Vietnam will import more electricity from China this year to serve its border provinces.

The Power Company No. 1 under the state-owned Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), the country's biggest electricity producer and sole distributor, will, in the coming days, sign a new contract with the Yunnan Electric Power Group Co., Ltd. under the China Southern Power Grid. In the short term, some 50 million kWh of electricity will be bought via transmission lines in Vietnam's northern Lai Chau province to deal with the country's power shortage in the ongoing dry season.

Now, the EVN is purchasing electricity from China via the three northern provinces of Lao Cai, Ha Giang and Quang Ninh with annual output of 200 million kWh, or 2 percent of Vietnam's total electricity output, at a price of 4.5 U.S. cents per kWh.

In April 2004, Vietnam bought electricity from China for the first time. Under a three-year contract inked at that time by the Power Company No. 1 and the Yunnan Electric Power Group Co., Ltd, the Chinese firm was to supply Vietnam with electricity via 110-kv transmission lines with capacity of 40 MW and annual output of 180- 200 million kWh till the end of 2006.

Vietnam's electricity demand is forecast to annually grow 15-16 percent until 2010, according to the country's Industry Ministry. It plans to increase its electricity capacity to 25,000-26,000 MW in 2010 from 11,400 MW in 2005, meeting demand for its socio- economic development.

Source:佚名