Decision 3598/QD-BCT in 2020 approving the National Power Supply and Operation Plan in 2021 issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade

DECISION

GRANTING APPROVAL FOR 2021 PLAN FOR POWER SUPPLY AND OPERATION OF NATIONAL POWER SYSTEM

THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 98/2017/ND-CP dated August 18, 2017 defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Industry and Trade;

Pursuant to the Law on Electricity dated December 03, 2004 and Law on Amendments to some Articles of the Law on Electricity dated November 20, 2012;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 137/2013/ND-CP dated October 21, 2013 elaborating some Articles of the Law on Electricity and Law on Amendments to some Articles of the Law on Electricity;

Pursuant to the Circular No. 40/2014/TT-BCT dated November 05, 2014 of the Minister of Industry and Trade stipulating the procedure for dispatching of national power system;

Pursuant to the Circular No. 31/2019/TT-BCT dated November 18, 2019 of the Minister of Industry and Trade on amendments to some Articles of the Circular No. 40/2014/TT-BCTstipulating the procedure for dispatching of national power system;

Pursuant to the Circular No. 25/2016/TT-BCT dated November 30, 2016 of the Minister of Industry and Trade stipulating electricity transmission system;

Pursuant to the Circular No. 30/2019/TT-BCT dated November 18, 2019 of the Minister of Industry and Trade on amendments to some Articles of the Circular No. 25/2016/TT-BCT stipulating electricity transmission system;

At the request of the Vietnam Electricity in the Document No. 8488/EVN-KH dated December 28, 2020 on 2021 plan for power supply and operation of national power system;

At the request of the Director General of the Electricity Regulatory Authority,

HEREBY DECIDES:

Article 1. The 2021 plan for power supply and operation of national power system prepared by the Vietnam Electricity is approved. To be specific:

1. Total electricity production of power plants (at the generator terminals) and imported electricity nationwide, including rooftop solar electricity production in 2021 is 262,410 billion kWh, including 126,896 billion kWh in the dry season and 135,515 billion kWh in the rainy season.

2. The nationwide maximum capacity (Pmax) in 2021 is 41,795 MW.

3. Basic input indicators used to formulate the 2021 plan for power supply and operation of national power system consist of GDP growth rate, amount of water flowing to hydropower reservoirs and water level of hydropower reservoirs at the beginning of the months in 2021 which are provided in the Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 enclosed herewith.

4. The electricity generation structure by power generation sources, expected electricity production of power plants and imported electricity in 2021 is as follows:

a) Expected electricity production by power generation sources and imported of the entire national power system in 2021 (see Appendix 3 enclosed herewith);

b) Expected electricity production of each power plant every month in 2021 (see Appendix 4 enclosed herewith). Where:

- Electricity-generating units shall proactively carry out its electricity generation work, including ensuring available capacity of generating sets and arranging primary fuel sources (coal, gas, oil) for monthly electricity generation in 2021;

- Amounts of electricity traded among power plants (according to the power purchase agreement and electricity solution) shall be determined according to relevant regulations on electricity prices and electricity market.

4. The expected total installed capacity of new power plants (excluding rooftop solar power) expected to be put into operation in 2021 is 6438 MW. List and scale of new power plants expected to be put into operation in 2021 are provided in the Appendix 5 enclosed herewith.

Article 2. Implementation

1. The Vietnam Electricity (EVN) shall:

a) Stick to and continuously update actual changes to power demand, conditions for operation of the power system and electricity market, ensure safe, stable and reliable operation and supply of electricity for the national power system;

b) Direct its affiliated units to prepare plans to ensure power supply to major political and cultural events and holidays in 2021. Direct the National Power Transmission Corporation, National Load Dispatch Center, power corporations and power companies of provinces and central-affiliated cities to proactively formulate and strictly implement the plan to ensure power supply of each local government, especially Hanoi City during the 13th National Party Congress and propose solutions for resolving difficulties;

c) Regularly monitor and update basic input indicators specified in the Appendix 1 enclosed herewith. If power supply security is affected, promptly report the Ministry of Industry and Trade (through the Electricity Regulatory Authority) for consideration and directions;

d) Proactively report to and cooperate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, National Centre for Hydro - Meteorological Forecasting and provincial People’s Committees having hydroelectric reservoirs,  especially those in the North, Central, the Central Highlands and Southeast to develop and implement hydroelectric reservoir regulation plans according to the inter-reservoir operation procedures approved by the Prime Minister and the single reservoir operation procedures approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade; ensure economical and efficient use of water;

dd) Improve available capacity of power plants invested in and managed by EVN; direct the Power Generation Corporation to regularly and improve equipment of power plants to increase the operational reliability and power plants’ capacity for electricity generation;

d) Direct Power Generation Corporation and affiliated electricity-generating units to:

- Expeditiously cooperate with Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin), Dong Bac Corporation and other enterprises having other legal sources of coal in conducting negotiation and signing a coal purchase and sale agreement in 2021 and strictly adhere to the agreement to ensure stable and sufficient supply of coal to serve operation of power plants;

- Review and assess the use of blended coal for power generation by power plants; cooperate with Vinacomin, Dong Bac Corporation and other enterprises having other legal sources of coal in researching and using blended coal and imported coal for electricity generation to ensure safe and efficient operation of power plants and satisfy environmental requirements according to regulations.

