HCMC – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered that new power plants be brought online urgently and grid upgrades accelerated to ensure stable supply amid record energy use and severe heat.
The directive follows national peak electricity load hitting an all-time high of 51,672 megawatts on June 2, reported the Government’s news website (baochinhphu.vn). The Government cited extreme heat linked to climate change as straining the power grid, particularly in northern Vietnam.
According to the approved plan, Nhon Trach 3 thermal power plant is to begin generation this June, with Nhon Trach 4 plant scheduled for August. Unit 1 of Quang Trach 1 thermal power plant must be ready for grid connection by August 19. Other thermal plants are also expected to come online in the foreseeable future.
The expanded Hoa Binh hydropower plant is set to have two new units operational by September.
Key transmission projects, including the 500kV Lao Cai-Vinh Yen line and the Haiphong-Thai Binh line, are targeted for completion by August 19. Other approved transmission infrastructure projects are to be commissioned by August.
Alongside boosting supply, the prime minister emphasized the need for robust electricity conservation measures. These include initiatives to replace existing public, advertising, and decorative lighting systems with energy-efficient alternatives, the broader application of automatic control technologies in power consumption, and the promotion of on-site solar power generation.
Vietnam Electricity Group was told to negotiate electricity purchases from private investors based on market mechanisms.
