According to EVN Deputy General Director Ngo Son Hai, the total power generating capacity in Viet Nam by the end of 2017 reached over 45,000MW, of which, coal-fired thermal power accounted for 38%. According to the Revised Power Plan No. VII, the development trend of coal-fired thermal power will continue to grow.
By 2020, the total capacity of coal-fired thermal power will reach 26,000MW, accounting for 42.7% of total capacity of the whole system. By 2030, the total capacity of coal-fired thermal power can reach 55,300MW, equivalent to 42.6% of power generating capacity of Viet Nam. Hence, coal demand for power generation will be constantly increasing. For example, the amount of coal for power generation in 2017 increased by 5.4 times compared with that of 2007.
In addition to domestic coal demand, imported coal amount will also highly increase when coal-fired thermal power plants using imported coal come into operation such as Duyen Hai No. 3 Thermal Power Plant, Quang Trach No. 1 Thermal Power Plant, etc.
EVN Deputy General Director Ngo Son Hai spoke at the Conference
In 2017, EVN started importing bituminous coal, sub-bitumen coal for power generation. EVN’s coal importing work is assigned to specialized units in the Group, including generation corporations.
In fact, EVN and its affiliated units are facing many difficulties because the coal import related policies for power generation have not been completed yet. Besides, the anthracite coal source is becoming scarce; quality of bitumen and sub-bitumen coal is unstable.
From 2019, EVN will have to import more anthracite coal to compensate the shortage of domestic coal.
The limitation in coal port infrastructure, transport capacity of carrying vessels, adverse weather conditions, etc., are also significant challenges in the coal import process for power generation.
Coal Crane System of Nghi Son No. 1 Thermal Power Plant (Thanh Hoa)
To ensure national energy security, some of EVN’s solutions regarding coal issue for power generation: Making medium and long-term coal procurement contracts and opening tender publicly to select qualified suppliers. In the coming time, EVN will study the form of coal transportation based on FOB (free on board).
At the Workshop, along with information of coal demand for power generation in Viet Nam, the participants also shared some general information about coal suppliers for Asian market, challenges in transporting imported coal in some countries, forecasting coal prices in the time to come, etc.
Previously, delegates attending the workshop also visited Hai Phong Thermal Power Plant and Hai Phong port on November 5th 2018.