Speaking at the event, PM asked for enhancing electricity production in line with environmental protection. In addition, PM Phuc hailed the crucial contribution of the industry and trade sector, especially the EVN, to the nation's fulfillment of 12 criteria in 2016, including the first-ever recorded number of 110,000 newly-established enterprises with the capital up 40%.
The electricity sector also ensured the supply of electricity for the economy and people’s lives, guaranteed financial balance and benefits as well as contributed to improving the business environment. The PM referred to the electricity reserves, which are forecasted to be insufficient for the South in the 2017-2019 phase. He asked to enhance electricity production to meet the nation’s GPD growth of 6.5-7% in the upcoming years and serve for the number of one million businesses by 2020.
The electricity sector also ensured the supply of electricity for the economy and people’s lives, guaranteed financial balance and benefits as well as contributed to improving the business environment. The PM referred to the electricity reserves, which are forecasted to be insufficient for the South in the 2017-2019 phase. He asked to enhance electricity production to meet the nation’s GPD growth of 6.5-7% in the upcoming years and serve for the number of one million businesses by 2020.
The panorama of the conference
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The PM required the EVN to maintain its key role in providing national electricity, ensuring the rate of progress of power plants currently underway and strengthening the management works. He approved the viewpoint of accelerating science and technology to meet international standard, proposing the sector directly make contribution to upgrade Viet Nam’s competitiveness indexes among ASEAN nations.
Towards that goal, the group needs to ensure the progress of current power projects, while carrying out new ones and working on projects to develop renewable energy. It should work out mechanisms to encourage all economic sectors to produce electricity and fine-tune financial mechanisms, the PM said.
The PM asked the group to push ahead with restructuring to improve its operational efficiency and competitive edge as well as complete the equitisation of its three power generation corporations in 2017-2018.
EVN will keep operating six strategic, multi-target plants and relevant ones, whilst equitising the retail and service sections, he directed. The Government leader requested EVN strengthen management, especially financial administration, to prevent corruption in the equitisation and investment stages.
He reminded the group to focus on environmental protection and not simply produce electricity at all costs. Regarding the nuclear power project in the central province of Ninh Thuan, PM Phuc ordered EVN to arrange the project’s human resources appropriately and utilise infrastructure effectively to make up the shortfall of electricity due to the project’s halt.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc made speech at the conference
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He pointed to shortcomings such as uneven distribution of electricity in the southern region, economic losses of some fundamental construction projects, and several projects harming local people’s living environment. A shortage of electricity in the middle and long term is likely to occur, he worried, adding that the EVN should work out measures to meet the country’s development targets such as economic growth of 6.5%-7%, one million businesses by 2020, and an export surge of 8%-10%.
EVN needs to step up administrative reform and directly help the country enter the leading group of competitiveness in ASEAN, he said, noting that Vietnam is ranked sixth in ASEAN in the index of electricity access. The group coordinated with the irrigation sector to provide over 3 billion cubic meters of water for the 2015-2016 winter-spring crops in the northern delta while ensuring sufficient water for drought-hit areas in the central and Central Highland regions.
At the end of 2016, 73 power plants joined the power market, generating 17,929 MW of electricity. The EVN fetched over VND264.6 trillion (US$13 billion plus) in revenue last year, up 12.9% against 2015. The group also put into operation the Lai Chau hydropower project in the northern province of Lai Chau in 2016, one year earlier than scheduled, saving VND5 trillion and ensuring electricity for flood-hit localities.
In 2016, the EVN generated and purchased 176.99 billion kWh of electricity, a year-on-year increase of 10.8%. The EVN fetched over VND264.680 trillion in revenues last year, up 13% against 2015. Commercial electricity reached 149 billion kWh, a year-on-year rise of 11%. The EVN operated five turbines with the capacity of 2,305 MW and completed 297 electricity grid projects in the year.
The Prime Minister noted, the Corporation needs to step up administrative reforms and better serve citizens and businesses, the electricity sector must contribute to improving the competitive environment of Vietnam, the top leader in the ASEAN region. In the process of development, the Corporation must go in hand with environmental protection, does not produce electricity at all costs that affect people's lives.
