PM calls for power saving amid crunch, hydropower plants suspend operations
VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued a decree on power saving for the 2023-2025 period and beyond amid a national power crunch, especially in the northern region.
Under the decree dated June 8, the PM pointed out challenges faced by Vietnam due to power shortages and requested that the whole country strive to save at least 2% of total electricity consumption annually and reduce power loss throughout the system by less than 6% by 2025.
Measures must be sought to reduce the peak load capacity of the national power system through the implementation of demand-side management (DSM) and demand response (DR) programs at least 1,500 MW by 2025, said the PM.
The PM encouraged all street lighting systems to use LED lights by 2025 and 50% of office buildings and residential houses to use rooftop solar power by 2030.
To achieve the above goal, the Prime Minister requested all organizations and individuals to seriously and drastically implement the energy saving program, to ensure at least annual saving of 5% of total electricity consumption in the year.
In the latest development, 11 hydroelectric power plants in Vietnam have suspended generating electricity because of low water levels in their reservoirs. Among them are Son La, Lai Chau, Huoi Quang, Thac Ba, Tuyen Quang, Ban Ve, Hua Na, Trung Son, Tri An, Dai Ninh, and Pleikrong.
Only the Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Power Plant is able to maintain power generation until June 12-13.
Power cuts have over the past days thrown business production and people’s daily life into chaos.. Many businesses have suffered a great loss amounting to billions of VND due to power cuts.
Meanwhile, residential quarters in major cities such as Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Ha Long have scrambled to cope with periodical power cuts. As a result, big shopping malls, trading centres, and bookstores have become crowded with people, including children, seeking to avoid the heat.
The hot and dry weather is forecast to deteriorate further in the coming days, seriously affecting the production and mobilization of electricity from hydropower. Experts therefore recommended that businesses and residents use electricity and water resources economically and efficiently.