- Develop plans to provide adequate coal receiving infrastructure (wharfs, channel dredging, loading and unloading equipment, coal warehouses, etc.) and ensure the availability and sufficient and appropriate amount of coal reserves in warehouses to meet the demand for coal for electricity generation in 2021;

- Continue to strictly and fully perform tasks of supply of coal for electricity generation as assigned by the Prime Minister in the Directive No. 29/CT-TTg dated December 02, 2019;

g) Direct electricity-generating units managing and operating power plants to provide auxiliary services to ensure the availability and meet the operation requirements of the power system;

h) Direct the National Load Dispatch Center (EVNNLDC) to:

- Develop a method for appropriately mobilizing power generation sources, proactively formulate an appropriate plan to manage sources of renewable energy and other power generation sources in the system, ensure safe, stable and reliable operation of the power system in 2021;

- Cooperate with the National Power Transmission Corporation and power corporations in reviewing the 500-220-110kV transmission system operation plan; check and review the generating set shedding decision and special shedding systems in the entire power system, under-frequency load shedding relay system (F81) in order to respond to serious incidents happening to the 500 kV North - South transmission system when power is transmitted at high voltages, thereby eliminating the risk of disintegration of regional power systems;

- Closely cooperate with units managing hydroelectric reservoirs to update and monitor the actual hydrological situations and satisfy competent authorities’ requirements concerning the demand for water in the lowlands, thereby carrying out flexible operation of hydroelectric power plants, and economically and efficient using water sources.

- Closely cooperate with investors in and units managing and operating sources of renewable energy (wind, solar) to serve trial operation and commissioning in accordance with prevailing regulations, and connecting them to and safely, stably and reliably operating them in the national power system. Regularly update information about sources of renewable energy expected to be put into operation in 2021 to update and develop an appropriate operation method to ensure maximum and efficient exploitation of renewable energy sources according to technical conditions of the national power system;

- Closely cooperate with PetroVietnam Gas Joint Stock Corporation and electricity-generating units gas fired in the Southwest and Southeast so as to regularly update the capacity for gas supply and provide monthly information about the expected electricity production of power plants to ensure appropriate exploitation and sources of gas in the Southwest and Southeast and generate electricity of power plants to serve power demand;

- Provide monthly updated data on expected electricity production of sources of energy to providers of fuels (coal, gas, oil) and electricity-generating units to develop an appropriate plan to provide fuels for electricity generation to ensure the availability.

i) Direct the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) and power corporations to:

- Regularly inspect and review status of equipment on the transmission and distribution grids, promptly repair damage to equipment operating on the power grid, ensure safe operation of power corporations in the entire national power system;

- Formulate a plan to ensure safe, stable, reliable and continuous operation of power grids;

- Speed up the investment, construction and operation of key transmission grids, especially power transmission works, works for relieving capacity of sources of renewable energy (wind and solar) and other and micro hydroelectric power sources in the Northwest of the North, and works for transferring compensate capacitor to maintain constant voltage in the Northwest of the North;

- Promote the communication of information on safety corridors of high-voltage power grids; regularly check power grid corridors and actively coordinate closely with People's Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities in order to strengthen the protection of safety corridors of high-voltage power grids and request competent authorities to impose strict penalties for violations as prescribed by law.

k) Execute and direct power corporations and power companies to accelerate the execution of demand side management and demand response programs. Proactively propose and execute the demand response program according to the commercial mechanism funded by EVN, power corporations and power companies in accordance with applicable regulations.

2. Power corporations and power companies shall:

a) According to the 2021 power supply plan and monthly power supply plans of EVN, formulate their own 2021 and monthly power supply plans and even plans for response to incidents or imbalance between supply and demand;

b) Accelerate the investment in tranmission grids to relieve capacity of power generation works, especially renewable energy, including rooftop solar power system;

c) Accelerate the execution of demand side management and demand response programs to contribute to ensuring stable and reliable supply of power to the national power system and regional power systems.

3. Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (VPN) shall:

a) Continue to cooperate with relevant partners to restrict the adjustments to plans to repair gas sources in the dry season;

b) Continue to search for and connect new gas sources make up for the shortage of output of existing gas sources due to decline in the next years;

c) Closely cooperate with field owners and investors in gas power plants and the EVN in considering proposing solutions in the process of implementing the plan to supply and mobilize gas for electricity generation to ensure optimum efficiency of the gas-to-power chain and protect national interests. In case the gas consumption demand of power plants is lower than that specified in the minimum volume commitment, proactively work with gas field owners to propose a commercial agreement on the principle of protecting national interests and efficiently using national resources and harmonizing the interests of the parties.

d) Direct PV Gas to:

- Maintain its operation of gas sources according to the mobilization plan under technical conditions as directed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in the Directive No. 05/CT-BCT dated January 30, 2019;

- Cooperate with EVNNLDC in reasonably exploiting gas sources under technical conditions of the gas supply system, carrying out safe and economic operation of the power system and under relevant commercial binding agreements in a manner that protects national interests and efficiently uses national resources and harmonizes the interests of the parties.

- Monthly keep EVNNLDC and relevant electricity-generating units updated of the plan to exploit gas from gas sources for electricity generation (Nam Con Son - Cuu Long, PM3-CAA, etc.) to form a basis for calculating and set up a reasonable method of mobilizing power generation sources.

dd) Direct PV Power to:

- Expeditiously cooperate with Vinacomin, Dong Bac Corporation and other enterprises having other legal sources of coal in conducting negotiation and signing a coal purchase and sale agreement in 2021 and strictly adhere to the agreement to ensure stable and sufficient supply of coal to the operation of power plants;

- Continue to strictly and fully perform tasks of supply of coal for electricity generation as assigned by the Prime Minister in the Directive No. 29/CT-TTg dated December 02, 2019;

- Direct electricity-generating units managing and operating power plants to provide auxiliary services to ensure the availability and meet the operation requirements of the power system;

e) Closely cooperate with EVN/EVNNLDC in carrying out the approved 2021 maintenance and repair work in power plants invested in and managed by EVN to ensure the availability of generating sets at the highest level in 2021.

4. Vinacomin shall:

a) Ensure its capacity for coal production and balance existing coal sources to prioritize coal supply for electricity generation. Review infrastructure and warehouses in the Central and Southern regions to proactively consider formulating plans and building transit warehouses for coal storage to ensure sufficient and stable supply of coal to coal-fired thermal power plants, especially in the following cases: i) when there is an increasing demand for coal for electricity generation; ii) when a disaster such as storm or flood, etc. occurs;

b) Proactively make a production plan to prioritize the adequate and continuous supply of coal in correct quantities, of good quality and correct type to coal-fired thermal power plants according to the terms of the signed agreement to ensure electricity generation in 2021;

c) Cooperate with electricity-generating units in reaching an agreement on technical specifications of coal provided under the coal sale and purchase agreement to ensure safe and effective operation of plants and satisfy environmental regulations;

d) Closely cooperate with EVN/EVNNLDC in carrying out the approved 2021 maintenance and repair work in power plants invested in and managed by EVN to ensure the availability of generating sets at the highest level in 2021.

5. Dong Bac Corporation shall:

a) Proactively make a production plan to prioritize the adequate and continuous supply of coal in correct quantities, of good quality and correct type to coal-fired thermal power plants according to the terms of the signed agreement to ensure electricity generation in 2021;

b) Cooperate with Vinacomin in reviewing infrastructure in the Central and Southern regions to proactively consider formulating plans and building transit warehouses for coal storage to ensure sufficient and stable supply of coal to coal-fired thermal power plants in the Southern region in the following cases: i) when there is an increasing demand for coal for electricity generation; ii) when a disaster such as storm or flood, etc. occurs;

c) Cooperate with electricity-generating units in reaching an agreement on technical specifications of coal provided under the coal sale and purchase agreement to ensure safe and effective operation of plants and satisfy environmental regulations;

6. Departments of Industry and Trade of provinces and central-affiliated cities shall:

a) Cooperate with power corporations and power companies within their provinces in disseminating the Prime Minister’s Directive No. 20/CT-TTg dated May 07, 2020 and organize and supervise electricity saving by local electricity users;

b) Advise provincial People’s Committees on formulating plans and direct power corporations and power companies of provinces and central-affiliated cities to organize the implementation of the national demand side management program approved by the Prime Minister in the Decision No. 279/QD-TTg dated March 08, 2018;

c) Cooperate with EVNNPT, power corporations and power companies within their provinces in disseminating, inspecting, supervising and imposing penalties for administrative violations against regulations on electricity within their power as prescribed in the Government’s Decree No. 134/2013/ND-CP dated October 17, 2013;

d) Supervise power corporations and power companies within their provinces supplying power to and handling complaints of electricity users about failure to supply power in accordance with regulations imposed within their provinces.

