Vietnam urged to reduce power losses

The electricity industry must improve its management and technology to reduce losses in the transmission grid as well as eradicate power stealing, which are very serious in rural and remote areas, delegates heard at a seminar in Con Dao Island in the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau.

Viet Nam is ranked 88th of 137 nations for power loss, with 8.95 per cent of power lost in the transmission process, according to the International Energy Agency.

“Upgrading technology for the transmission grid and increasing awareness in rural and remote residents about power stealing are two urgent jobs,” Nguyen Tan Nghiep from the Southern Power Association told the Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper.

The Viet Nam Electricity Group (EVN) has set the goal to reduce power loss from 8.95 per cent to 6.5 per cent by 2020 by applying new technical and operational solutions as well as building new electricity plants and transmission grids.

During 2016-20, EVN has invested in 13 electricity projects with total capacity of 6,989 MW.

By ensuring electricity supply, power won’t need to be transmitted far distances and it will help reduce losses.

For the transmission grid, a 500kV and 220kV grid in Ha Noi, HCM City and other big and industrial cities and provinces will be developed with modern technology to limit power loss.

Lack of supply

By 2020, hydropower, renewable and thermal power by gas will only provide 48.3 per cent of power demand and fall to 39.9 per cent by 2030, but power demand is expected to increase 9 – 10 per cent each year during 2016 -2030.

Furthermore, a nuclear power plant in the central province of Ninh Thuan has been stopped by the Government, therefore, coal thermal power must be considered for economic efficiency and environmental pollution.

“In the context of a 50 per cent shortage of power, proper power supply must be carefully chosen,” Dr Tran Trong Quyet, vice chairman of the Southern Power Association, said.

He pointed out that renewable power would ensure environmental protection, but it would require a huge initial investment.

“Coal thermal power will require a lot of land, is a big problem for environmental pollution and is a large expenditure, but it still plays a very important role in ensuring national power security,” he added.

To limit the impact of coal thermal power, Quyet warned that modern technology to deal with coal slag and ensure coal supply must be done carefully.