Decision 3598/QD-BCT 2021 approving the Plan on power supply and operation of the national power system in 2021

DECISION

Approving the Plan on power supply and operation of the national power system in 2021

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THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE

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

Pursuant to the Electricity Law dated December 3, 2004 and the Law dated November 20, 2012 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Electricity Law;

Pursuant to the Decree No. 137/2013/ND-CP of October 21, 2013, detailing a number of articles of the Electricity Law and the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Electricity Law;

Pursuant to Circular No. 40/2014/TT-BCT dated November 5, 2014 of the Minister of Industry and Trade stipulating the procedure for dispatching of the national power system;

Pursuant to Circular No. 31/2019/TT-BCT dated November 18, 2019 of the Minister of Industry and Trade amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular No. 40/2014/TT-BCT stipulating the procedure for dispatching of the national power system;

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

Pursuant to Circular No. 30/2019ATT-BCT dated November 18, 2019 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular No. 25/2016/TT-BCT on regulations on electricity transmission system;

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

At the proposal of the Director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority,

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the plan for power supply and operation of the national power system in 2021 formulated by the Vietnam Electricity with the following principal contents: 

1. Total nationwide electricity in 2021 produced by power plants (where the generator poles are located) and imported, including rooftop solar power, is 262.410 billion kWh, of which 126.896 billion kWh were generated during the dry season and 135.515 billion kWh during the rainy season.

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

3. Basic input parameters for planning power supply and operation of the national power system in 2021 include: GDP growth rate, water accumulating in hydropower reservoirs, monthly water levels of hydropower reservoirs in 2021, which are determined in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 issued together with this Decision.

4. The structure of power production by types of power sources, and the estimated electricity produced by power plants and imported electricity in the months of 2021 are prescribed as follows:

a) The estimated electricity produced domestically by the types of power sources and imported from other countries on the entire national power system in 2021 (with details mentioned in Appendix 3 issued together with this Decision);

b) The estimated monthly electricity produced by each power plant in 2021 (with details mentioned in Appendix 4 issued together with this Decision), in which:

- Generating units shall proactively prepare for power generation, including ensuring the ready capacity of their generating sets and arranging the sources of primary fuel (coal, gas, oil) for monthly generation in 2021;

- Power purchase and sale of power plants (under power purchase agreements or electricity pricing plans) will be determined in accordance with relevant regulations on electricity pricing and electricity market.

4. Total installed capacity of new power plants (excluding rooftop solar power panels) expected to be put into operation in 2021 is an estimated 6438 MW. The list and scale of new power plants expected to be put into operation in 2021 is provided in Appendix 5 issued together with this Decision.

Article 2. Organization of implementation

1. The Vietnam Electricity (EVN) shall:

a) Strictly monitor and continuously update the actual changes of electrical loads, operational conditions of the power system and electricity market in order to ensure safe, stable and reliable power supply and operation of the national power system;

b) Direct its affiliates to plan the power supply for major political and cultural events, holidays and Lunar New Year (Tet) festival in 2021. Direct the National Power Transmission Corporation, the National Load Dispatch Center, Power Corporations, power companies of the provinces and municipalities to proactively formulate and strictly implement the plans to ensure power supply of respective localities, especially Hanoi, during the 13^th National Party Congress as well as point out difficulties, problems and recommend solutions for them;

c) Regularly monitor and update the basic input parameters in Appendix 1 issued together with this Decision. In case of affecting the security of power supply, promptly report to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (via the Electricity Regulatory Authority) for consideration and direction;

d) Actively report to and coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the National Center for Meteorology and Hydrology, the People's Committees of the provinces where hydroelectric reservoirs are located, especially in the North, Central, Central Highlands and Southeast, to develop and implement Reservoir regulation plans as prescribed in 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 the economical and efficient use of water;

dd) Increase the available capacity of power plants invested, managed and operated by the Vietnam Electricity; Direct Power Generation Corporations to regularly inspect and improve equipment of power plants so as to improve the operational reliability and generation capacity of power plants;

e) Direct the Power Generation Corporations and affiliated generating units:

- To quickly coordinate with the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group, the Dong Bac Corporation, and other enterprises with legal coal sources to negotiate and sign coal trading contracts in 2021 and strictly implement the signed coal supply contracts so as to ensure sufficient and stable supply of coal for power plants;

- To review and evaluate the use of mixed coal for power production at power plants; to coordinate with the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group, the Dong Bac Corporation and other enterprises with legal coal sources to study the use of mixed coal and imported coal for power production so as to ensure the safe, efficient operation of power plants and maintain environmental factors as prescribed.

