Also attending the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister and Head of the Government Office Tran Van Son, Chairman of the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises Nguyen Hoang Anh, and leaders of ministries, sectors, corporations and general companies in the energy sector.

In his opening speech, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that production and business are on the path to recovery, the weather is about to enter the peak of hot weather, leading to increased demand for electricity consumption.

Recalling the situation of local power shortages in 2023, the Prime Minister emphasized that this year, it is necessary to focus on operating and consolidating power transmission capacity; strengthen review, inspection, and supervision, and avoid the situation of "waiting until the last minute".

Reports and opinions at the recent review meeting showed that the Government, the Prime Minister, and the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the field have continuously directed synchronously, comprehensively, and comprehensively, requiring ministries, branches, relevant agencies, and localities to carry out specific tasks and solutions to ensure adequate electricity supply; the Prime Minister has also directly inspected and urged the implementation of many power source and grid projects and works.

However, electricity consumption demand during the dry season (May to July) is forecast to grow very high (up to 13%, much higher than the plan of about 9.6%), with the North alone expected to increase by a record 17% compared to the same period in 2023.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in the context of unfavorable hydrological developments in the first three months of the year, in order to achieve the goal of maximizing water savings in hydroelectric reservoirs, thermal power sources, especially coal-fired thermal power, have been highly mobilized to meet load demand; at the same time, increasing electricity transmission from the South and Central regions to the North.

Although the demand for electricity increased higher than forecast, the national power system met the actual demand for electricity in the first 3 months of the year, especially during the New Year and Lunar New Year holidays. In the first quarter of 2024, the cumulative electricity output reached 69.34 billion kWh, an increase of 11.77% over the same period in 2023; the average daily electricity output reached 762 million kWh, an increase of 10.4% over the same period in 2023.

To ensure electricity supply in 2024, especially during the peak dry season, from November 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will coordinate with Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and relevant ministries, branches and units to develop a power supply plan for 2024; develop power distribution plans; scenarios for balancing electricity output; balancing the capacity of power plants; implementing solutions for operating power plants; promoting investment projects for the construction of power works.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has issued Decisions approving the plan for electricity supply and operation of the power system in 2024; coal supply chart for power generation; gas supply plan for power generation; in particular, separately approving the electricity supply plan for the peak months of the dry season from April to July 2024.

At the same time, closely monitor the supply of coal and gas for power generation; organize working groups to review the preparation for dry season power supply at power generation, transmission and distribution units; speed up the progress of the 500 kV Quang Trach - Pho Noi transmission line project to promptly serve power supply during peak months.

On that basis, the Ministry of Industry and Trade affirmed that electricity supply for 2024 will be basically guaranteed.

In the coming years, after the 500 kV line 3 Quang Trach - Pho Noi is put into operation with all necessary technical conditions, the Northern power system will be supplemented with increased capacity/electricity from the Central and Southern regions.

However, with the proportion of hydropower sources accounting for more than 32%, the supply-demand balance in the Northern region will sometimes appear unbalanced in the event of hydrological conditions being affected by climate change and incidents with coal-fired thermal power plants. Therefore, the early addition of new power sources, especially baseload power sources for the North, is extremely necessary...

Also at the meeting, Vietnam Electricity Group, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, and Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group reported on the operation of power plants and measures to ensure stable operation of the plants, especially not to schedule maintenance and repair during the dry and hot months. Groups and corporations in the oil, gas and coal sectors also committed to ensuring adequate fuel supply for electricity production.

In his concluding remarks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that the demand for electricity for production, business and consumption has increased, which is a good thing because it not only shows socio-economic development but also contributes to growth.

Reports and opinions at the meeting showed that there is no shortage of basic electricity and fuel is available; however, it is necessary to manage it appropriately, intelligently, smoothly, and effectively with a comprehensive solution, diversifying electricity sources, urgently completing power transmission lines, and promptly removing related legal obstacles, the Prime Minister emphasized.

