Vietnam’s electricity sector is reportedly planning to increase national power generation to 11,000MW within five years, in order to meet an estimated 13% growth in annual consumption. According to the general director of the Vietnam Electricity Corporation, domestic hydro power plants will be responsible for producing 40.9% of the country’s total electricity capacity, while gas and diesel powered plants will generate 41.5%. The remaining 17.6% will be provided by thermal powered plants.
It is predicted that Vietnam’s power consumption will rise from about 26.75B kWh in 2000 to between 46.5B and 49B kWh in 2005, with a further increase to between 70B and 78B kWh in 2010. To meet increasing demand, the Vietnam Electricity Corporation (EVN) has drafted a ten-year development strategy requiring several major projects that will add another 4000MW to the national gird. Among the new electricity sources, new turbines will be installed at the Yaly hydro power plant which started operating in May 2000.
The 720MW Yaly hydro power project has four 180MW generators and is Vietnam’s second largest hydro plant. Yaly will contribute 3.68B kWh of electricity to the national grid when all four generators are on line towards the end of 2001.
The combined power stations of Da Mi and Hàm Thuãn, on the La Nga river are nearing completion and are scheduled to become operational by early 2001. The plants will have a joint capacity of 457MW and a total annual output of 1.6B kWh, becoming the country’s third-largest power plant after Hòa Bình and Yaly. Japan’s Overseas Development Assistance Fund is providing 85% of the estimated US$650M cost of the power stations, with Electricity Vietnam providing the remainder of the funds.
