The dry season in 2015 is forecast to extend to longer than usual annual duration, with high rising temperatures, causing widespread water shortages. Meanwhile, the demands for electricity increase, entailing the worrying concern in energy supply.
Through actual investigation in the hydropower companies, the representative of the Industrial Safety Techniques and Environment Agency (Ministry of Industry and Trade) reveals that the current 131 hydropower plants have low water levels, of which only 20 reservoirs can have spilled discharge; 8 reservoirs have dead level, so the power supply for the region will be difficult, especially in the central region and the Central Highlands.
However, the Electricity Regulatory Authorrity (MOIT) confirms that although hydropower has difficulty due to unfavourable weather, it still concentrates on discharging the water for downstream service in the Central region and Central Highlands. Accordingly, the power supply in 2015 dry season is ensured, because there are 10 new power generating works put into operation since the beginning of dry season.
According to EVN, the power system capacity can meet the load demand and even have standby capacity .
To ensure the power supply for the dry season, EVN has focused on the power projects, especially the thermal power in the Southern Central and the South such as Vinh Tan, Duyen Hai 1; and O Mon 1, as well as the projects of electricity transmission grids 500kV-220kV, typically and namely Pleiku - My Phuoc - Cau Bong 500kV line project; Phu Lam - O Mon 500kV line , Vinh Tan - Song May 500kV line.
By this time, the power corporations have been undertaking the renovation work to increase the capacity of transformers, making new investment in the transmission lines to increase the reliability of energy supply, and actively deploying measures to prevent overloading in the hot season.
The representative of Southern Power Corporation (EVN SPC) pledged to follow the guidelines of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and EVN for ensuring power supply during 2015 dry season, not to reduce the sub-load, especially for production and daily life. Beside the appropriate power supply planning, EVN SPC is implementing investment projects as planned, including 3 stations of 220kV, 104 works of 110kV grid , electricity distribution networks; capacity and load increase and installation of new machines to prevent overloading, namely 110kV stations in Can Tho, Dong Xuyen, VinhLong, and Di Linh.
Also in Ho Chi Minhcity, apart from the communication on power saving solutions, grid line safety, the HCM City Power Corporation continues to promote the construction and hot repair while performing the grid maintenance to minimize the power cuts.
As recommended by EVN, to reduce pressure during the dry season, the electricity authority also advised the businesses and people to raise the awareness of economical and efficient use of electricity. Besides, there should be the input from local authorities in removing the obstacles in terms of land site clearance for power projects; promoting the communication to protect the grid right of way safely, and the power saving program.
Trong Tan