Gov’t demands quick deployment of 9 power projects to secure power supply

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc demands power shortage is not allowed under any circumstances

The power projects include Quang Trach I, Quang Trach II, Dung Quat I, Dung Quat II, O Mon III and O mom IV, and expansion of Hoa Binh, Yaly, and Tri An hydropower plants.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade was asked to innovate the methods of supervision over power projects, especially key and urgent ones  without further delay.

Econonic giants like Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN), Petro Viet Nam (PVN), and National Coal-Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin) have to ensure progress of assigned power projects.

Speaking at the Cabinet meeting last month, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued an ultimatum that "power shortage is not allowed under any circumstances."

The Government chief underlined that the electricity sector must be self-reliant and ensure tranparancy and openness throughout the process of investment, production and development of power sources and transmission system.

The EVN shall take prime responsibility in ensuring power supply while the VinaComin and the Petro Viet Nam shall have to actively involve in developing power sources, Phuc said.

At the same time, social resources need to be mobilized for the development of power sources, he added.

Phuc pointed out that a series of measures have been adopted by the leaders of the Government but some mega power projects, which are planned to complete by 2023, have been slowly carried out, leading to possible power shortage in 2022-2023, or even in 2021.

Construction of Quang Trach I power plant was kicked off in July 2011 with total investment capital of US$1.7 billion with designed capacity of 1,200MV and is expected to contribute to the national grid an annual capacity of 8.5 billion kWh.

However, over five years after the ground-breaking ceremony, the construction has been immobile, except a finished office building.

PM Phuc also tasked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to design and submit the 8^th National Power Development Master Plan for the next period to the Government./.

By Quang Minh