7. The Petroleum and Coal Department shall:

a) Preside over reviewing legal bases and data related to the minimum gas volume commitment of the gas-to-power project chains, especially in the Southeast region according to the data in the Document No. 6223/DKVN- KTDK dated December 18, 2020 and 6496/DKVN-TMDV dated December 30, 2020 of the VPN and report them to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for consideration and decision.

b) Urge and direct the VPN to closely cooperate with field owners and investors in gas power plants and the EVN in considering proposing solutions in the process of implementing the plan to supply and mobilize gas for electricity generation to ensure optimum efficiency of the gas-to-power chain and protect national interests;

c) Direct electricity-generating units and investors in coal-fired thermal power plants to strictly implement the tasks assigned in the Prime Minister’s Directive No. 29/CT-TTg dated December 02, 2020;

d) Preside over and cooperate with the Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority and the Electricity Regulatory Authority in submitting to the Minister for approval of the chart of coal supply for electricity generation in 2021 and in the long term as prescribed to ensure adequate supply of coal for electricity generation;

dd) Direct Vinacomin and Dong Bac Corporation to formulate a plan to ensure supply of coal to power plants in a stable and long-lasting manner;

e) Direct PVN to implement solutions for ensuring a volume of gas that satisfies the demand for gas for electricity generation in 2021 under technical conditions and relevant commercial constraints in a manner that protects national interests and efficiently uses national resources and harmonizes the interests of the parties.

8. The Department of Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Development shall:

a) Preside over and cooperate with the Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority and Electricity Regulatory Authority in implementing the tasks assigned by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in the Prime Minister’s Directive No. 20/CT-TTg dated May 07, 2020;

b) Strengthen, speed up and closely cooperate Departments of Industry and Trade of provinces and central-affiliated cities in executing the national program for economical and efficient use of energy, energy and electricity saving programs and projects nationwide to contribute to ensuring power supply in 2021.

9. The Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority shall:

a) Accelerate the progress in appraising construction designs for power generation facilities and power grids with a view to increasing the capacity for transmitting power of wind and solar projects; preside over and cooperate with related units in inspecting the commissioning of electric works within their power;

b) Monitor, supervise and promptly resolve within their power or propose a plan to resolve difficulties during investment in and construction of power generation facilities and power grids to ensure stable operation of power generation sources and power grids, contributing to supply of power for the national power system in 2021 and the next years;

c) Update, review and expedite the execution of power generation and power grid projects in order to ensure the operation of power generation sources and power grids to achieve the progress specified in the approved planning, thereby contributing to supply of power to the national power system 2021 and the next years;

d) Instruct and direct relevant units to use blended coal and imported coal for electricity generation and provide infrastructure for receiving coal as designed to improve the efficiency in receiving coal;

10. The Office of the National Steering Committee for Power Development shall:

Cooperate with the Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority, the Electricity Regulatory Authority and relevant units in expediting the resolution of difficulties in order to accelerate progress of electric works to ensure power supply in 2021 and the next years.

11. The Electricity Regulatory Authority shall:

a) Inspect, supervise and urge units to ensure safe, stable and reliable operation and supply of power to the national power system, especially on holidays and in important political events in 2021;

b) Preside over and cooperate with Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade in carrying out a site inspection of supply of power at several locations of events before and during the 13th National Party Congress;

c) Direct, inspect and urge EVN, power corporations and power companies to strengthen the execution of demand side management and demand response programs to contribute to ensuring stable and reliable supply of power to the national power system and regional power system;

d) Carry out periodic inspection and supervision of implementation of the power supply plans of EVN, EVNNPT, electricity-generating units and power corporations in 2021, especially in dry season; submit a report thereon to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Article 3. TheChief of the Ministry Office, the Director General of the Electricity Regulatory Authority, the Director General of EVN and heads of relevant units are responsible for the implementation of this Decision./.  

APPENDIX 1.

BASIC INPUT INDICATORS FOR FORMULATION OF THE 2021 PLAN FOR POWER SUPPLY AND OPERATION OF NATIONAL POWER SYSTEM
(Enclosed with the Decision No. 3598/QD-BCT dated December 31, 2020)

APPENDIX 2.

WATER LEVEL OF HYDROPOWER RESERVOIRS IN THE NATIONAL POWER SYSTEM AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTHS IN 2021
(Enclosed with the Decision No. 3598/QD-BCT dated December 31, 2020)

Unit: meter

APPENDIX 3.

NATIONWIDE ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION BY POWER GENERATION SOURCES (AT GENERATOR TERMINALS) AND IMPORTED ELECTRICITY IN 2021
(Enclosed with the Decision No. 3598/QD-BCT dated December 31, 2020)

Unit: million kWh

APPENDIX 4.

EXPECTED ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION OF POWER PLANTS AND IMPORTED ELECTRICITY IN MONTHS OF 2021
(Enclosed with the Decision No. 3598/QD-BCT dated December 31, 2020)

Unit: million kWh