The Hà Nội Electricity Corporation (EVN HANOI) is speeding up the progress of major works to achieve the city’s electricity development plan in the 2016-2025 period.— VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The Hà Nội Electricity Corporation (EVN HANOI) is speeding up the progress of major works to achieve the city’s electricity development plan in the 2016-2025 period.

EVN HANOI has also invested in upgrading and building power grid infrastructure in suburban areas, in order to enhance the quality of electricity supply for residents and production.

Decision No 711/ QD-UBND dated February 9, 2017, of the Hà Nội City People’s Committee approved the detailed planning for development of medium-voltage electrical network in 2016-2025. According to this plan, the demand for electricity will increase from 1,900 kWh/person/year in 2015 to 2,839 kWh/person/year in 2020 and 4,109kWh/person/year in 2025.

Deputy General Director of EVN HANOI, Nguyễn Anh Dũng, said it had implemented a number of big-investment works since 2016.

According to Dũng, by 2020, EVN HANOI plans to invest VNĐ20 trillion in completing 220kV and 110kV transformer stations, transmission lines and medium and low voltage power grids.

In 2018 alone, units of the corporation completed eight power supply works to better supply the city’s rural residents.

The increasing demand for electricity, lack of transformer stations in suburban areas, and unsynchronised line infrastructure are three main challenges Hà Nội’s electricity sector faces over coming years.

According to Trần Xuân Hùng, Head of the Planning Department of EVN HANOI, summer is still the most stressful period for the electricity industry.

For example, this year, out of 21 days during the prolonged hot weather (from June 4 to 24), 16 days saw power consumption reach over 60 million kWh/day, an increase of several times against a normal day.

During the four hottest days of July, power consumption reached over 70 million kWh/day.

The city’s electricity industry faces other difficulties, including construction sites, the process of approval for ODA (Official Development Assistance) invested works and compensation for site clearance, that have slowed down the progress of projects.

About 40km from the city centre, Phú Xuyên district’s economy remains under-developed despite its potential for high-tech agriculture, industry and tourism. One of the reasons is the lack of a complete power grid infrastructure.

Nguyễn Văn Thảo, Director of An Gia Trading and Construction Engineering Joint-Stock Company (in Phú Xuyên District), said the company had been sharing power with surrounding residential quarters, so the power capacity was very weak.

“It has greatly influenced the process of production and profits of the company,” he said.

Nguyễn Tạ Tấn, a resident living in Phú Xuyên District’s Mỹ Lâm village, said that local people shared a 110kV transformer station with Thường Tín district for a long time.

“The demand is increasing, but the ability to supply electricity for both production and living in the area is limited,” he said.

According to EVN HANOI, just this district among 29 districts (12 inner districts and 17 suburban districts) in the city has no 110kV transformer station to serve the needs of local socio-economic development.

In the capital’s construction plan, the district is defined as a satellite urban area with a series of industrial parks and urban areas. Therefore, building a new transformer station here will be important, said Trần Xuân Hùng. -- VNS