In a move to facilitate all people’s stable access to electricity and lower electricity prices, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) on August 10 issued Decision No. 8266/QD-BCT approving a detailed design of the competitive electricity wholesale market.
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| EVN’s autonomy will no longer exist as there will be five power corporations responsible for purchasing electricity from generators__Photo: Ngoc Ha/VNA |
Under the regulation, all entities that own hydropower plants with a capacity of over 30 megawatt (MW) may immediately join the market. Meanwhile, those generating up to 30 MW may also choose to take part in the market if fully satisfying a number of infrastructure requirements.
Build-operate-transfer power projects may join the market in their own capacity or through representative units from the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN).
Imported electricity, generators operated by wind, solar or geothermal energy, and under-30 MW hydropower plants may not be involved in the market.
EVN’s autonomy will no longer exist as there will be five power corporations responsible for purchasing electricity from generators, namely Northern, Southern, Central Vietnam, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporations.
Big customers that purchase power of a voltage exceeding 110 kV directly from transformer stations in the 220 kV power grid must satisfy the conditions prescribed by the MoIT.
The roadmap for the establishment and operation of the competitive electricity wholesale market sets four phases, including two trial-operation phases in 2016 and 2017-2018. The market’s official launch is slated for 2019.- (VLLF)
