Staff check power transmission dials at an EVN office in Ha Noi. — VNA/VNS Photo Ngoc Ha

HA NOI (Biz Hub)— Electricity output and imports reported by Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) in August were estimated at 12.41 billion kWh.

At the same time, electricity generated in the first eight months of the year posted a 10.4 per cent year-on-year increase to 93.66 billion kWh.

Figures released by EVN yesterday showed that electricity supplies for agriculture in the period accounted for 1.5 per cent of the total, increasing 1.6 per cent over the same period last year. At the same time, electricity provided to industry rose 13 per cent and accounting for 53 per cent, while that for commerce, hotels and restaurants reached 4.7 per cent, rising 10 per cent.

Power generation from hydroelectricity plants made up 55 per cent of the total, along with 21 per cent from gas, 17 per cent from thermopower plants and the remaining from other sources.

Further, EVN said it spent VND70.5 trillion (US$3.35 billion) for power production from January through August to ensure sufficient electricity supplies for production and consumption. Its disbursement in the period reached VND65.4 trillion ($3.1 billion).

The group has also completed 25 power grid construction projects, including eight 500kV and 17 220kV operating plants. It also began construction of 22 power grids to transmit voltage of 500-220kV.

Officials added that power supplies for Ly Son Island would be finished by the end of this month, as it has buried underground cables.

EVN is also working to connect the second turbine in the Vinh Tan 2 Thermopower plant to the national power grid this month. The plant's first turbine generated power was supplied to the national grid in January, providing a considerable power supply for southern provinces during the dry season.

According to the EVN, the Vinh Tan 2 thermal power plant consists of two generators, with each having a capacity of 622 MW.

The project, which began construction in August 2010, was developed by EVN based upon an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract signed with Chinese contractor Shanghai Electric Group. Costing VND23 trillion, the plant is set to begin operating in June.

The plant, fuelled by coal dust from northeastern Quang Ninh Province, is expected to supply some 2.7 billion kWh of power annually, helping to significantly reduce power shortages in southern provinces during the dry season. — VNS