Vietnam’s state-owned power company EVN warned Wednesday that the country’s electricity supply system would be under strain this summer due to early heat waves and drought, as Vietnam has experienced record temperatures in recent days.
On Saturday, Vietnam recorded a record temperature of 44.1 degrees Celsius at a weather station in the north of the country, a figure that broke the previous national record of 43.4 degrees Celsius, set in 2019. The state-owned company said in a statement that demand over the next three months could exceed the electricity supply possibilities. It also warned that low water levels could have a severe impact on the filling of dam reservoirs, threatening hydroelectric production.
Impact of the El Nino phenomenon
The water level in dams in northern Vietnam is 30 to 40 percent lower than in previous years, the company said. The expected return of the El Nino weather phenomenon could keep water levels low and temperatures high for the rest of the year. “If the drought is widespread – if there is no flooding or if flood levels are low – power supply may continue to face difficulties,” EVN warned.
The company called on consumers to conserve energy, especially during peak hours, to set air conditioner thermostats at 26 degrees or lower and to avoid using power-hungry appliances at the same time. The country relies mainly on coal and hydroelectricity and proclaims its willingness to develop renewable energies in the coming years. A recent report of the United Nations climate experts (IPCC) has underlined that each increase in global warming intensifies the major natural risks (heat waves, extreme precipitation, droughts…).