- To work out plans and prepare all coal-receiving infrastructure (wharfs, dredging, loading and unloading equipment, coal warehouses, etc.) and maintain the availability and sufficient quantity of coal with appropriate norms stored in the warehouses to meet the coal demand of power plants in 2021;

- To continue strictly and fully implementing the tasks related to the supply of coal for power production assigned by the Prime Minister in Directive No. 29/CT-TTg dated December 2, 2019;

g) Direct the generating units to manage and operate the power plants that provide auxiliary services so as to ensure the readiness to be mobilized and meet the operational requirements of the power system;

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

- To formulate a reasonable method of mobilizing power sources, proactively work out an appropriate dispatching plan for renewable energy and other power sources in the system, thus ensuring safe, stable and reliable operation of the power system in 2021;

- To coordinate with the National Power Transmission Corporation and the Power Corporations to review the operation plan of the 500-220-110kV grid; inspect and review the shedding adjustments of generating sets, the special shedding systems throughout the power system, and the low frequency (F81) load shedding relay systems in order to respond to severe incidents on the North-South 500kV transmission grid during the course of high-voltage transmission as well as to eliminate the risk of disintegration of regional power systems;

- To closely coordinate with the management and operation units of hydropower reservoirs to update and closely follow the actual hydrological situation, the requirements of the competent authorities on the demand for water use in downstream areas, based on which to flexibly exploit the hydroelectric power plants as well as economically and efficiently use water resources.

- To closely coordinate with owners, management and operation units of renewable (wind, solar) energy sources to ensure the testing and acceptance of them in accordance with current regulations and their safe, stable and reliable operation and connection to the national power system. To regularly update the progress of renewable energy sources expected to be put into operation in 2021, then updating and setting up a rational operating method to ensure the optimization and efficient exploitation of renewable energy sources based on the technical conditions of the national power system;

- To closely coordinate with the Petro Vietnam Gas Joint Stock Corporation, the generating units using gas in the Southwest and the Southeast to regularly update gas supply capacity, and provide monthly information on estimated electricity output of the power plants so as to ensure the rational exploitation of gas sources in the Southeast and Southwest regions as well as to operate the power plants closely in line with the growth rate of electricity demand;

- To monthly provide updated data on the estimated power output of power sources to fuel (coal, gas, oil) suppliers and generating units for them to work out appropriate plans on preparation of fuel for power generation, thus ensuring their availability upon being mobilized.

i) Direct the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) and Power Corporations:

- To regularly inspect and review the status of equipment on the transmission and distribution grids, promptly overcome the shortcomings of the equipment operating on the power grid, and ensure the safe operation of the national power system;

- To plan for safe, stable, reliable and continuous operation of the grids;

- To accelerate the investment, construction and putting into operation of key transmission grids, especially the works to transmit and release the capacity of renewable (wind and solar) energy sources and small hydroelectric power sources in the Northwest region, the capacitor-to-capacitor transfer works to ensure the voltage in the Northwest region;

- To strengthen dissemination drives on ensuring the safety corridors of high-voltage grids; regularly inspect the power grid corridors and actively coordinate with the People's Committees of the provinces and municipalities to strengthen the protection of the high-voltage grid safety corridors, and advise the competent authorities to strictly handle violations in accordance with the law provisions.

k) Implement and direct Power Corporations and power companies to promote the implementation of demand regulation (DR) and load adjustment programs, contributing to ensuring stable and reliable power supply. Proactively propose and implement the DR Program under the commercial mechanism with the funds of EVN and Power Corporations, power companies in accordance with the current law provisions.

2. The Power Corporations and power companies shall:

a) Based on the EVN's 2021 and monthly power supply plans, to develop their 2021 and monthly power supply plans, including plans to deal with incidents or supply-demand imbalances;

b) Accelerate the investment in distribution grid projects to release the capacity of power sources, especially renewable energy sources, including rooftop solar power systems;

c) Accelerate the implementation of demand regulation and load adjustment programs, contributing to ensuring stable and reliable power supply of the national and regional power systems.

