Vietnam News Service quoted Mr Pham Le Thanh general director of Electricity of Viet Nam as saying that power shortages are expected to hit the remaining months of the year.

One of the reasons is that the Nam Con Son Gas Pipeline Company plans a 15 day gas supply halt to its own pipeline and to the PM3 Ca Mau Gas Pipeline in the Ca Mau Gas Electricity Complex for maintenance purposes.

The supply halt would reduce Ba Ria, Phu My and Nhon Trach thermo electric plants' output by 20% and Ca Mau electric plants' output by 1,500 MW, causing shortages in southern provinces.

Additionally, hydroelectric plant output would decrease by around 4 billion kWh due to low water levels at some reservoirs in northern and central areas, including those at Tuyen Quang and Hoa Binh where water having to be preserved for the next dry season.

According to Mr Thanh, EVN would need to mobilize sources such as oil and diesel fuel in generating over 3 billion kWh. He said that despite efforts, a shortage of around 470 million kWh would still be prevalent throughout most of the country, especially in southern areas, during September and October 2011.

Mr Hoang Quoc Vuong deputy minister of industry and trade said that the company has been urged to take out bank loans, alongside accepting Government support, in order to pay back its debts and purchase enough oil and diesel fuel for power generation. He added that "Power saving and efficiency are also extremely important."

Mr Vu Huy Hoang said that to deal with potential shortages, PetroVietnam has been encouraged to shorten maintenance time on the Nam Con Son pipeline while EVN mobilize alternative resources for power supply.

Mr Duong Quang Thanh deputy director of EVN said that total output last month reached more than 9.8 billion kWh, around 10% higher over the same period last year. This month's target currently stands at around 9.4 billion kWh.

(Sourced from Vietnam News Service)