With the goal of not having a shortage of electricity for production, business and consumption under any circumstances, especially due to subjective reasons from the management work, the Prime Minister requested that ministries, localities, enterprises and related entities, based on their functions, tasks and powers, must develop response plans for all situations, including the worst ones; promote the highest responsibility, maintain courage and calmness in the face of difficulties and challenges; forecast and closely assess the situation and response capacity, review data to ensure accuracy; propose flexible, reasonable, timely and effective tasks and solutions.

In order not to let people and businesses worry about electricity, the Prime Minister emphasized and pointed out the tasks and solutions for each stage in ensuring electricity supply, including: Power source, electricity load, electricity distribution, electricity use and electricity price.

Regarding power sources, it is necessary to calculate to ensure power sources for all regions, paying attention to peak months in the North (May, June, July, especially the expected load increase in June of about 2,500 MW). Diversify power sources, review all sources that can be mobilized, and promote large power sources.

To ensure fuel (coal, water, oil, gas) for electricity production, coal-fired thermal power plants purchase maximum domestically produced coal, minimizing the purchase of imported coal (this helps promote domestic production and business, creates livelihoods and jobs for people, saves foreign currency in the current context, and prevents negativity). Coal corporations and general companies promote maximum exploitation.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development coordinates with agencies and directs units in charge of hydroelectric reservoirs to strengthen inspection, calculation, and specific planning for water intake from hydroelectric reservoirs to serve agricultural production, prioritizing maximum reserve water for power generation during peak periods and enhancing solutions for water saving.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade develops a monthly electricity supply plan; directs the operation of power plants to ensure overall balance and benefits, as well as ensure the minimum capacity of power plants.

Regarding the mechanism and policy for electricity trading, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant agencies urgently complete and submit to competent authorities for promulgation the mechanism and policy for direct electricity trading between power generation units and large electricity users; the mechanism to encourage the development of rooftop solar power installed in private homes, offices, and self-producing and self-consuming industrial parks; the mechanism and policy for the development of gas-fired and offshore wind power; the policy for waste-to-energy and biomass power, etc.

Regarding power transmission, the Prime Minister requested that the 500 kV line 3 be completed immediately, each stage reviewed, ensuring progress, and definitely completed before June 30; requested provincial leaders to strengthen inspection, urge, and encourage cadres and workers at the construction site to work through holidays.

The Prime Minister specifically directed a number of contents related to the construction of poles, lines, corridors... of the 500 kV line 3, especially reviewing to increase the use of domestic products and promote domestic production.

Along with that, strive to complete transmission projects to serve electricity import from Laos in May 2024 such as Dak Ooc switching station, 200 kV Nam Sum - Nong Cong line...

Relevant localities quickly clear the land and ensure corridors for power transmission lines.

The Prime Minister requested reasonable electricity distribution, especially paying attention to peak hot weather; using electricity economically and effectively.

Regarding electricity prices, the Prime Minister requested agencies and units to comply with regulations and authority, with a suitable roadmap, without "jerking"; the electricity industry promotes cost savings, enhances digital transformation application, increases competitiveness, and reduces compliance costs for people and businesses. Electricity prices must be appropriate, have healthy competition and be regulated by the State.

Press and media agencies shall allocate appropriate time to promote propaganda and guidance on economical and efficient use of electricity, policies and methods for calculating electricity bills; continue to be transparent and public with data and information related to the situation of the electricity industry to create consensus in society.

Ministries and sectors strengthen inspection and prevention of negative activities in the electricity sector in general and electricity production and consumption in particular. The Prime Minister also requested power plants to focus on production; power projects to increase the use of domestic products.

The Prime Minister assigned the Government Office to absorb opinions at the meeting, complete and issue a notice of the meeting's conclusion for timely and effective implementation; collect and classify proposals and recommendations at the meeting to submit to the Prime Minister for assignment to ministries and branches for handling, and the Deputy Prime Ministers to directly direct./.

Government Portal