Power cuts to worsen as shortages predicted nationwide
Source: 12-APR-2008 Intellasia | Thanhniennews
Apr 12, 2008 - 7:00:00 AM Unexpected power outages in Hanoi and HCM City have rendered the already hot weather siszling as residents are unable to use fans to cool down and are often left without running water.

Technical breakdowns at power plants and low water levels at major hydroelectric dams will exacerbate the electricity shortfall and trigger widespread power cuts, the state monopoly power supplier said Wednesday.

In a dispatch, Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) admitted 2008 is going to be a critical year for the company as it attempts to meet soaring demand for power, especially during the dry season which lasts from January to May.

Vietnam's electricity demands this year are expected to rise to 80 billion kilowatt-hours, a 15.8% increase on 2007 levels, EVN said.

EVN blamed the increasing demand on the fast-expanding economy.

The group said a power dearth was looming nationwide due to technical breakdowns at major power plants and low water levels at hydroelectric reservoirs.

So far, the Ca Mau One Thermal Power Plant in the Mekong Delta region has only supplied 42% of its planned capacity, EVN said.

The extended Uong Bi Power Plant in the northern province of Quang Ninh has also suffered several technical breakdowns, EVN added.

The first turbine belonging to the Tuyen Quang hydroelectric power plant in the north was destined for the same fate, while gas supply from the Cuu Long and Nam Con Son pipelines was also unstable, EVN said.

The sluggish progress of other major power plants across the country will also add to the electricity shortage woes.

With about 40% of Vietnam's annual electricity production from hydroelectric power plants, low water levels at reservoirs are another concern.

Water levels at affected reservoirs are two to seven metres lower than normal, EVN said.

Nguyen Manh Hung, EVN's deputy general director, said if seasonal floods and rains which normally occur in June do not eventuate, the power shortage situation will worsen.

Paying the price

The rolling outages caused by the electricity shortfall have extracted a heavy toll on a broad spectrum of people, particularly in Hanoi and HCM City.

The Hanoi Electricity Co said Wednesday the power demands in the city had reached 18 million kWh during peak times but the allocated supply was only 14.3 million kWh, suggesting cuts would affect Hanoi's major districts like Hoan Kiem, Dong Da, and Thanh Xuan.

Affected residents have aired their grievances, saying the power cuts had seriously affected their lives.

The regular cuts, which last from 5 a.m. until 6 p.m. or even 8 p.m., have prompted households to rush out and buy power generators, sending up the price of the generators.

The problem is compounded as the water supplier is also being affected by the blackouts.

The Hanoi Clear Water Supply Co said Wednesday many outages had happened without advanced warning halting the water supply and leaving many districts short.

As a result, it has asked the city power supplier to announce power cuts in advance.

The city said Wednesday it would continue the power cuts until June, however promised the outages would not happen two days in a row.

HCM City residents, particularly in outlying districts like District 12 and Hoc Mon, have suffered as well.

Disaffected people complained power cuts had cut off water supplies, exacerbating the already hot weather in the city.

The Hoc Mon District's Load Dispatch Centre attributed the regular power cuts to the overhaul of a transformer aiming to improve power capacity in the long-term.

It apologised to affected customers and promised to take action to handle complaints lodged by disgruntled residents.