China hikes power price by 13 pc

May 13, 2011 | 14:06

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Vietnam will pay 13 per cent more for electricity it buys from China with retrospective effect from January 1.

Following the signing of a contract recently between Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) and Chinese power firms, the rate will go up from 5.1 US cents per kWh to 5.8 cents.

Vietnam will pay the difference for power bought so far this year.

Sai Gon Tiep Thi newspaper quoted a source from the Ministry of Industry and Trade as saying: “Due to rising input costs and the appreciation of the Chinese yuan, the electricity price has risen.”

Since April Vietnam has buying 100 million kWh more from China.

This year it will buy around 4.6 billion kWh, or 4 per cent of total demand.

The supply from China is used in the 12 northern provinces of Thai Nguyen, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Son La, Dien Bien, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Yen Bai, Ha Giang, and Tuyen Quang.

Last year Vietnam had bought around five billion kWh.

Vietnam’s electricity output in January-April was nearly 32.7 billion kWh, or 10.32 per cent higher year on year, of which, electricity purchase was nearly 19.5 billion kWh, according to the Electricity Regulatory Agency.

In May the output will average 309 million kWh per day.

But Electricity of Vietnam has warned that many major hydropower plants around the country like Hoa Binh, Quang Tri, A Vuong, Yaly, Pleikrong, Se San 4, Mo Water Fall, Ham Thuan, and Da Mi are facing a severe water shortage, Sai Gon Giai Phong said.

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