3. The Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petro Vietnam) shall:

a) Continue to coordinate with relevant gas suppliers to limit the adjustment of repairing plans during the dry season;

b) Continue to seek and connect additional new gas sources to compensate for the shortfall in output of existing gas sources due to decline in the following years;

c) Closely coordinate with owners of gas fields, gas power plants and the Vietnam Electricity to study and propose solutions for implementing the plan to supply and mobilize gas for power production, ensuring the optimum efficiency of the gas-to-power value chain and national interests. If the gas demand of power plants is lower than the minimum gas commitment, to actively work with gas field owners to propose trade agreement mechanisms on the principle of ensuring national interests, using effectively national resources and harmonizing the interests of the involved parties.

d) Direct the Vietnam Gas Corporation (PV Gas):

- To maintain and exploit gas sources under the mobilization plan, ensuring the permissible technical conditions following the direction of the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Directive No. 05/CT-BCT dated January 30, 2019 on ensuring the gas supply for power generation in 2019 and following years;

- To coordinate with the EVNNLDC to reasonably exploit gas sources within the permissible technical conditions of the gas supply system, the safe and economical operation of the power system, and related commercial constraints, thus ensuring national interests, using effectively national resources and harmonizing the interests of the involved parties.

- To monthly update to the EVNNLDC and related generating units on the exploitation plan of gas sources for power generation (Nam Con Son - Cuu Long, PM3-CAA, etc.) to serve as a basis for calculating and formulating a reasonable method of mobilizing power sources.

dd) Direct the Petro Vietnam Power Corporation (PV Power):

- To quickly coordinate with the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group, the Dong Bac Corporation, and other enterprises with legal coal sources to negotiate and sign coal trading contracts in 2021 and strictly implement the signed coal supply contracts so as to ensure sufficient and stable supply of coal for power plants;

- To strictly and fully implement the tasks related to the supply of coal for power production assigned by the Prime Minister in Directive No. 29/CT-TTg dated December 2, 2019;

- To direct its generating units to manage and operate the power plants that provide auxiliary services so as to ensure the readiness to be mobilized and meet the operational requirements of the power system;

e) Closely coordinate with the EVN/EVNNLDC to implement the approved maintenance and repair plans in 2021 at power plants invested and managed by the PV, ensuring the highest availability of generating sets in 2021.

4. The Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group shall:

a) Ensure coal production capacity and rebalance existing coal sources with priority given to coal supply for power production. Review the system of infrastructure and warehouses in the Central and Southern regions to actively research and propose transit plans and coal warehouses so as to ensure sufficient and stable supply of coal for coal-fired power plants, especially in the following cases: i) when the demand for coal for power generation increases; ii) when there are natural disasters, storms, floods, etc.;

b) Actively work out production plans with priority given to providing adequate and continuous coal, ensuring the quantity, quality and appropriate type of coal for coal-fired power plants under the signed contracts so as to ensure power generation in 2021;

c) Reach agreement with generating units on specifications of coal provided in the signed coal sale and purchase contracts, thus ensuring safe and efficient operation of the plants in accordance with the law provisions on environmental protection;

d) Closely coordinate with the EVN/EVNNLDC to implement the approved maintenance and repair plans in 2021 at power plants invested and managed by the PV, ensuring the highest availability of generating sets in 2021.

5. The Dong Bac Corporation shall:

a) Actively work out production plans with priority given to providing adequate and continuous coal, ensuring the quantity, quality and appropriate type of coal for coal-fired power plants under the signed contracts so as to ensure power generation in 2021;

b) Coordinate with the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group in reviewing the system of infrastructure and warehouses in the Central and Southern regions to actively research and propose transit plans and coal warehouses so as to ensure sufficient and stable supply of coal for coal-fired power plants in the South, especially in the following cases: i) when the demand for coal for power generation increases; ii) when there are natural disasters, storms, floods, etc.;

c) Reach agreement with generating units on specifications of coal provided in the signed coal sale and purchase contracts, thus ensuring safe and efficient operation of the plants in accordance with the law provisions on environmental protection;

6. Departments of Industry and Trade of provinces and municipalities shall:

a) Coordinate with the Power Corporations and local power companies to strengthen the dissemination of Directive No. 20/CT-TTg dated May 7, 2020 of the Prime Minister on intensifying electricity savings in the 2020-2025 period; intensify and supervise electricity savings of local electricity users;

b) Advise the provincial-level People's Committees to develop plans and direct the Power Corporations, the power companies of provinces and municipalities to effectively implement the National Demand Regulation Program approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 279/QD-TTg dated March 8, 2018;

c) Coordinate with the EVNNPT, the Power Corporations, and the local power companies in strengthening the dissemination of related information, the inspection, supervision and fine of administrative violations in the power sector within the ambit of their competence as prescribed in Decree No. 134/2013/ND-CP dated October 17, 2013 of the Government providing penalties for administrative violations in the power sector, hydroelectric dam safety, economical and efficient use of energy;

d) Supervise the power supply of Power Corporations and local power companies, settle complaints of electricity users about the power supply not complying with the above-mentioned provisions.

