By all means, there will be no shortage of coal or fuel for electricity production.

With the risk of power shortages during peak hot weather, the Minister of Industry and Trade has directed that no coal or fuel shortages be allowed for electricity production at all costs. On May 14, speaking to reporters, the leader of the Ministry of Industry and Trade said that the Ministry of Industry and Trade has just deployed a series of solutions to implement the Prime Minister's telegram No. 397/CD-TTg dated May 13 on proactively implementing urgent measures to respond to the risk of heat, drought, water shortages, and saltwater intrusion.

Accordingly, recently, on May 13, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien chaired a working session with the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises, Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN), Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN), Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (TKV), and Dong Bac Corporation on the plan to supply electricity and operate the national power system during the peak hot months of 2023.

*Minister of Industry and Trade chairs meeting on ensuring electricity for hot season 2023.*

By all means, do not let there be a power shortage.

At the meeting, representatives of EVN's leadership reported and presented the operation of the power system since the beginning of the year and commented on the operation status in the coming time. Accordingly, the operation of the power system during the peak hot months (May, June and July) will be very difficult, especially the Northern power system will face the situation of not being able to meet the peak load of the system with the largest capacity shortage of about 1,600 MW to 4,900 MW.

Representatives of PVN, TKV and Dong Bac Corporation have committed to creating maximum conditions to supply coal and gas for power generation to ensure electricity supply for the country.

After listening to the opinions of the units, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien directed that no power shortages should occur by any means. The Ministry will consider handling irresponsible individuals and organizations.

The Minister emphasized and requested units to seriously implement the approved plan for electricity supply and coal supply for power generation, with the ultimate goal of ensuring electricity supply for the country. By all means, there must be no shortage of coal or fuel for power production, strictly implementing the direction of the Prime Minister in Directive No. 29/CT-TTg dated December 2, 2019 on continuing to strengthen state management of coal production, trading and coal supply for power production.

Along with actively and proactively overcoming objective causes due to weather and climate, the Minister noted that units must seriously implement effective management solutions. The Ministry's leaders will seriously consider and handle irresponsible individuals and organizations if power shortages occur due to subjective causes.

*Ensure coal for electricity production.*

In addition, for qualified renewable energy plants, the Minister also directed urgent negotiations and mobilization.

For Vietnam Electricity Group, the Minister of Industry and Trade requested to focus all efforts on operating the power system, have urgent solutions, in any circumstances, the national power system must be guaranteed, meeting the needs of socio-economic development, essential needs of production and business life of the people; promote the release of capacity and readiness of power plants, promptly overcome power source and grid incidents; save all costs to serve the primary fuel needs for power plants.

At the same time, urgently negotiate and mobilize power plants that are ready to generate electricity; including transitional renewable energy plants to increase the capacity of the power system; speed up the purchase and sale of electricity with signed electricity import projects. The Minister emphasized the need to speed up the negotiation process to mobilize renewable energy sources for businesses that have met the conditions in the past.

At the same time, Vietnam Electricity Group immediately launched an electricity saving movement in the whole industry, coordinating with the People's Committees of provinces and cities and large electricity users to join hands in saving electricity. According to Minister Nguyen Hong Dien, this needs to be considered a stronger solution, further promoting communication on electricity saving, especially with large electricity users.

Vietnam Electricity Group and related units also need to have proactive and flexible solutions, strictly implement regulations on exploiting and mobilizing water resources in reservoirs; ensure effective use of hydropower in the context of water shortage for hydropower.

Proactively import coal and fuel for electricity production

For the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group and the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group, the Minister directed that the units need to urge the troubleshooting and early operation of generators, ensuring reliable and stable operation of power plants managed by the group to ensure power supply for the entire system.

These corporations closely coordinate with EVN and relevant parties on the supply of gas and coal to power plants in accordance with the 2023 National Power System Operation and Power Supply Plan and the gas and coal purchase and sale contracts signed between the parties, develop appropriate repair and maintenance plans, increase exploitation and import to avoid gas and coal shortages for power production.

The functional units of the Ministry of Industry and Trade will inspect and supervise the implementation of instructions from competent authorities to ensure electricity supply, and guide power generation units to complete legal procedures to promptly put them into operation.

Source