, an increase of 12.6 per cent.

According to Vu Huy Hoang, minister of Industry and Trade, EVN has made great efforts to ensure supply, providing enough electricity in April and May to avoid frequent power cuts.

Electricity demand this year has increased but has been lower than expected, according to EVN.

Resolution 11 of the Government to curb inflation, stabilise the macro-economy and ensure social welfare has contributed to weaker demand.

The dissemination and implementation of solutions to save electricity have been carried out widely across the country, which has helped to raise the awareness of citizens about power savings.

Full reservoir

Unlike the situation in previous years, many reservoirs across the country were full of water even during the last few months of the dry season.

Pham Van Cuc, deputy head of the management board of power project 6, said since the beginning of June the Central Highlands had received ample rainfall, creating water sources for the Dong Nai 3 hydropower plant, with the water level much higher than the same period last year.

It is estimated that the turbine 1 and 2 of the Dong Nai 3 hydropower plant will have an electricity output of 300 million kWh, according to EVN.

Le Van Quang, deputy director of the Da Nhim – Ham Thuan – Da Mi Hydropower Plant Company, said the water level at reservoirs under the management of the company was much higher than the same period last year.

Many reservoirs in large hydropower plants in the north also have high water levels due to the rainy season this year coming earlier than in previous years.

Nguyen Khac Thuc, deputy director of the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant Company, said the output of water discharged into Hoa Binh Reservoir had reached 4,500 cubic metres per second, the highest figure since September last year.

All eight turbines of the Hoa Binh hydropower plant are operating at the maximum capacity, generating about 30 million kWh into the national grid.

Meanwhile, newly operating thermo-electric plants in the north like Cam Pha, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong and Son Dong are now functioning well after technical problems were solved, according to EVN.

These new power plants with a total capacity of 2,000 MW will greatly add to the power supply of the national grid, EVN said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News