The Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam's directive on ensuring electricity supply during peak dry months in 2024

The Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam's directive on ensuring electricity supply during peak dry months in 2024 (Internet image)

On March 28, 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam issued Directive 05/CT-BCT on ensuring electricity supply during peak dry months in 2024.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam's directive on ensuring electricity supply during peak dry months in 2024 

In order to ensure stable, safe, and reliable electricity supply during the peak dry months in 2024, the Minister of Industry and Trade requests Vietnam Electricity, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Corporation, Northeast Corporation, and related units to implement the following tasks:

- Fully and effectively implement the tasks assigned in Directive 05/CT-TTg dated February 14, 2024 by the Prime Minister on ensuring electricity supply and coal and gas supply for electricity production in the coming time; the guidance of the Minister of Industry and Trade in the approved Plan for electricity supply and operation of the national electricity system in 2024, the Chart of coal supply for electricity production in 2024; the Plan for gas supply for electricity production in 2024, and other relevant guiding documents.

- Vietnam Electricity shall:

+ Proactively build flexible scenarios to cope with abnormal and extreme changes that may occur, ensuring electricity supply; at the same time, closely monitor weather conditions (temperature, hydrology), the operation of power sources to adjust and regulate large hydropower reservoirs in the North to ensure backup for the power system during the peak dry months of 2024. In case of any abnormal impacts on ensuring the security of electricity supply, promptly report to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for consideration and guidance.

+ Direct the National Load Dispatch Center: i) update and establish operation methods that closely follow the actual situation, in line with the actual changes of electricity loads, weather conditions (temperature, hydrology), the operating conditions of the power system, electricity market, and reasonably mobilize electricity sources in the national power system to ensure sufficient electricity supply for socio-economic development and people's daily needs; ensure compliance with commitments in electricity purchase contracts/trade agreements, fuel supply contracts that have been signed (especially contracts/agreements with BOT power plant projects), and orientations in decisions of the Minister of Industry and Trade approving the Plan for electricity supply and operation of the national power system in 2024, the Chart of coal supply for electricity production in 2024, and the Plan for gas supply for electricity production in 2024; ii) strengthen inspections and reviews of protection relay systems, special discharge circuits on the national power system to ensure compliance with current regulations, ensure reliable and ready operation of protection relay systems to cope with potential incidents on the power system.

+ Strengthen coordination with Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Corporation, Northeast Corporation, and the investors of thermal power plants (TPPs) in calculating, updating, and announcing electricity mobilization needs to ensure close adherence to actual conditions; ensure sufficient time for TPP investors to prepare enough coal for electricity production according to the plan, while maintaining sufficient coal inventory according to the prescribed levels (especially for BOT TPPs and TPPs using imported coal).

+ Direct and urge the supervision, inspection, and reinforcement of equipment of power plants under the management scope to ensure improved reliability of operation and power generation capacity; Review to ensure the normal operation of relay protection systems and automatic systems of power plants; Prepare spare materials for power plant equipment to promptly handle incidents and put them into operation as soon as possible.

+ Enhance the leadership and direction of the National Power Transmission Corporation to concentrate on directing contractors to accelerate the progress of construction, ensuring technical quality to complete the 500kV circuit 3 Quang Trach - Pho Noi as soon as possible (striving to complete and energize in June 2024).

+ Direct the National Power Transmission Corporation and the Power Corporations to strengthen inspections of all transmission lines, areas along the transmission corridor with high fire risks, areas with many trees, dry areas prone to forest fires, and areas where people have the habit of slash-and-burn cultivation to implement timely measures.

+ Direct the Power Corporations, especially the Northern Power Corporation and Hanoi Power Corporation to:

++ Continue reviewing and preparing adjustment plans for electricity loads, focusing on high electricity-consuming households (iron and steel, cement, etc.) to cope with the potential imbalance of supply and demand in the Northern power system.

++ Proactively coordinate and reach agreements with electricity users regarding the monthly electricity supply plan, especially during the dry months, and notify customers in advance for them to adjust their production activities.

++ Proactively report and provide information to the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities on the electricity supply situation and necessary solutions.

++ Coordinate with the Department of Industry and Trade of provinces nationwide to strengthen the dissemination of the electricity supply plan for 2024, the difficulties in supplying electricity to the national power system, especially for the Northern region in 2024, so that the whole society understands and shares the difficulties with the electricity sector, implements energy-saving measures, and uses electricity efficiently and effectively.

- Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Corporation, Northeast Corporation shall:

+ Strengthen coordination with Vietnam Electricity Group and the investor of the North-South Transmission Line Project to ensure the continuous and stable supply of fuel (coal, gas, and oil) for electricity generation. Strictly adhere to the commitments in the signed commercial contracts and fuel supply agreements.

+ Direct and urge the supervision, inspection, and reinforcement of power plant equipment within the management scope to enhance reliability and power generation capacity. Review and ensure the normal operation of relay protection systems and automatic systems in power plants. Prepare spare materials for power plant equipment to promptly handle incidents and minimize downtime.

- Power Generation Units shall:

+ Strictly follow the dispatch orders from the authorized dispatching level. Implement shift operation and report on the operation and incidents of power plants in accordance with the current regulations.

+ Proactively negotiate with fuel suppliers to coordinate the fuel supply plan (including reasonable backup calculations for the dry season) to ensure continuous and stable fuel supply for electricity production, in line with the electricity mobilization plan updated and announced by the National Load Dispatch Center. The investor of the North-South Transmission Line Project is fully responsible if there is a situation where power units are ready for operation but lack fuel, leading to insufficient capacity or shutdown.

+ Strengthen supervision, inspection, and reinforcement of power plant equipment to enhance reliability, availability factor, and power generation capacity. Review and ensure the normal operation of relay protection systems and automatic systems in power plants. Prepare spare materials for power plant equipment to promptly handle incidents and minimize downtime.

More details can be found in Directive 05/CT-BCT, which comes into force from March 28, 2024.

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