Talking about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on power consumption in Vietnam in 2021, EVN Deputy General Director Vo Quang Lam said that the power demand decreased during the outbreak of the 4th phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially after 19 July 2021. Statistics from August 2021 up to now, the national load demand has grown at a low rate. Accumulated in the first 10 months of 2021, the total power production and import of the whole system reached 213 billion kWh, an increase of only 3.3% compared to 2020, 5.7 billion kWh lower than the year plan.
Meanwhile, the average growth of commercial power in Vietnam before COVID-19 was 10.9% in the 2010-2015 period and 10.1% in the 2016-2019 period. The power consumption prediction in the coming time is very difficult, the load demand abnormally fluctuates due to the impact of the pandemic.
EVN Deputy General Director Vo Quang Lam speaks at the forum
According to EVN Deputy General Director, based on the socio-economic development forecast in 2022 according to the Resolution of the National Assembly, EVN will balance power supply and demand in 2022 with the load growth plan at 8.2%, equivalent to the national power output of 275.5 billion kWh. In addition, to best prepare for economic recovery situations, EVN calculates a supply scenario for the high growth in load demand of 12.4%; equivalent to the national power output of 286.1 billion kWh.
At the forum, Mr. Trinh Quoc Vu, Deputy Director, Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Development Department - Ministry of Industry and Trade, agreed and highly appreciated the two scenarios to ensure power supply for 2022 built by EVN. In fact, many countries around the world have been experiencing power shortages and energy crises on the way to economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the scenarios of load growth at 8.2% and a high level of 12.4% will help Vietnam's power industry proactively ensure power supply next year.