Vietnam imports electricity from China, what does the Ministry of Industry and Trade say?

On the afternoon of May 26, the Ministry of Industry and Trade held a conference to exchange information on the situation of electricity supply and some related issues. At the press conference, the effective issue of Vietnam having to import electricity from Laos and China was also raised.

Less electricity, is a neighborly relationship

Talking to the press, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Mr. Dang Hoang An said that Vietnam currently has links with neighboring countries such as Laos, China and Cambodia. In fact, imported electricity output is relatively small, with Laos at about 7 million kWh, China at about 4 million kWh, while the North’s electricity output amounts to 450 million kWh.

“These sources are not necessarily short of new imports, but we have bought electricity from China since 2005 through Lao Cai and Ha Giang, and also imported it with Laos under the Government’s program,” said the Deputy Minister.

The leader of the Ministry of Industry and Trade said that in Laos, hydropower is mainly imported, not only for the North but also in Da Nang and Pleiku. Vietnam is also exporting electricity to Laos and Cambodia. According to Mr. An, this is a neighborly relationship, as well as a connection to the inter-regional power grid.

“For renewable energy sources, currently accounts for hundreds of millions of kWh/day, accounting for 1/9 of the country’s electricity output. This power source contributes a lot, but the actual output of wind power is relatively low because it Depending on wind direction and speed, wind output is only 56% of the expected capacity, total output is about 100 million kWh/day,” said the Deputy Minister.

Leaders of the Ministry of Industry and Trade also emphasized that in the near future, there must still be flexible sources to meet the proportion of electricity in the country.

Earlier, at a discussion on the socio-economic situation on May 25, many National Assembly deputies questioned Vietnam as a wind power power, why should it import electricity from China.

“Why do I have to import electricity, while I read in the newspaper that 4,600 MW of wind power and solar power cannot be connected to the network, cannot be sold to the grid. ?”, delegate Dinh Ngoc Minh (a member of the National Assembly Economic Committee), said.

Explaining the problem of wasting solar power, Finance Minister Ho Duc Phuc said he had discussed with the Minister of Industry and Trade about problems to solve together. However, according to the Minister of Industry and Trade, the problem is not about price but about capacity.

“I asked again, if we have enough load, why do we do it. And if we have already done it, why not reduce the electricity purchased from abroad?”, Minister Ho Duc Phuc said and said the Minister of Industry Thuong replied that because he had signed an agreement with a foreign country, it is now impossible to negotiate to cut it.

I don’t know if there will be a power cut in June

Also at the exchange, Deputy Minister Dang Hoang An said that Vietnam is at the end of the dry season, the demand for electricity on hot days is increasing. At this time of year, the amount of water is low, reducing the power production capacity of the plants.

This year, the water source is low, the flow is only 20% compared to the average of many years, especially in many lakes, it is even lower. Meanwhile, the temperature is always relatively high.

Through monitoring by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the load in the first 4 months of the year increased relatively slightly. However, by the end of May 25, the average daily output was up to 818 million kWh, up 18% over the same period last year. Notably, on May 19, it set a record of 923 kWh.

The State management agency said that besides factors from the weather, it is difficult to prepare power sources for this summer. Some factories with large capacity for long-term repair such as Vung Ang 1, a unit of Pha Lai, Cam Pha factories…

Faced with the above situation, the Prime Minister held a meeting with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and directed by all means to ensure electricity supply. The key solutions offered include: ensuring the operation of power plants, troubleshooting of power units; units have to take care of enough fuel for power generation, firstly supplying coal and oil; mobilize gas fuel sources; regulate hydropower reservoirs reasonably; thoroughly save electricity; soon negotiate prices to bring wind power, solar power transition into the grid.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade forecasts that in the near future, the load will increase to 830 million kWh/day. However, the South enters the rainy season, so the demand for electricity will soon stabilize again. The worry about electricity supply only exists in the North. Deputy Minister An said that there is no plan to cut power in June to ensure electricity supply in this area.