Workers repair an electricity transmission facility (Photo: VNA)HCM City (VNA)– Vietnam’s electricity supply might meet only half of total demand in the future,predicted Tran Trong Quyet, vice chairman of the Southern Power Association.
Hydropower, renewableand gas-fueled thermal power are expected to provide 48.3 percent of powerdemand by 2020 and 39.9 percent by 2030, while power demand is expected toincrease 9 – 10 percent each year during 2016 -2030.
Furthermore, theGovernment halted two nuclear power projects in the central province of NinhThuan, therefore, coal power is needed for power security but has drawbacks ineconomic efficiency and environmental pollution.
Quyet said renewablepower would be better for the environment but requires huge initial investment.
Coal power needs a lotof land, causes environmental issues and is expensive, but still plays an importantrole in ensuring national power security, he added.
To limit the impact ofcoal power, Quyet warned that technology to deal with coal slag must be usedcarefully, besides measures to ensure coal supply.
The Electricity ofVietnam (EVN) has used significant sums on treating exhaust fumes from old coalthermal power plants, including Pha Lai, which received more than 1.34 trillionVND (58.96 million USD), Hai Phong 1.57 trillion VND (69.08 million USD) andQuang Ninh 1.74 trillion VND (76.56 million VND).
Nguyen Van Thu,Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Mechanical Industry, stressed thenecessity of coal-based energy.
He recommended theGovernment issue policies and regulations to ensure sustainable development ofthis power, instead of enterprises selecting their own technologies andcontractors.
Mentioning 14 coalthermal power projects earmarked for the Mekong Delta region, he said theconstruction must be done following strict technology requirements.
The sun is also aprominent source of energy, with the south paying more attention to solarpower. The EVN Southern Power Corporation is investing in a solar batteryproject on Con Dao island.-VNA
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