Nearly 480 trillion VND for developing power grid

In the past five years, some 34 power generators with a total capacity of 9,852 megawatts were put into operation and work started on the construction of ten power projects nationwide. Particularly, the Son La Hydro-Power Plant designed with a 2,400-megawatt capacity was completed three years earlier than scheduled, bringing huge economic benefits to the country.

Other projects such as the Vinh Tan 2 thermal power plant and Duyen Hai 1 thermal power plant have made great contributions to ensuring power supply to the southern region.

As many as 865 transformer stations and transmission lines were connected to the national grid during the period. The EVN also completed the 500-kilovolt Pleiku-My Phuoc-Cau Bong high voltage line and the 220-kilovolt Dak Nong- Phuoc Long-Binh Long line to increase the transmitted power between the north and the south.

However, the EVN said that power overloads are occurring in some localities due to a number of delayed projects spurred by insufficient capital, slow land clearance, natural calamities and design changes.

In a bid to meet investment demands, the group targets to mobilise over 600 trillion VND (27.9 billion USD) from 2016-2020 through official development assistance loans and issuing domestic and international bonds.

The group will scrutinise provincial and municipal power development plans nationwide to adjust investments in line with practical needs; ask relevant ministries and organisations to facilitate administrative procedures, land clearance and power planning; and build advanced economic technical standards for the grid to improve efficiency and reduce losses during transmission.

In the next five years, the group will complete 11 power plants with a combined capacity of 5,819 megawatts while ensuring progress of key power projects and making preparations for the country’s first nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan province./.

Source: VEN/ VNA