7. The Oil, Gas and Coal Department shall:

a) Assume the prime responsibility in reviewing the legal frameworks and data related to the minimum gas output commitments of gas-to-power projects, especially in the Southeast region, in accordance with the data in Documents 6223/ DKVN-KTDK dated December 18, 2020 and 6496/DKVN-TMDV dated December 30, 2020 of the Petro Vietnam, then report them to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for consideration and decision.

b) Urge and direct the Petro Vietnam to closely coordinate with owners of gas fields, gas power plants and the Vietnam Electricity to study and propose solutions for implementing the plan to supply and mobilize gas for power production, ensuring the optimum efficiency of the gas-to-power value chain and national interests;

c) Direct coal suppliers and owners of coal-fired power plants to strictly implement the contents and tasks assigned in Directive No. 29/CT-TTg dated December 2, 2020 of the Prime Minister on continuing to strengthen the State management over coal production and trading, and coal supply for power production;

d) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy and the Electricity Regulatory Authority to draft the chart of coal supply for power production in 2021 and in the long term in accordance with the law provisions so as to ensure sufficient coal supply for power production and then submit it to the Minister for approval.

dd) Direct the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group and the Dong Bac Corporation to develop a plan to ensure the coal supply for power plants in a stable and long-term manner;

e) Direct the Petro Vietnam to implement solutions to ensure gas output meeting gas demand for power generation in 2021 within the permissible technical conditions of the gas supply system and related commercial constraints, thus ensuring national interests, using effectively national resources and harmonizing the interests of the involved parties.

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

a) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy and the Electricity Regulatory Authority in implementing the tasks assigned to the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Directive No. 20/CT-TTg dated May 7, 2020 of the Prime Minister on intensifying electricity savings in the 2020-2025 period;

b) Strengthen, promote and closely coordinate with the Departments of Industry and Trade of the provinces and municipalities to implement the National Program on economical and efficient use of energy, the energy efficiency and electricity saving programs and projects nationwide, thus contributing to ensuring power supply in 2021.

9. The Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy shall:

a) Accelerate the appraisal of construction designs of power sources and grids to enhance capacity transmission of wind and solar power projects in accordance with the law provisions; assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant units in inspecting the acceptance of power works within the ambit of their competence;

b) Monitor, supervise and promptly solve problems within the ambit of their competence, or propose plans to solve the problems related to investment in and construction of power source and grid projects, thus ensuring the progress of putting power sources and grids into stable operation, contributing to ensuring power supply for the national power system in 2021 and the following years;

c) Update, review and urge power source - grid projects to ensure operation following the approved schedule, contributing to ensuring power supply for the national power system in 2021 and the following years;

d) Guide and direct relevant units in using mixed coal and imported coal for power production, and ensure the coal-receiving infrastructure in line with the designs in order to improve the efficiency of coal reception;

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

Coordinate with the Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy, the Electricity Regulatory Authority and related units to urge the implementation of drastic measures to remove difficulties and obstacles in order to accelerate the progress of power projects so as to ensure power supply in 2021 and the following years.

11. The Electricity Regulatory Authority shall:

a) Inspect, monitor and urge relevant units to ensure safe, stable and reliable power supply and operation of the national power system, especially on holidays, Lunar New Year festival, and other important political events in 2021;

b) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade and relevant units in inspecting the preparation for power supply at venues of some events before and during the 13^th National Party Congress;

c) Direct, inspect and urge the Vietnam Electricity, Power Corporations, and power companies to strengthen the implementation of demand regulation and load adjustment programs, contributing to ensuring safe, stable and reliable power supply of the national and regional power systems;

d) Inspect and supervise on a periodic basis the implementation of power supply plans of the EVN, EVNNPT, generating units and Power Corporations in 2021, especially during the dry season; then report the results to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Article 3. The Chief of the Ministerial Office, the Director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority, the General Director of the Vietnam Electricity, and heads of relevant units shall be responsible for implementing this Decision./.

* All Appendices are not translated herein.