Electricity of Vietnam promises no shortage in 2012

News - There will be no power shortage this year even though a serious dry spell has been forecast for the summer, state-owned monopoly Electricity of Vietnam has promised.

EVN is targeting a total supply of 118.5 billion kilowatt-hours this year, a 11.5 percent increase over 2011. Its own plants will generate 50.88 billion kilowatt-hours while the rest will be purchased from other plants and from China.

The company ruled out a supply shortage, saying new power plants would start production this year. An additional 2,692 MW would be added to the national grid, it said.

EVN's deputy general director, Dang Hoang An, said unless the economy expanded too fast or there was a serious technical problem, the company would be able to ensure stable supply.

Meanwhile, the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting warned that drought and low water levels in the northern region could have an impact on power production at the end of the dry season, usually in April.

Nguyen Lan Chau, a senior expert at the center, said three major reservoirs – Hoa Binh, Thac Ba, and Tuyen Quang – are releasing an estimated three million cubic meters of water for the winter-spring rice crop.

“Since the dry spell is expected to be serious, these hydropower reservoirs will likely face water supply problems,” she said.