Challenges in Securing Energy Security Associated with Sustainable Development
Thứ năm, 16/08/2018
On August 9, 2018 the Vietnam Energy Forum, with the theme "Challenges in securing energy security associated with sustainable development", was held in Hanoi presided by Vice Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Hoang Quoc Vuong.
On August 9, 2018 the Vietnam Energy Forum, with the theme "Challenges in securing energy security associated with sustainable development", was held in Hanoi presided by Vice Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Hoang Quoc Vuong.
Vice Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Hoang Quoc Vuong
Foreseen Challenges
Le Van Luc, Deputy Director of the Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority said that in 2017, total electricity production and purchases reached US$ 192.45 billion, an 8.6% increase over 2016, the traded electricity reaches 174.05 billion kWh, an increase of 8.92% over 2016. In the period 2011-2015, the total installed capacity of the national power source increases by 12.8% per year on average, higher than the maximum load growth rate of the period at 9.6% per year, of which the installed capacity in 2015 is 39,350 MW, ranking the second in ASEAN countries.
According to Luc, the challenges in securing energy security relate to restrictions on primary energy supplies that lead to dependency on imported fuels and high growth rates of energy demand,all of which putpressure on the infrastructure. Besides, the environmental impact of energy supply will increase as the country's energy demands increase rapidly.
Le Van Luc, Deputy Director of the Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority
Deputy Director Le Van Luc set out the general goals for Vietnam's energy development in the coming time, focusing on mobilizing all resources for energy development, ensuring adequate energy supply of increasingly high quality with reasonable prices for the socio-economic development of the country; diversified and rational use of primary energy sources at home and abroad.
At the same time, it is to promote energy use and encourage the development of renewable energy sources to ensure energy security, reduce the dependency on imported energy; step by step build competitive energy markets to increase efficiency and encourage more investment into clean energy development.
Mr. Nguyen Quan the former Minister of Science & Technology
Taking into account those three fundamental challenges, Nguyen Quan, the former Minister of Science and Technology, said that ensuring electricity security in particular and ensuring energy security in general was really difficult, especially when the country decides to stop the construction of nuclear power projects, but the alternative sources of nuclear power mainly renewable energy still has a lot of unresolved inadequacies: up to now the objectives of electricity planning VII have not been reached, not to mention the need to fill up the shortage of nuclear power ... renewable energy sources are also facing difficulties even in the context of modernized science and technology.
Also according to Mr. Quan, science and technology play an important role in economic and social development, especially in the Industry 4.0. However, in the Decisions, the field of science and technology is not really highlighted prominently. Solutions are also general. Over the past 10 years, the numbers of state-level research projects on renewable energy are few, leading to a high dependency on foreign technology and energy."To develop sustainable energy, we must focus on our endeavors in science and technology," Quan emphasized.
Solutions to ensure electricity supply
Reported at the forum, Mr. Ngo Son Hai, Deputy General Director of EVN, said that EVN had actively calculated different plans to ensure electricity supply for socio-economic development to 2030. However, from 2021 to 2023, the power sources are fully mobilized so there will be risks, the possibility of power shortage, while all the high cost power sources almost mobilized. From 2025 to 2030 practically EVN can meet the demand for electricity.
According to the adjusted power plan VII up to 2020, the total capacity of the power source must reach 60,000 MW, and 96,500 MWby 2025, reach 129,500 MWby 2030. However, many large power projects are slowing down behind the schedule, adding up to it, the source of fuel is also theoretically risky, the declined yield of natural gas and the introduction of alternative fuels. By 2030 there will be many potential risks for ensuring the supply of electricity.
Deputy General Director Ngo Son Hai proposed 2 main solutions. Firstly, controlling the demand of sub load, which enhances measures to use electricity safely, economically and effectively, the sale of electricity under the market mechanism is governed by the State. To inspect and supervise industrial production establishments in the application of standards and technical regulations. We should also encourage the development of solar power projects, especially the roof-mounted solar panels.
Secondly, it is to ensure the supply. Mr. Hai said that it was necessary to ensure the progress of the operation of power projects. Ensure sufficient supply of gas for electricity generation. There should be a mechanism for the electricity pricepurchasedfrom Laos to accelerate the negotiation with the Lao side to collect power sources in southern Laos and connection lines to import to Vietnam through the existing 220kV lines. Strengthen the import of electricity from China under the grid isolation plan. To approve the adjustment and supplementation of the planning and converge the investments into the 220-110 kV power grid scheme.
"In all circumstances, energy demands must be met”
This is the conclusion of Vice Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Hoang Quoc Vuong at the Vietnam Energy Forum 2018. After confirming the importance of ensuring energy security and sustainable development, Vice Minister Vuong pointed out three major challenges that the energy industry is facing:
First, at present, primary energy sources have been either drained or exhausted. Hydropower potential is only a few thousand megawatts or even mini small. The production capacity of the coal industry is very limited. There are only two major gas fields, Block B site and Blue Whale site, just sufficient for the O-Mon plant. Other factories in Phu My have to import liquefied petroleum gas for operation.
Second, in the current period, calling for investment from domestic economic groups is very difficult. Meanwhile, low energy prices do not attract investment from outside.
The third is the requirement for environmental protection. At present, the demand of people living in clean, low pollution environment has created great pressure in planning, policies for renewable energy development.
Deputy Minister Hoang Quoc Vuong said that there should be fundamental solutions to solve the problem, focusing on the development of the coal, oil and gas industry. In the coming period, there will be likely a shortage of electricity, so it is necessary to have a specific mechanism to implement the projects, accelerate the progress of new projects. Along with that, to promote the development of renewable energy in the context of halted nuclear power projects, thus it is increasingly difficult to implement the coal thermal power projects, due to pressure from the local people. It is also to promote the program of energy saving and efficiency.
The key issue mentionedby the Vice Minister Vuong is the policy on electricity pricing and energy prices in the coming time. Electricity prices are still regulated by the government. However, it is necessary to signal to people to use electricity safely, economically and efficiently. All those efforts aim at anultimate goal, it is to ensure energy security effectively associated with sustainable development and environmental protection.
By Office of Cleaner Production and Sustainable Production and Consumption