Hanoi (VNA)꧟ – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh voicedan imperative to ensure a consistent and uninterrupted power supply in allcircumstances during a working session with the Vietnam Electricity (EVN) on January 13.

PM Chinh asked the EVN to work closely with ministries, agenciesand units to operate the power system scientifically and in line with the country'sconditions. Hailing the EVN’s remarkable journey over the past seven decades,including its achievements in 2023, he highlighted the sector's activerole in contributing to energy security and providing electricity for dailylife, production and socio-economic development.

He required the sector to reorganise its management andoperations, with priority given to restructuring based on market principles,promoting production and trade, and fighting negative occurrences.

𓃲 Agreeing with the EVN's goals, tasks, and solutions forthe current year, he directed the group to proactively coordinate with relevantsectors to ensure the optimal operations of power plants. This includes strategicplanning for electricity imports to meet domestic demand, and ensuring the safeand reliable operation of the power transmission system, especially the 500kVNorth-South line.

The EVN must ensure the completion of electricity grid projectsranging from 110-500kV this year, focusing on the third circuit of the Quang Trach-PhoNoi 500kV line, he said. In accordance with the approved National Power Development PlanVIII, the EVN was assigned to build and roll out medium- and long-term strategiesfor energy development, formulate contingency response scenarios while leadingthe transition to green, clean, and sustainable energy. The PM stressed that smart governance is imperative, highlightingthe need for enhanced digital transformation, continued renewal of existingdriving forces, effective operations of the National Load Dispatch Centre and intensified monitoring andinspection. The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Commissionfor Management of State Capital at Enterprises were assigned to collaboratewith relevant ministries and agencies to address suggestions raised by the EVN. Concluding his remarks, PM Chinh expressed confidence that, withits 70-year tradition, the EVN would successfully fulfill the tasks entrusted bythe Party, State, and people, with even better results than those made lastyear. Last year, EVN produced 280.63 billion kWh of electricity,marking a 4.56% increase from 2022. Commercial electricity output saw a 3.52%rise to 251.25 billion kWh. At present, Vietnam leads ASEAN with a totalpower system capacity of 80,555 MW. Its total investment value hit nearly 91 trillion VND (3.79 billionUSD), or 95.9% of the plan, with the commencement of 146 works and thecompletion of numerous others related to the 110-500kV electricity grid. The EVN posted a total revenue of 497 trillion VND and contributed about21 trillion VND to the State budget. By the end oflast year, its consolidated total asset value was projected at 630.54 trillion VND. This year, the group strives for a commercial electricity outputtarget of 262.26 billion kWh, a labour productivity increase of over 8% and atotal investment of 101.9 trillion VND./.