Dong Nai 2 hydropower plant in southern Dong Nai Province. Electricity of Viet Nam plans to operate more hydropower plants during the dry season to prevent further power cuts. — VNA/VNS Photo Ngoc Ha

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) plans to operate more hydropower plants during the dry season to prevent further power cuts, according to a company report.

Last month, the country's total power demand was 9.2 billion kWh, a rise of 1.5 per cent over the same period in 2012.

Demand is expected to reach 9.75 billion kWh this month as many companies resume operations after the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

To ensure stable electricity supply, EVN plans this month to commission turbines 1 and 2 of Song Giang 2 hydropower plant; turbine 2 of Dak Ring plant; and turbines 1 and 2 of Dong Nai 2 plant.

All the turbines will have a combined capacity of around 170MW.

Last month, the first turbine of Vinh Tan 2 thermal power plant in the central province of Binh Thuan was connected to the national grid.

With a capacity of 622MW, the plant is expected to help reduce power transmission from the north to the south.

On Saturday, the EVN began construction on the Thai Binh thermal power plant with a combined design capacity of 600MW and an annual electricity of production of 3.6 billion kWh in the northern province of Thai Binh.

Covering an area of 115ha, the $1.27-billion project consists of two turbines. The first turbine is scheduled to begin generating power in 2017, and the second in 2018, according to EVN.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said that EVN would begin construction on four other large power plants with a combined capacity of more than 2,500MW, including Vinh Tan 4 and Da Nhim. The Duyen Hai and Thac Mo hydropower plants will also be expanded. — VNS