A large number of high-quality personnel will be needed to meet the growing demand of the power market (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – A large number of high-qualitypersonnel will be needed to meet the growing demand of the competitivegeneration market and the competitive wholesale electricity market in the timeahead, according to the National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC).
The Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam(ERAV) held a meeting on July 27 to review the operation of the competitivegeneration market and the competitive wholesale electricity market, which werepiloted from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017.
The ERAV, which is under the Ministry ofIndustry and Trade, said by July 1 this year, 76 power plants had directly joinedthe electricity market. Their installed capacity totalled 20,728 MW.
Hydropower makes up 38 percent of the totalcapacity, coal-fired thermal power 35 percent, oil-fired thermal power 4percent, and gas turbine power 17 percent. Other types of power plants accountfor 6 percent of the total capacity.
The ERAV said the electricity system continuedto be operated safely and supplied sufficient power for social development.
However, it admitted that the installed capacityof the plants directly engaging in the power market accounts for just 49percent of that of the whole system. At the same time, the IT infrastructure forthe electricity market is just able to meet basic needs, the supervisorycontrol and data acquisition system and the energy management system remainincomplete, hampering the forecast, planning, regulation and supervision of thepower market.
[Competitive power market key to promoting renewables]
The NLDC said due to El Nino impacts, the watervolume at hydropower reservoirs declined in 2016, forcing more power factories totemporarily switch to indirect participation in the market.
The competitive wholesale electricity market isset to be piloted in three phases with phase I through the second quarter of2017, phase II through the third quarter and phase III through the fourthquarter of the year.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang QuocVuong said the power market has brought about encouraging outcomes and helpedparticipating factories operate more stably.
As the electricity market in Vietnam is stillyoung, it is necessary to step up personnel training and make precise forecastsfor power demand, he noted, adding that factories must also ensure the safetyof the reservoir operating process and the regulation of water in both rainyand dry seasons.-VNA
VNA
