Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked relevant ministries and agencies to prepare plans to ensure power supply for production, business activities, and consumption during the remainder of 2023 and into next year.

Addressing a meeting with permanent government members on October 28, Prime Minister Chinh noted that the country won’t be short of electricity for socio-economic development in 2023 but shortcomings in operations have led to power cuts in certain areas at certain times.

The government leader requested that relevant ministries and sectors coordinate to tackle obstacles to facilitate the construction of the 500 kV national transmission line, circuit 3.

For 2024 and beyond, it is necessary to prepare scenarios and monitor and examine the operations of power sources, he said.

Total power output and imports are estimated at 280.6 billion kWh in 2023, up 4.6 per cent year-on-year and equivalent to 98.6 per cent of the annual plan, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Power consumption may increase 6-8.96 per cent in 2024 for socio-economic development.