HCM CITY — Power shortages could occur in the southern region from 2021 to 2025, according to a report from Việt Nam Electricity (EVN).

From now to 2030, the demand for electricity will continue to grow at a high level, the report said.

The electricity sector will need to ensure 265 to 278 billion KWh by 2020 and 572 to 632 billion KWh by 2030.

The growth rate in the 2021-2030 period will be 8-8.5 per cent.

Trần Đình Nhân, general director of EVN, said the country’s power grid system was unevenly distributed in three areas.

Most of the renewable energy plants are located in the north and central areas of the country, Nhân said.

EVN said it would deploy management measures to make electricity usage more economical and efficient.

The corporation has started construction of 500KV lines at Quảng Trạch-Vũng Áng, Quảng Trạch-Dốc Sỏi and Dốc Sỏi- Pleiku 2. These projects will help connect Quảng Trạch Electricity Centre to the national power grid,

They will play an important role in supplying power for the South and will strengthen the transmission of the 500KV power grid.

Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng said that southern Việt Nam consumed 90 billion KWh of electricity last year, 47 per cent of the usage in the entire country, while the region only provides 35 per cent of the country’s electricity output.

The power shortage situation in the South will continue in upcoming years due to the slow construction progress of power projects in the area, Dũng said.

EVN forecasts that after 2021 the southern area will lack 1.2-1.6 billion KWh per year.

If coal-fired thermal power plants such as Long Phú 1, Hậu River 1, BOT Duyên Hải 2 are not completed on schedule, the southern area will lack 7.2-7.5 billion KWh per year.

According to an EVN representative, only seven coal-fired thermal power plants are under construction, with total capacity of 7,860MW, while the total capacity of all thermal power projects is 26,000MW. — VNS